Using Your Programmable Thermostat Properly? 5 Tips for Improvement

Correctly using your programmable thermostat could cut your Delaware area home’s heating and cooling bills by up to 10 percent. While these thermostats are easy to use, there are a few things you should know if you want to get the most out of them.

1. Select long set points

You’ll see the greatest energy savings when you choose set points at least eight hours apart. Changing your thermostat seven to 10 degrees from its usual settings for at least eight hours a day could save you 10 percent on heating and cooling. Time periods when you’re away at work or in bed are ideal for energy-saving settings.

2. Override with care

Occasionally, you may want to use the override feature on your programmable thermostat to temporarily produce a temperature higher or lower than your pre-programmed settings. An unusually cold or hot day is one reason to do this. Occasional use is fine, but if you regularly override your settings, you’ll defeat the purpose of having a programmable thermostat and run up your energy bills.

3. Use hold wisely

Your thermostat’s hold/vacation setting is designed to be used when you plan to be away from home for more than a day. When using this feature, choose one energy-efficient temperature for the entire time you’ll be gone. Avoid using this feature to manage temperatures when you’re home.

4. Plan ahead

If you want your home to reach a specific temperature at a certain time, set the thermostat to begin heating or cooling two or three hours before that time. If your thermostat features adaptive or “smart” recovery, however, you won’t need to do this.

5. Work with your zones

For a zoned HVAC system, you’ll need a programmable thermostat for each zone. This lets you precisely manage the temperatures in each zone to optimize your comfort and energy savings.

If you have questions about keeping your home comfortable with a programmable thermostat, contact the pros at Sobieski Services. Our goal is to help educate our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC & plumbing systems).

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