Who Controls the Thermostat in Your Home?
There are supposedly physiological and biological reasons why some feel heat more than others, but when two opposites are sharing a home does it really matter?
The battle of the sexes as it relates to the thermostat has been fought ever since the air conditioner became a permanent fixture in the home. I know it has in mine.
According to an article in Yahoo, it is because women really are colder than men. Not so in my house – and this is a sore point for me right now. The air conditioner and been on the blink all weekend and I feel like I’ve spent the last 72 hours in a sauna. Isn't it supposed to be autumn already? My husband, on the other hand, is probably enjoying the break. He keeps a hoodie next to the bed for the times it is his turn to make coffee in the morning – even in mid summer.
The experts claim that there are indeed physiological and biological reasons why some feel the heat more than others. My argument is, does it really matter? You can always get warm if you’re feeling the cold, but it is difficult the other way around.
Patch Columnist Jeff Allen tackled this when he wrote a column for Patch last year titled “Thermostat Wars.” Turns out he is the one in his household who keeps it cold enough to hang meat – which means he and I cancel out the whole gender argument right there.
So who controls the thermostat in your house?
Bob Roska
9:38 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
While we both tend to adjust the thermostat, we can usually agree on a comfortable temperature. I can be comfortable anywhere from 68 to 75, while my wife is more suited to 70 to 73. What puzzles me is why 68 is perfectly fine in January, but positively freezing in August? And 75 is comfortably cool in August but roasting in January? I have to laugh when I read the power bill and they say to save energy to keep your house 65 in winter and 80 in summer. Yeah, right!
Marne M
9:53 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
We have a programmable thermostat, so for the most part, it's set at a certain temperature depending on the time of day and whether or not anyone is in the house. It stays at around 78 degrees in the summer. However, right now I reserve the right to exercise the "pregnancy override" at any time. :-)
Vanzetta Evans
10:11 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
I just put on my Patch snuggie. That's how I keep my bill down.
Sharon Swanepoel
10:44 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
Those Patch snuggies can come in handy. :)
Crystal Huskey
10:46 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
Ours is programmable too, but when I was growing up, setting the thermostat was an all out war. My mom was always freezing, my brother was always boiling, my dad was always trying to save money and I always changed it just to mess with everybody. I think we argued about it every single day. My dad finally duct taped the little lever down. Good times.
North Georgia Weather
11:56 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
77 during the summer in my house. We've had the windows open at night so it's been getting VERY cool in the house. I always complain but it does me no good... :-)
Ours is electronic too but it never changes.
Mitch
12:51 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
Set at 68 in the winter and 77 in the summer. However, regardless what the thermostat reads, my house can become freezing or on fire at any particular time, all coinciding with my wife’s mood.