Energy-Saving Settings
What are the best thermostat settings for Iowa?
Setpoints and setback tips that trim heating and cooling bills through Des Moines, IA winters and summers — without leaving your home uncomfortable.
A practical starting point for an Iowa home is 68°F in winter when you’re home and awake, and 78°F in summer when you’re home, then setting back a few degrees while you sleep or are away. Because your bill is driven by the gap between indoor and outdoor temperature, those setbacks save the most during Iowa’s coldest and hottest stretches. A programmable or smart thermostat makes it effortless — and if you heat with a heat pump, keep the setbacks small so you don’t trigger costly backup heat.
Recommended setpoints by season
Winter (heating)
- Home and awake 68°F A comfortable, efficient starting point for most Iowa homes.
- Asleep or away 60–62°F A modest setback while you sleep or are out trims runtime without a long, costly recovery.
Summer (cooling)
- Home 78°F Paired with good humidity control, this feels comfortable in a humid Iowa summer.
- Away 82–85°F Let it drift up when no one is home, then cool back down before you return.
These are general starting points, not exact numbers for every home — comfort, humidity, insulation, and your equipment all shift the ideal a few degrees.
How to actually save with setbacks
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates households can save around 10% a year on heating and cooling by setting the thermostat back 7–10°F for about 8 hours a day. Here’s how to capture that in an Iowa home:
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat. The savings come from the setback actually happening every day. A schedule (or a smart thermostat that learns your routine) does it automatically so you never have to remember.
- Aim the biggest setbacks at the most extreme weather. Your bill is driven by the gap between indoor and outdoor temperature. Setbacks during Iowa's deepest cold and hottest stretches save the most because that gap is largest.
- Keep winter setbacks modest. Dropping the heat too far overnight means a long, expensive morning recovery, and setting it very low risks frozen pipes during a hard freeze. A few degrees is the sweet spot.
- Go easy on setbacks with a heat pump. Big temperature swings can trigger a heat pump's electric backup heat, which costs more, not less. Use small setbacks or a heat-pump-aware thermostat.
- Mind thermostat placement. A thermostat in direct sun, near a vent, or by a lamp reads the wrong temperature and runs the system at the wrong times.
Dialed in your settings but the bill still climbed? See why is my energy bill so high and our DIY HVAC maintenance tips , since a dirty filter or coil quietly drives runtime up.
Iowa myth vs. truth
Myth: “Turning the heat way down all day saves the most.”
Deep setbacks can backfire in Iowa. Letting a home get very cold means a long, energy-hungry morning recovery, risks frozen pipes in a hard freeze, and on a heat pump it can switch on expensive electric backup heat. A modest, consistent setback — not an extreme one — usually wins.
Want help dialing in comfort and efficiency?
From a thermostat upgrade to a tune-up that keeps your system running efficiently, we can help your Des Moines home stay comfortable for less. Ask us about maintenance plans, too.
Common questions
What temperature should I set my thermostat in winter in IA?
A common recommendation is 68 degrees while you are home and awake, with a modest setback to about 60 to 62 degrees while you sleep or are away. Keep the overnight setback small so the system does not face a long, costly morning recovery.
What is the best AC temperature for a Des Moines summer?
Around 78 degrees while you are home is a widely used starting point, especially when your system also manages humidity well. Let it drift up to the low-to-mid 80s when the house is empty, then cool it back down before you return.
Do thermostat setbacks really save money?
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates you can save around 10% a year on heating and cooling by setting your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for about 8 hours a day. The savings are largest during Iowa's most extreme weather. Actual results vary by home, equipment, and energy prices.
Should I set my thermostat back if I have a heat pump?
Be careful with large setbacks on a heat pump. A big jump back to your comfort temperature can switch on electric backup heat, which can erase the savings. Use small setbacks or a thermostat designed to manage a heat pump.