Homeowners can slash energy bills with a manual thermostat; doing so just takes a little more diligence than it does with a programmable thermostat. It will become a habit before long, and you’ll really see a big difference in your energy expenses.
Simply follow these energy-savings tips and make them part of your daily routine:
- Decrease demand. You may be surprised but you and your family will learn to be comfortable at 67 degrees in the winter and 78 in the summer. All you have to do is change the settings by one or two degrees every week so everyone can get used to the new settings gradually.
- Savings while you sleep. You can save even more while you sleep if you get thick blankets and pajamas for the winter and set your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise (to blow air upward and force warm air collected at the ceiling back down into the room). In the summer, set the fan back to counterclockwise and use light sheets.
- On your way out … Whether you’re going to work or you’re just stepping out for a few hours, change your manual thermostat on your way out. Try 85 in the summer and 60 in the winter to save significantly.
- Change your filters. Check your air filter every month and, if it’s dirty, clean or replace it promptly. Three months is the maximum amount of time you should go between cleaning or changing your filter.
- Have your system tuned annually. Your heating and cooling equipment should be serviced every year to maintain peak performance and efficiency. The tune-up is quick and affordable and the energy savings make it an easy choice.
- Seal and insulate your home properly. The best way to do this is have a professional perform a blower door test and thermographic scan to find air leaks and deficient insulation throughout the house. They can then seal and insulate every weak point correctly.
For more energy savings tips, or to upgrade from a manual thermostat to a smart, programmable model, contact Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. With more than 30 years of service to Dayton and the surrounding area, we have the knowledge and experience to help you maximize your comfort and savings all year.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about manual thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
