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A programmable thermostat is a wonderful solution for living more energy efficiently and saving money all year long—but not if you don’t use it correctly or even bother to program it! Believe it or not, too many homeowners don’t use their programmable thermostats correctly because they don’t know how or think it’s too complicated. But it’s not!
We want everyone to feel comfortable operating their thermostat, which is why we wrote this blog post. While this post will provide an overall guide and some quick tips, please don’t hesitate to call professionals for more detailed help—your local HVAC company or the manufacturer of your thermostat.
Are you in the market for a new programmable thermostat? There are multiple types:
Most programmable thermostats are either digital, electromechanical, or some combination of the two. Digital thermostats offer the most features in terms of multiple setback settings, overrides, etc. Electromechanical systems often involve pegs or sliding bars and tend to be easier to program.
Do you have a programmable thermostat and aren’t sure how to operate it? Let’s start with the basics. As you probably already know, programmable thermostats allow you to adjust the times you turn on the heating or air conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. Programming options are based on sleep/wake time and leave/return time.
In the colder months, set the temperature to 68 degrees while you’re awake and lower than that when you’re asleep or away from the house. During the summer, follow the same rule—set the temperature to 78 degrees and turn it set it for higher when you’re asleep or away from the house. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
Thermostats usually have two types of hold features: hold/permanent/vacation and temporary. Don’t use the hold/permanent/vacation feature to manage daily temperature settings—this should only be used when you’re planning to be away for an extended period of time. Set this feature at a constant, efficient temperature (a few degrees warmer in the summer and a few degrees cooler in the winter) when going away for the weekend or on a longer trip. You’ll waste energy if you leave the “hold” feature at the comfort setting while you’re away.
Here are some additional tips from the U.S. Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR®:
It’s going to be a warm summer—so make sure you program your thermostat correctly to stay comfortable while also saving money. Arctic Air Conditioning is happy to help you choose the right thermostat for your home and get it programmed correctly. Contact us to schedule an appointment!