Are You Using Your Programmable Thermostat Correctly? Guidelines to Follow

Your programmable thermostat is a proven energy saver, allowing you to cut back on heating and cooling costs when you’re away from home. But programmable thermostats don’t start saving you money until you start using them correctly. Here are the guidelines to follow to get the most out of yours.

Pick the thermostat that meets your scheduling needs. Some households have a regular weekday/weekend schedule, whereas others have different schedules every day of the week. Different models of thermostats allow for different levels of control.
Try to set temperatures back for large blocks of time. Eight hours or more a day is a good length for energy savings. This can cover a standard work day or a standard sleep schedule.
If your schedule changes for a day, don’t reprogram your thermostat. Use its override setting instead. It will automatically re-set at its next temperature set point and you won’t have to worry about remembering to re-program your usual schedule when the interruption is over.
Don’t crank the thermostat to warm or cool your home faster. A central air system can only deliver heating and cooling at a single rate unless you have a variable-speed fan or a two-stage furnace. Instead of bringing your home to a comfortable temperature faster, cranking the thermostat is more likely to make your air system overshoot the temperature you want.
Look for programmable thermostats that are wired directly into your home’s electrical system. If you do use a thermostat that’s battery powered, keep the batteries fresh and test them frequently.
If you use a zoned heating and cooling system in your home, use a separate thermostat to control each zone.Combining programmable thermostats with zoned air systems can maximize your energy savings.
Try to set your temperature back 5 to 15 degrees when you’re asleep or away from home.