Programming Your Thermostat “Just Right” For The Changing Seasons

Programming Your Thermostat “Just Right” For The Changing Seasons

Almost 89% of Americans say they’ve rarely (if ever) programmed their thermostat. Why? Because they’re not exactly sure how to do! It’s really not that difficult and it’s certainly worth doing.

Adjusting your thermostat properly can actually save you up to 12% a year on your heating and cooling costs. You can even attain those savings by just adjusting your thermostat back 7-10 degrees Farenheit from its “normal” setting for at least 8 hours each day (when you’re away at work).

Where To Start – Picking The Right Thermostat

There are 4 kinds of programmable thermostats to choose from, each with its own way to schedule.

  • 7 day: Great for individuals or families with chaotic schedules. This is the most flexible option that allows for programming your thermostat each day of the week.
  • 5-1-1: Allows for a consistent heating/cooling schedule throughout the week (5 days) that you can program differently for Saturday (1) and Sunday (1). This is of course, perfect for people who tend to leave their home for extended periods of time during the standard work-week but come home to enjoy the weekend.
  • 5-2: Basically the same as 5-1-1 programming but allows the weekend days to have the same heating/cooling.
  • 1 week: Allows you to set one consistent temperature that will be held throughout the week. This is a great option for those who work from home remotely to help save on heating/cooling costs given you spend a good chunk of your day at home.

Note: You’ll likely have to reprogram for the cooler and warmer months.

Also, check what equipment is being used to heat and cool your home before investing in a new thermostat. Do you have central heating and cooling or just baseboard heating? You may not get the energy saving cost benefits and you may harm your home’s HVAC system if you get the wrong thermostat!

Change the factory settings

Typically, programmable thermostats have a pre-programmed setting. You’ll need to start by programming your thermostat to fit the needs of you and your household. These needs are based on things like:

  • Wake time (you’ll likely want to pay more attention to what settings are comfortable when you’re awake and at home)
  • Sleep time (you can typically reduce your heating temperatures in the winter by layering up under blankets)
  • Leave time (you’ll want to turn down your thermostat when you’re not at home)
  • Return time

Here are some temperatures to consider during certain times of the year that will help increase your savings:

Winter months:

  • When you’re at home and awake, try programming your thermostat around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower the temp at least 10 degrees when you’re asleep or out of your home.

Summer months:

  • When you’re home and awake, try programming your thermostat around 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Manually shut of the AC if you don’t need cooling. If you’re planning on spending time out of your home, set the thermostat to be warmer.

Programming your thermostat via WiFi

Newer programmable thermostats offer motion detection technology that will heat and cool your home based on whether or not it detects movement. Other thermostats give you the option to adjust your home’s temperature using WiFi, so you can adjust the temp even when you’re not home!

Need help programming your thermostat or determining which thermostat will work best for the heating and cooling system you have? Contact A-Abel for more information.