The winter months are here again and as you prepare to turn up the heat, you’re probably worrying about the effects of a constantly running furnace on your energy bills. Even if you have scheduled an AC repair to ensure your Heat Pump does not consume excess energy during the winter months, you can still save much more by making appropriate use of your programmable thermostat.
How Much Can I Save With A Programmable Thermostat?
According to the Department of Energy, families can save 5% to 15% on their heating bill by turning their thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours. To achieve this, homeowners need to take advantage of when nobody is around and when everybody is asleep. However, setting a non-programmable thermostat multiple times a day could be a lot of hard work. Plus, radical changes in thermostat temperature could overwork your furnace. This is where a programmable thermostat comes in.
Achieve Multiple Temperatures with Ease
Homeowners that have a programmable thermostat are advised to set their thermostat to higher temperatures when they are at home and lower temperatures when they are not at home or when they are asleep. With a programmable thermostat, you can preset the desired temperatures for specific times of the day and your thermostat would control your furnace to achieve the temperatures.
You do not have to come home to a chilled house and wait for your furnace to heat things up. Your thermostat controls your furnace to achieve the ideal temperature just before you get home.
Suggested Thermostat Schedules For Winter Weekdays
- 6:00 a.m. (wake up time): Set the temperature in your home to 70°F or slightly lower.
- 7:30 a.m. (Time to leave for work): Set the thermostat back 8°F or more. Please note that setting the temperature too low may risk frozen pipes or damage some other property.
- 4:00 p.m. (Family members start returning): Set the temperature to around 68°F.
- 10:00 p.m. (Lights out): Set the temperature to around 56-62°F.
If you’re yet to install a programmable thermostat or if you’re having trouble figuring out the ideal temperature for your thermostat, you can get in touch with our expert AC repair and AC maintenance technicians at Waychoff’s Air Conditioning. You can trust us for the best service and best advice about everything concerning your HVAC system.