Thermostat settings by state

Thermostat settings in South Carolina

By Ismail Farooq · Updated 2026-10-30

How most homes heat: Electric heat pumps in most homes.

South Carolina has long, hot, humid summers and short winters. Heat pumps are the standard, so humidity control in summer and aux heat settings in winter are the two things to get right.

Coastal homes face hurricanes and long power cuts; the upstate around Greenville gets colder winters and occasional ice. After an outage, check your thermostat still knows it controls a heat pump and hasn’t switched to emergency heat.

Climate zones in South Carolina

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 South Carolina

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.

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.