Programming your thermostat is an easy way to save energy and effect savings on your power bills. If the temperature in your house is the same during the day and night, when you are at home or when you are away, your power bills will be needlessly higher and you will actually be wasting energy.
How programming your thermostat will help you save power
A programmable thermostat is available in several types. You may choose a digital, electromechanical or the two combined. Digital ones offer the homeowner the opportunity to create multiple settings, but can sometimes be complicated to program. Electromechanical ones will have pegs or sliding bars that enable you to set the temperature.
Keep in mind the schedule of other family members when you are away before programming your thermostat. You will want to set the temperature up or down — perhaps by as much as 10 degrees — in the summer or winter when you’re sleeping or away. Remember that a 1 degree difference in temperature can result in a 1 percent savings on the power bill.
Usually, homeowners will set the thermostat for an extended length of time, say, eight hours, for the night or during the day when family members are away. Some thermostats can be programmed for a number of days, allowing the homeowner to set the time, the duration and the required temperature before leaving.
Often people think the HVAC system will use more power to reach a desired temperature if the thermostat has been set low or high. However, it isn’t true that the furnace or air conditioner has to work harder to reach the desired temperature. Heat and cool air loss to the outer environment actually slows when the temperature inside the home is allowed to fall or rise. Allowing the temperature to drop or rise in the house will simply allow you to save money on your energy bill, and a programmable thermostat ensures you don’t have to hover over the thermostat every few hours to do just that.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for the right advice on programmable thermostats in the Los Angeles area.
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 programming your thermostat and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock