If there were a way you could save 10 percent on your heating and cooling bills each year, wouldn’t you want to know about it? Using a programmable thermostat can do just that. And it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to ensure energy savings. Programming your thermostat requires knowing the optimal settings, understanding how long to adjust the home’s temperature, and limiting overrides.
- Find your comfort setting – Most homeowners are comfortable at a temperature around 68 degrees. To calculate how much you can save by setting your thermostat back in the winter and ahead in the summer, figure on a 1 percent savings for every 1 degree that you adjust the comfort setting. So, in the winter for instance, if you can set the thermostat back to about 65 degrees, you’ll save 3 percent.
- Program the device for savings – Homeowners can expect optimal savings when they adjust their home comfort setting at least once a day. Ideal times to program a setback or set forward are either during the day, if the home is unoccupied, or at night, while home occupants are asleep. However, you will generally need to adjust the temperature for a period of eight hours, as this is the minimum time frame that experts recommend to ensure savings.
- Leave it alone – You’ll notice that most programmable thermostats have an override button. This feature simply lets you “override” the next programmed setting. For instance, if you arrive home early one day, you can use the override to bring the temperature back within a comfortable range, without having to wait for the next program to kick in. However, limit how often you use the override, because every time you do, you’ll cancel out savings for that day.
Get a handle on your heating and cooling bills this year, and use a programmable thermostat. With a little knowledge and planning, programming your thermostat is easy. Then you’re set for savings year-round. For expert help and advice for all your home’s heating and cooling needs, contact Ace Hardware Home Services today! We’ve been serving homeowners in the Greater Dayton area since 1978.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programming your thermostat and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
