Thermostat settings by state
Thermostat settings in Michigan
By Ismail Farooq · Updated 2026-10-30
How most homes heat: Natural gas furnaces in most homes; propane in the north and the Upper Peninsula.
Michigan has cold winters everywhere, and very cold ones in the Upper Peninsula. Natural gas furnaces dominate, so deep overnight setbacks are fine. Lake-effect weather brings cloudy, damp cold, and many homes have whole-house humidifiers on the furnace that the thermostat can control.
Up north, propane costs much more than natural gas, which makes scheduling and a dual-fuel heat pump more worthwhile. Vacation cabins need a freeze-safe away temperature and, ideally, a separate low-temperature alert.
Climate zones in Michigan
| Place | IECC zone |
|---|---|
| Detroit | 5A |
| Grand Rapids | 5A |
| Lansing | 5A |
| Traverse City | 6A |
| Marquette | 7 |
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.
- Freeze protection: keep the away or minimum temperature at about 55 °F or higher in winter, and make sure the thermostat keeps working without Wi-Fi.
- Cold, damp winters: if you have a humidifier, let the thermostat lower its target as it gets colder outside so windows don’t drip.
Heat pump lockouts for Michigan
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 25–35 °F for a standard heat pump; lower for a cold-climate model | Around 20–35 °F |
| 6–8 | From the heat pump’s rated output at low temperatures; cold-climate models often run well below 10 °F | Often 0–25 °F, from the installer’s balance point |
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.