With the temperatures on the rise here in the Twin Cities, keeping cool without wasting energy and money is a top-of-mind occupation. One of the things you can do to keep your energy costs to a minimum over the summer is to make sure you’re using a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature changes in your home. A programmable thermostat gives you hassle-free control over how much cold air the A/C produces and when, which saves time, energy and money. These devices offer the same benefits in the winter. There are three basic types of schedules for programmable thermostats:
- The 7-day model allows a different schedule for each day of the week. This model provides the most flexibility if
your schedule changes frequently. - The 5-2 model allows one schedule for weekdays, and another for the weekend.
- The 5-1-1 programmable thermostat allows one schedule for weekdays, and a separate schedule for Saturday and Sunday.
Which one is best for you will depend on your schedule. With a programmable thermostat, you don’t have to remember to turn the the A/C up or down to save energy and accommodate your schedule. This saves energy automatically. Some other tips for saving energy with your thermostat include:
- Install the thermostat away from heating or cooling registers, lamps or heat-producing appliances. The temperature variation created by these items will influence the thermostat reading, making the A/C stop too soon or run for too long.
- Keep the thermostat set at a higher, energy-saving temperature when no one is home and at night.
- Use the hold button to keep the temperature at an energy-saving level if going away for the weekend or a short trip.
- Fight the temptation to override programmed settings, since this drives up the energy usage and cost. A minimum eight-hour block of time at the higher (or lower in the winter) temperature is usually needed to optimize savings.
- If your thermostat uses batteries, change them at least once a year to make sure you are getting the best performance.
For more tips and tricks on how to get the most energy savings from your programmable thermostat, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been the Twin Cities’ choice for exceptional heating and air conditioning service since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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