6 energy saving thermostat tips

6 Energy Saving Tips for Your Thermostat

Appolo Heating

Receiving a large home energy bill is not something anyone wants to experience. Sometimes the impact of this one bill on your household budget can be downright painful, but it can be prevented provided you have a firm understanding of what the best practices are for your home comfort appliances. There are many ways to lower your energy consumption, but your first line of defense is your thermostat. You might be surprised at how even the slightest adjustments can have a huge effect on your home heating and cooling usage.

Below are 6 tips to help you proactively save on your next energy bill:

1. Determine what type of thermostat you have. Understanding the capabilities of your specific thermostat should be the first step in the process of maximizing energy efficiency. There are several types on the market, some far more advanced than others and capable of intelligently controlling your home comfort appliances, while others will require you to manually set the temperature every time.

Some common types are:

  • Mechanical/Manual – The most basic type of thermostat that must be manually adjusted.
  • Digital Non-Programmable – Provides an LCD display for simple manual adjustment.
  • Programmable – A system that can be set to increase or reduce temperature based on presets. Many of today’s programmable thermostats can be Wi-Fi enabled so that they can be remotely monitored and adjusted using a computer or wireless device.
  • Learning or Smart – A type of programmable thermostat that interprets the right temperature based on past adjustments or has the ability to pair with your smartphone to determine when all of the occupants of your home have either left or are returning based on a preset geographic area. Most of today’s newer Learning or Smart thermostats can also be connected to some of the more popular home automation systems that are available today; such as Google Home, Amazon’s Alexa, and Wink.

2. Set your thermostat back at night or when you know your home will be unoccupied for an extended period of time. Make sure you adjust it to the lowest or highest level you can while still maintaining a comfortable temperature for you and your family (generally plus or minus 5-8º). Just a few degrees are not enough to make a noticeable difference comfort-wise but can go a long way in helping you to lower your overall energy bill. Whether you are doing this manually or with a programmable thermostat, be aware of the time it will take to raise or lower the temperature back to your desired set point once you return

3. Be mindful of different family schedules. Adjusting temperatures during specific hours can be tricky when your cohabitants have different work/sleep schedules. In this scenario, it doesn’t always pay to set automatic thermostat defaults but to instead adjust levels to an agreed upon minimum or max.

4. Avoid overcooling/heating. Sometimes, when it’s extremely warm or cold you may feel the urge to set the temperature on your thermostat to the max level to quickly cool off or warm your home. Avoid doing this if you can; you’ll find that your home cools off just as quickly if you set it to a reasonable level.

5. Update your existing thermostat. Installing a new programmable thermostat or upgrading to a new Learning or Smart thermostat will be your best bet for controlling comfort levels automatically, while helping to manage your utility bills. You can set your thermostat to turn on and off based on specific times you choose beforehand. Talk to a home comfort professional about what thermostat is best for you and is compatible with your existing home comfort system.

6. Ask a professional. Understanding all the factors that are at play with your home energy appliances and controls can be difficult as it will vary depending on the type of home you have, the type of equipment you use, and the location in which you live in. For this reason, it is recommended that you leave any installation to the professionals who can ensure the most effective use of your home comfort system and thermostat. If you suspect that your current thermostat might be malfunctioning, you will want to contact a certified technician to repair or replace it as soon as possible to maximize your energy savings and home comfort level.