After Using a Smart Thermostat, The Typical Savings

What Kind of Savings Can Be Expected After Putting in a Programmable Thermostat?

You've likely heard that a programmable thermostat can help you save money on heating and cooling. You can save money by replacing your old manual thermostat with a programmable one, but this does not happen automatically. To keep the most money, you should choose, set up, and use a programmable thermostat as much as possible.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says that homeowners could save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs by setting a programmable thermostat to lower the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees from its standard setting for eight hours every day. This comes to around $180 a year for the typical home. Use these ideas for your programmable thermostat to save as much money as possible on heating and cooling.

Purchasing a Programmable Thermostat: How to Do It

Examine the compatibility of each thermostat with the rest of your HVAC system as you compare them. For example, a thermostat for heating and cooling with forced air may be wrong for radiant floor heating.

• Examine the schedule controls after that. Most programmable thermostats include four daily programs: Wake, Leave, Home, and Sleep. Different types provide various degrees of power throughout the week. The four main choices are as follows:

• With seven-day programming, the schedule is altered every day. If your family's schedule changes frequently, this is excellent.

• A daily and separate Saturday and Sunday schedules are available for 5-1-1 programming. This is beneficial if your weekly schedule is consistent Monday through Friday but different on Saturday and Sunday.

• You can create separate weekday and weekend programs with 5-2 programming.

• Programming that lasts one week follows the same schedule every day.

Setup Instructions for Programmable Thermostats

A programmable thermostat makes it simpler to conserve energy because you can schedule setback times while you're traveling or asleep. At the beginning of the season, create the settings you desire. Even though you can choose the hours and conditions that suit your family's needs the best, here is an example of how a regular weekday routine might look:

When you awaken around 7:00 a.m., the temperature is just right for you to feel comfortable. In the winter, the DOE advises 68 degrees, and in the summer, 78 degrees.

Take off at 8:00 a.m., 30 minutes before leaving for work, and set the thermostat to drop the temperature by 10 degrees. This setting should be around 58 degrees in the winter, while it should be 88 degrees in the summer.

Home by 5:30 p.m. Before you return home from work, the automatic recovery period ensures a suitable temperature. This setting should be around 68 degrees in the winter and about 78 degrees in the summer.

A 10:30 p.m. nap Set the thermostat to the evening setting 30 minutes before bed. In the winter, you should set this daily temperature to 65 degrees, and in the summer, you should set it to 80 degrees.

Making the Most of a Programmable Thermostat's Savings

The best thing about a programmable thermostat is that it lets you save energy without sacrificing comfort. To make the most of your upgrade, remember to:

• Avoid changing preset settings: If you're truly uncomfortable, you can always change the temperature. However, your energy consumption will increase if you keep adjusting the scenes. Before adjusting the thermostat, put on an extra layer in the winter or grab a fan in the summer.

• Choose the proper "hold" option. All programmable thermostats let you change the temperature quickly without losing the previous setting. This is a "temporary hold" and lasts only until the next predetermined period. When you take extended vacations, you can put your account on "permanent/vacation hold." This permanently overrides the settings. The thermostat will revert to your regular schedule once you manually release the hold.

• Avoid sudden temperature changes. If you need to change a preset, you should only change the thermostat by a few degrees. After making this small change, you should feel more comfortable and save energy by not drastically increasing or decreasing the temperature.

• Replace the batteries: Most programmable thermostats require batteries to prevent the settings from being lost following a power outage. Make it a practice to check the batteries once a year at a time you will remember, such as the start of the year or when the kids start school again in the fall.

Install a Programmable Thermostat to start saving.

If you want to set up a programmable thermostat once and forget about it, call HVAC Installation and Repair Guide Experts for help choosing and installing one. We can also provide further information about Wi-Fi programmable thermostats, which have even more advantages because they allow for remote temperature control, have learning features, have motion sensors, automatically create energy reports, and more. Contact the HVAC Installation and Repair Guide Experts' office in your area right away for more details or to arrange for a free thermostat examination.