How common myths about heating your home can lead to ‘thermostat wars’

Four in 10 couples argue over the temperature in their home, according to a new report from BC Hydro.

Nearly 60 per cent even admit to adjusting the thermostat behind their partner’s back while 50 per cent say they have waited until their partner left home to change the temperature.

Twenty per cent admit to adjusting the temperature in their home “just to annoy their partner.”

Five per cent describe themselves as being in “an all-out thermostat war.”

The survey found heating the home is one of the most contentious arguments in a household, ahead of who cooks dinner and when to set the alarm clock.

The Crown utility notes that arguments often stem from common misconceptions:

– Cranking up the thermostat does not heat the home up faster than turning it up a degree or two at a time.
– Keeping the thermostat at a constant temperature is not more energy-efficient than adjusting it based on the time of day or what activity is going on in the home.
– Turning on a space heater is not always a more energy-efficient way to keep warm.

Heating bills can go up by as much as 140 per cent this time of year.

BC Hydro says to avoid skyrocketing costs, customers can put on a sweater or change temperatures depending on what they’re doing.

They can also use a programmable or smart thermostat, install weatherstripping around doors and windows, and use electricity tracking tools.