If you’re thinking of having a programmable thermostat installed in your home, it could be a great way to save money on your heating and cooling costs. Today’s thermostats are packed full of energy-saving features that make life easier, and less expensive, but only if you keep a few things in mind.
Get Into a Saving Mindset
Many people install programmable thermostats and expect to see huge savings with little change to their daily routine, but that’s just not going to happen. The key to reducing your energy costs with either a programmable or a traditional thermostat is to learn to use it correctly, and that means using less heat in cooler months and less A/C in warmer months. Just as you would make it a habit to switch lights off when you leave a room to save electricity, you need to make a habit of adjusting your heating and cooling habits when you are away or asleep.
Programming for Savings
In order to see savings on your heating and cooling bill, you need to reduce the amount of energy you use, period. That doesn’t mean sitting in a cold house in the middle of winter, or sweltering during the hot Los Angeles summers, but it does mean making some adjustments.
- As a rule, it’s a good idea to keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees F while you are awake and lower while you are asleep or out of the house.
- During summer months, set the thermostat to 78 degrees F while you are at home, and switch off the A/C when you are away.
- For even deeper savings, consider heating and cooling only the rooms most used in the house with space heaters and window A/C units.
The beauty of the new programmable thermostats is the “set it and forget it” aspect they bring to heating and cooling. When used correctly, they’ll easily help you save money. Not sure which programmable thermostat is right for your home? Contact the professionals at Around The Clock Air Conditioning and we’ll help you get set for savings with your thermostat.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostat and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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