If you want to maximize your energy savings, you need a thermostat that will help you, but it’s not enough to simply own a good thermostat. You need to understand the proper ways to use your programmable thermostat if you truly want to see your energy bills fall.
Here are some tips to help:
- Shoot for eight-hour periods. During times of day when your home is empty or you’re sleeping, dial the demand down on your A/C for eight hours at a time. For example, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. are times when many homes are empty or asleep. Doing this will cut your energy bills by 10 to 15 percent.
- Take advantage of different settings for multiple days. Your schedule is probably not the same on Tuesday as it is on Saturday. Make sure to think about your habits and schedule for each day and set the thermostat accordingly.
- Try not to use the override feature. If you are uncomfortable, wait a few minutes before overriding your temperature. Constantly using the hold feature makes your system less efficient and costs you money.
- Give your A/C a vacation. Use your programmable thermostat’s vacation settings feature to save even more money when you’re away. Even if you only leave for a day or two, the vacation feature allows you to save while you’re away and then return to the regular settings with a push of a button.
- Consider zoning systems. Each area of your home has different demands, depending on the size of the rooms, number of windows and many other variables. You may need two or more programmable thermostats to maximize your savings.
- Never crank the system up. It does you no good to raise the thermostat to 90 degrees in the winter or 60 degrees in the summer. Some homeowners think the temperature will change faster, but that is not the case.
To speak with an expert about the best ways to use your programmable thermostat, contact Roth Heating & Cooling. We’ve served Portland and the surrounding areas for over 35 years, so we have the knowledge to help you maximize your savings.
