What Are the Average Savings After Installing a Programmable Thermostat?

You have likely heard that putting in a programmable thermostat can lower your heating and cooling costs. While this is indeed true, you don’t immediately save just by replacing your old manual thermostat for a programmable one. To optimize your savings, you must select, set up and use a programmable thermostat effectively.

As stated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), homeowners could save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs by using a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours each day. For the average home, this amounts to close to $180 per year. Try these programmable thermostat tips to save the most on your heating and cooling bills.

How to Secure a Programmable Thermostat

As you look at different thermostats, verify the compatibility with your other equipment. As an example, radiant floor heating might call for a different type of thermostat than one developed for forced-air heating and cooling.

Then, evaluate the scheduling options. Most programmable thermostats have four daily programs—Wake, Leave, Home and Sleep, or something similar. Separate models offer varied levels of control during the week. Here are the four principal options:

• • 7-day programming provides a different schedule on a daily basis. This is ideal if your family’s schedule fluctuates daily.

• • 5-1-1 programming offers a weekday schedule and separate Saturday/Sunday schedules. This is best if your routine is the same Monday through Friday but unique on Saturday and Sunday.

• • 5-2 programming lets you set separate weekday and weekend schedules.

• • 1-week programming sticks to one schedule for every day of the week.

How to Set Up a Programmable Thermostat

The capability to set up setback periods while you’re out of the house or sleeping makes it simpler to save energy with a programmable thermostat. Create the settings you prefer at the start of the season. While you can choose the times and temperatures that work best for your family’s needs, here’s how a typical weekday schedule might work:

• • Wake at 7:00 am: The thermostat provides a comfortable temperature in time for you to start your day. The DOE recommends 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees for the summer.

• • Leave at 8:00 am: Program the thermostat to adjust the temperature back 10 degrees about 30 minutes before going to work. This setting should be about 58 degrees in the winter and 88 degrees over the summer.

• • Home at 5:30 pm: The automatic recovery function provides a comfortable temperature before you return home. This setting should be approximately 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.

• • Sleep at 10:30 pm: Program the thermostat to the nighttime temperature around 30 minutes before bed. This nighttime setting should be about 65 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees during the summer.

Getting Maximum Savings from a Programmable Thermostat

The best benefit of a programmable thermostat is that you can save energy without sacrificing comfort. Follow these tips to get the most from your upgrade:

• • Avoid overriding programmed settings: You can always override the current temperature if you are really uncomfortable. That said, your energy usage will increase if you constantly change the settings. Put on an extra layer in the winter or grab a fan in the summer before touching the thermostat.

• • Use the correct hold feature: All programmable thermostats enable temporary overrides without deleting the existing setting. This is known as the “temporary hold,” which only persists until the next programmed time. The “permanent/vacation hold” is for when you are out of town. This overrides the settings indefinitely. The thermostat won’t return to your regular schedule until you manually disable the hold.

• • Don’t make drastic temperature changes: When you must override a setting, adjust the thermostat by just a degree or two. You should feel more comfortable after making this minor adjustment while avoiding the energy waste of adjusting the temperature way up or down.

• • Change the batteries: Most programmable thermostats need batteries to stop the settings from being deleted after a power outage. Make a habit of changing the batteries once a year at a time you can easily remember, such as the new year or when the kids return to school in the fall.

Start Saving by Installing a Programmable Thermostat

If you’re ready to set it and forget it, choose Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for help choosing and installing a programmable thermostat. We can also provide details about Wi-Fi programmable thermostats, which are designed with even more benefits thanks to remote temperature control, learning capabilities, motion sensors, auto-generated energy reports and more. For additional information or to request a free thermostat assessment, please contact your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office today.