What Are the Average Savings After Installing a Programmable Thermostat?

You have probably heard that putting in a programmable thermostat can bring down your heating and cooling costs. While this is indeed true, you don’t immediately save just by replacing your old manual thermostat for a programmable one. To optimize your savings, you ought to select, set up and use a programmable thermostat to the fullest. 

As provinced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), homeowners could save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs with the help of a programmable thermostat to consistently adjust the temperature 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours every day. For the ordinary home, this amounts to close to $180 per year. Follow these programmable thermostat tips to save the most on your heating and cooling bills. 

How to Secure a Programmable Thermostat 

As you compare thermostats, verify the compatibility with your other equipment. For example, radiant floor heating may call for a different type of thermostat than one created for forced-air heating and cooling. 

Then, examine the scheduling options. Most programmable thermostats have four daily programs—Wake, Leave, Home and Sleep, or something close. Various models offer varying levels of control all through the week. Here are the four primary options: 

• 7-day programming allows a different schedule each day. This is perfect if your family’s schedule changes daily. 
• 5-1-1 programming offers a weekday schedule and separate Saturday/Sunday schedules. This is best if your routine is the same Monday through Friday but distinct on Saturday and Sunday. 
• 5-2 programming lets you set separate weekday and weekend schedules. 
• 1-week programming creates one schedule for the entire week. 

How to Set Up a Programmable Thermostat 

The capability to program setback periods while you’re gone or sleeping makes it simpler to save energy with a programmable thermostat. Finalize the settings you want at the start of the season. While you can choose the times and temperatures that work best for your family’s preferences, here’s how an ordinary weekday schedule might work: 

• Wake at 7:00 am: The thermostat provides a comfortable temperature in time for you to get out of bed. The DOE suggests 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees during the summer. 
• Leave at 8:00 am: Instruct the thermostat to set the temperature back 10 degrees around 30 minutes before heading into work. This setting should be approximately 58 degrees during the winter and 88 degrees for the summer. 
• Home at 5:30 pm: The automatic recovery schedule resumes a comfortable temperature before you are home for the day. This setting should be around 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees during the summer. 
• Sleep at 10:30 pm: Program the thermostat to the nighttime temperature for 30 minutes before bed. This nighttime setting should be about 65 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees through the summer. 

Getting Maximum Savings from a Programmable Thermostat 

The best aspect of a programmable thermostat is that you can save energy without losing comfort. Follow these tips to get the most from your upgrade: 

• Try not to override programmed settings: You can always override the current temperature if you feel uncomfortable. That said, your energy usage will increase if you regularly change the settings. Don an extra layer in the winter or grab a fan in the summer before touching the thermostat. 
• Use the correct hold feature: All programmable thermostats can create temporary overrides without deleting the current setting. This is known as the “temporary hold,” which only persists until the next programmed time. The “permanent/vacation hold” is for when you leave town. This overrides the settings indefinitely. The thermostat won’t resume your regular schedule until you personally disable the hold. 
• Don’t make steep temperature changes: When you must override a setting, adjust the thermostat by only a degree or two. You should feel more comfortable after making this small adjustment while preventing the energy waste of cranking the temperature way up or down. 

• Replace the batteries: Most programmable thermostats need batteries to prevent the settings from being deleted after a power outage. Make a habit of replacing the batteries once a year at a time you can easily remember, such as the new year or when the kids return to school in the fall. 

Start Saving by Installing a Programmable Thermostat 

If you prefer to set it and forget it, choose Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts for help finding and installing a programmable thermostat. We can also tell you about Wi-Fi programmable thermostats, which offer even more benefits such as remote temperature control, learning capabilities, motion sensors, auto-generated energy reports and more. For additional information or to request a free thermostat assessment, please call your local Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts office today.