What Are the Average Savings After Installing a Programmable Thermostat?

You have most likely heard that putting in a programmable thermostat can reduce your heating and cooling costs. While this is genuinely true, you don’t instantly save just by replacing your old manual thermostat for a programmable one. To maximize your savings, you should select, set up and use a programmable thermostat properly. 

As provinced by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), homeowners can save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs with the help of a programmable thermostat to consistently change the temperature 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours each day. For the average home, this amounts to about $180 per year. Check out these programmable thermostat tips to save the most on your heating and cooling bill. 

How to Secure a Programmable Thermostat 

As you look at different thermostats, check the compatibility with your HVAC system. As an example, radiant floor heating can require a different type of thermostat than one developed 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 similar. Different models offer varied levels of control during the week. Here are the four principal options: 

• 7-day programming allows for a different schedule on a daily basis. This is perfect if your family’s schedule varies regularly. 
• 5-1-1 programming creates a weekday schedule and separate Saturday/Sunday schedules. This is better if your routine is the same Monday through Friday but different on Saturday and Sunday. 
• 5-2 programming lets you set separate weekday and weekend schedules. 
• 1-week programming sticks to one schedule for every day of the week. 

How to Set Up a Programmable Thermostat 

The ability to schedule 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 select the times and temperatures that are ideal for your family’s schedules, here’s how an ordinary weekday schedule might look: 

• Wake at 7:00 am: The thermostat provides a comfortable temperature in time for you to start your day. The DOE suggests 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees for the summer. 
• Leave at 8:00 am: Instruct the thermostat to set the temperature back 10 degrees around 30 minutes before going to work. This setting should be about 58 degrees in the winter and 88 degrees for the summer. 
• Home at 5:30 pm: The automatic recovery period provides a comfortable temperature before you return home. 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 around 30 minutes before bed. This nighttime setting should be about 65 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees during the summer. 

Getting Maximum Savings from a Programmable Thermostat 

The best part about a programmable thermostat is that you can save energy without sacrificing 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 are uncomfortable. That said, your energy usage will go up if you regularly change the settings. Add an extra layer in the winter or turn on a fan in the summer before adjusting the thermostat. 
• Use the correct hold feature: All programmable thermostats allow temporary overrides without deleting the current setting. This is called the “temporary hold,” which only continues until the next programmed time. The “permanent/vacation hold” is for when you leave town. This overrides the settings indefinitely. The thermostat won’t return to your regular schedule until you personally clear the hold. 
• Don’t make steep temperature changes: When you must override a setting, change the thermostat by just 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 run on batteries to stop the settings from being deleted after a power outage. Make a habit of checking the batteries once a year at a time you can easily remember, such as the new year or when the kids go back to school in the fall. 

Start Saving by Installing a Programmable Thermostat 

If you want to set it and forget it, call McKinley Heating Service Experts for help selecting and installing a programmable thermostat. We can also share more info 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 more information or to request a free thermostat assessment, please contact your local McKinley Heating Service Experts office today.