Thermostat settings by state
Thermostat settings in Alabama
By Ismail Farooq · Updated 2026-10-30
How most homes heat: Electric heat pumps in most homes, with gas furnaces in older houses and some cities.
Alabama is cooling first: summers are long and humid, and winters are short with only occasional hard freezes. Most new homes have a heat pump, so the settings that matter are dehumidifying in summer and keeping aux heat for the few cold mornings it’s really needed. On the Gulf Coast around Mobile, set the fan to Auto, not On, in summer; a fan left running puts moisture back into the house and leaves rooms clammy at a normal setpoint.
Storms and power cuts are common in spring and hurricane season. A smart thermostat keeps its schedule after an outage, but check it reconnects to Wi-Fi; see thermostat not working after a power outage.
Climate zones in Alabama
| Place | IECC zone |
|---|---|
| Mobile | 2A |
| Montgomery | 3A |
| Birmingham | 3A |
| Huntsville | 3A |
Zones follow county lines on the 2021 IECC map, and some counties changed zone between code editions. DOE’s Building America climate zone map lists every county.
Starting settings
- Everyday setpoints: about 68 °F in winter and 78 °F in summer while you’re home, set back while you sleep or are out (DOE’s guidance).
- Gas, oil or propane furnace or boiler: setbacks of 7 to 10 °F are fine; use the thermostat’s early-start feature so the house is warm on time.
- Heat pump: keep winter setbacks small (2 to 4 °F) so a cold morning doesn’t bring on aux heat.
- Humid summers: use fan Auto, not On, and turn on the thermostat’s dehumidify or overcool setting if the house feels damp. Keep indoor humidity under about 60%.
Heat pump lockouts for Alabama
If you have a heat pump, these are starting points for the outdoor temperatures that control backup heat. Your installer’s balance point is better if you have it.
| Zone | Aux heat lockout (electric strips) | Compressor lockout (dual fuel) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | About 40 °F. Aux heat should almost never be needed. | Rarely needed |
| 3 | 35–40 °F | Around 25–35 °F, by gas vs electricity price |
Rebates
Many utilities give rebates or bill credits for smart thermostats, sometimes in return for joining a peak-day program. Programs change often, so check your electric and gas utility’s website, or search by ZIP code in the ENERGY STAR rebate finder.