5 Benefits of Using a Programmable Thermostat Your Home

The summer heat has finally subsided in Boca Raton, Florida, and you certainly welcomed the dwindling air conditioning costs. Though you might not need your cooling system in winter, it will get cold enough for you to need the heater on occasion. Programmable thermostats are an easy way to ensure that you get the most out of your HVAC system so you save energy and money. However, you have to use your programmable thermostat properly to reap these benefits.

Conserve Energy

By keeping your indoor temperature closer to the outdoor temperature, you’ll use less energy. The ideal indoor temperature during winter is 68 degrees. When no one is home, or you’re asleep, you can program the thermostat eight to ten degrees cooler, or at approximately 58 degrees. Never turn off the thermostat. The longer your setback period, the more energy you’ll save.

There are those who believe that turning the thermostat to a very high temperature will help your home to heat faster. That’s a waste of energy, and you will sacrifice comfort while you wait for the right temperature to be restored. The purpose of a programmable thermostat is that you set it to do its job and leave it alone. Try to avoid constantly adjusting the thermostat. Instead, make sure that you dress appropriately. Observing recommendations for programming your thermostat will help you to maintain comfort and save energy.

Get the Thermostat for Your Needs

Some programmable thermostats will let you program specific settings for different days of the week. It’s a good idea to set another schedule for weekends when you might sleep in or be at home during the day. Most programmable thermostats work best on eight-hour blocks, making it simple to schedule work hours, home hours, and sleep hours. You can invest in a 7-day model which works well if your schedule hardly changes. A 5+2 model allows you to program the same schedule during the week and another on weekends. You can use a 5-1-1 model to program the same schedule during the week with separate schedules for Saturdays and Sundays.

Program for Zones

Zoning allows you to use multiple units and multiple thermostats. Zones allow you to save energy because you can program units in different parts of the house to have their own thermostat settings based on your needs or preferences. For example, if you rarely occupy certain rooms, you don’t have to heat those areas until they are needed.

Zoning allows you to conserve energy. You also increase comfort as you no longer have to worry about insufficient air conditioning in some parts of the house.

Change Air Filters

Some programmable thermostats will remind you to change your air filters. A dirty air filter increases wear and tear on the system, impedes airflow and reduces heating efficiency. Changing your air filter will make your HVAC system work more efficiently, so you reduce energy consumption. Smart thermostats include many similar notification systems.

They Are User-Friendly

Programmable thermostats provide options to manage temperature and humidity and offer many features that help you to save even more. Many users feel that thermostats are too complicated. However, if you don’t program the thermostat correctly, you will sacrifice comfort and see higher than necessary utility bills. One study found that 50 percent of programmable thermostats were on permanent hold, meaning they hold one temperature all day every day. That same study also found that 20 percent of thermostats didn’t have the correct time or date set.

Even though nobody likes to read manuals, it’s important to read the instructions that came with your thermostat so that you can learn to program it the right way. At any rate, thermostats today are very user-friendly, and many are intuitive.

If you don’t yet have a programmable thermostat but are interested in having one installed, don’t hesitate to give Preferred Air Conditioning & Mechanical, LLC a call at (561) 202-1422 to set up an appointment.

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