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Five Ways to Use Programmable Thermostats to Save Money

Five Ways to Use Programmable Thermostats to Save Money

Five Ways to Use Programmable Thermostats to Save Money

If you are like most Americans, you spend more than $2,200 a year on energy costs and nearly half of that goes toward heating and cooling. You can save as much as $180 per year by installing a programmable thermostat.

Programmable thermostats make it easy to save money, because they are equipped with pre-settings that are designed to optimize the temperature inside your home for maximum comfort and energy efficiency. You can also make adjustments to these pre-sets to accommodate your family’s unique schedule.

However, a programmable thermostat is only as effective as you make it. It is important to set a program that cuts back on heating and air conditioning when you do not need them, like when the house is empty or when you are asleep. If you program the device incorrectly, you are not going to see much of a difference on your next utility bill and you will have trouble maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature.

Here are five easy ways to save money with your programmable thermostat:

  1. Try to keep the thermostat programmed to the manufacturer’s pre-determined energy saving settings for as long as possible, like during the day when everyone is off at work or school or overnight while you are sleeping.
  2. Use the system’s override function wisely. All programmable thermostats let you temporarily change the temperature without cancelling the pre-set program. This is a nice feature to have when you need to make temporary manual adjustments to the temperature, if you are having a party, for example. While the override cancels automatically at the next program cycle, if you constantly override it you use more energy and will end up paying higher utility bills. Consider tweaking the pre-programmed setting so the schedule more closely matches your needs.
  3. Most programmable thermostats have two different hold options, permanent or vacation mode and temporary. The permanent/vacation hold should not be used to manage your system’s day to day settings; this function is meant to maintain consistent, energy efficient operation when you are away from home for long periods of time. If you do need to override the system, use the temporary hold.
  4. Avoid the temptation to suddenly crank the heat or air conditioning up if the weather or your schedule changes on a particular day. Blasting your house with warm or cold air will not change the temperature any faster than simply letting the system run through its program; all you will do is increase your energy costs. So throw on a sweater or pour a glass of cool lemonade and just wait for the temperature to come up or go down as usual.
  5. Many homes have a single thermostat that controls the HVAC system for the whole house. If you live in a large house or have rooms or floors that are not used much, you might get even greater savings by dividing your home into several different zones. Zoned heating and cooling lets you control the temperature in different areas, independent of one another, so there is less wasted energy and more comfort in those areas that you use regularly.

Contact Horizon Services

So, are you ready to install or replace a heater or air conditioner? Our friendly and experienced team of Comfort Specialists knows heating and air conditioning systems inside and out. They’ll take the time to study your home, understand your heating and cooling requirements, show you all of your options and assist you with finding the quality home comfort system that best meets your family’s needs and budget.