Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the best ways you can cut back on your home’s energy consumption. But because every family’s schedule and temperature preferences are different, it can be hard to make sense of all the advice out there on how to set your thermostat. That’s why today we’re going to discuss how to get the most savings out of your programmable thermostat while still keeping everyone in your home as comfortable as possible.
Finding your most comfortable at-home temperature
The first thing you should do when you’re figuring out your programmable thermostat settings is decided on an at-home temperature that works for you and your family. This is the temperature that you’ll use whenever people in your family are at home and awake. The EPA suggests using 68 degrees as a starting point. If this seems too chilly for your liking, raise it one degree at a time until you find a temperature that everyone is comfortable with. Just remember that the lower you set your at-home temperature, the more savings you’ll get out of your programmable thermostat.
Choosing your away-from-home and sleeping temperatures
Now that you’ve decided on an at-home temperature, you simply need to adjust your programmable thermostat settings for when you’re away from home or sleeping. These are the times of day when you don’t need to use as much energy on heating your home because you’re either not there to enjoy the heat or you’re covered in your bed’s warm sheets and blankets.
Think about your family’s schedule and when nobody is home for at least 4 hours at a time. This is often somewhere between 8 am and 6 pm due to typical work and school schedules. During these blocks of time, you’ll want to lower your thermostat by 8-15 degrees. The same goes for the hours of the night that your family typically spends sleeping. If 15 degrees below your at-home temperature is too cold for your nighttime hours, raise it by a degree or two until you find a sleeping temperature that works for everyone in your home.
One more way to maximize comfort with your programmable thermostat
Do you ever warm up your car for a few minutes before driving somewhere on a cold winter day? With a programmable thermostat, you can do the same thing with your home! By beginning your home’s warm-up process an hour or so before you get home or wake up, it will be ready for you right when you need it.
If you have any questions about achieving energy savings with your programmable thermostat without sacrificing comfort, or if you’d like an HVAC system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Louis area heating and cooling company.
