As the weather gets cooler in the Indianapolis area this fall, it’s important to think about your pets and home heating. If you’re usually gone most of the day, you’ll need to make sure that the temperature inside your home is comfortable for them. When you leave your home for the day, what’s the right temperature for pets?
How Pets Stay Comfortable
Dogs generally have a body temperature that averages about 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, while cats have an average body temperature that falls between 100 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures are slightly warmer than the average body temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for humans. Dogs and cats have the ability to regulate their own body temperature, which helps them stay as warm or cool as needed. For example, dogs do this by panting when they get too hot.
Although pets grow winter coats, these don’t necessarily do much to keep them warm. Certain breeds of dogs do have an easier time staying warm thanks to a thicker coat, but other breeds have smoother coats that don’t provide as much warmth. It’s important to keep this in mind when deciding the right temperature for pets in your home.
Finding the Right Indoor Temperature
Your pets should be able to stay comfortable at the same temperature that’s comfortable for you. This means you shouldn’t lower your thermostat significantly when you leave your home for the day. Doing this could end up causing more harm than good for your pets. An indoor temperature that’s suddenly much lower than usual makes it harder for your pets to stay warm enough. If your pets have thinner or smoother coats, you can’t count on these to keep them warm either. A good rule of thumb is to leave the thermostat at the same temperature when leaving your Indianapolis home for the day, rather than lowering it. This helps ensure that your pets will stay comfortable all day long.
If you need HVAC repairs or maintenance this fall, please contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We offer dependable heating and cooling services in the Indianapolis area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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