Are you tired of having to change thermostat settings manually before you leave for work or when you go to bed at night, so that you can conserve energy and decrease your energy costs? If so, installing and using a programmable thermostat might be the solution you’re looking for.
Programmable thermostats offer you the convenience and flexibility to program energy-saving settings that take effect automatically. This means that you don’t have to do manual resets, which are inconvenient, often forgotten and typically result in discomfort in your home and energy waste.
If you’re interested in making the switch to a programmable model, there are a few factors that you should consider to maximize your return on investment.
Options
Today’s programmable thermostats can include options ranging from filter-check alerts to remote access, but the most important option to consider is scheduling. To really get the most out of your selection, you’ll need to consider your weekly routine.
If you have a traditional five-day work and school week, a 5+2-day model may interest you. It enables you to schedule weekdays and the weekend separately. If you need slightly more flexibility, a 5+1+1-day model provides the weekday programming of the 5+2 model, but also enables you to program separate settings for Saturdays and Sundays, or whatever other two days you select. If your schedule is a little more unpredictable, 7-day models allow programming for each individual day of the week.
Placement
For a thermostat to be effective, you need to install it in the proper location. Choose a convenient location that also is representative of your home’s temperatures on the whole. Avoid placing thermostats where they will be exposed to excessive sunlight, and keep them away from drafty windows and doors.
Settings
To maximize energy savings, you need to program setbacks for a minimum of eight hours at a time. Ideally, these energy-saving periods should be scheduled while you’re asleep or away from home. A programmable thermostat makes this easy, because you can program different settings for different periods of the day, which allows you to save money on energy while you’re at work, and still return to a comfortable home. According to Energy Savers, consistent setbacks of 10 to 15 degrees can reduce heating and cooling costs by 10 percent annually.
If you’re considering the switch to a programmable thermostat, speak to one of our trained technicians about the best possible solution for your home. For service in the Twin Cities metro area, contact Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ve proudly provided our professional heating, cooling and air-quality services for more than 37 years, and look forward to helping you, too.
Our goal is to help educate our customers 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.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning services Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
Programmable thermostat image via Shutterstock