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Archives: October 25, 2016

How to Properly Utilize a Programmable Thermostat

programmable-thermostat

If you are away from home for certain periods of time during the day or week, a programmable thermostat is an ideal piece of equipment to help you regulate your heating and cooling needs. According to research, if you properly use a programmable thermostat, you can up to $180 every year in energy costs. This is certainly something you would want for you and your family.

Choosing the Right Programmable Thermostat

There are many models of programmable thermostats and for you to reap the full benefits; you need to pick the ones that work for you. In order to do this, you should first think about your schedule and the many times you leave your home for regular time periods such as school, work, and other predictable activities.

There are three programmable thermostat models you can choose from:

  • 7 Day Models – These are appropriate if your daily schedule keeps on changing. For instance, your children may be home earlier on some of the days while in the others they get late. The 7 day model gives you so much flexibility and allows you to set different programs for the different days. You have at your disposal 4 possible temperature periods daily.
  • 5+2-Day Models – These work best where your schedule is the same each weekday and for weekends.
  • 5-1-1 Models – Here, the thermostat allows you to set the same schedule Monday to Friday and another for Saturday and Sundays.

Critical Programmable Thermostat Settings

If you haven’t worked with programmable thermostats and want to know the applicable settings to start with so as to save energy, try out the following:

  • The wake setting should be timed at 6.00 a.m. The set point temperatures for heating and cooling should be at < 70 degrees Fahrenheit and > 78 degrees Fahrenheit respectively.
  • The day setting should be timed at 8.00 a.m. The heating and cooling set point temperatures should be at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit and 7 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • The evening setting should be timed at 6.00 p.m. with less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 78 degrees Fahrenheit for heating and cooling respectively.
  • The sleep setting should be timed at 10.00 p.m. onwards with a setback of at least 8 degrees Fahrenheit for heating and a setup of at least 4 degrees Fahrenheit for cooling.

How to Get the Optimal Benefit

In order to get the maximum possible benefit from your thermostat, ensure you install it very far from your heating and cooling registers, fireplaces, doorways, windows, and skylights. Also, set the thermostat at energy saving temperatures whenever there is no one at home or during bedtime when everyone is asleep.

If you have installed a heat pump, you require a special programmable thermostat that will help maximize your energy savings.