With the high cost of conventional energy sources, homeowners are paying closer than ever attention to their home energy bills. If you're looking for a good way to lower your heating and cooling bills, programmable thermostats can reduce your utility costs substantially each year.
Programmable thermostats can be pre-set to adjust temperatures at different times of the day or night to fit your daily and weekly schedules. Temperatures can be set back when you're away or asleep to save energy, and returned to your comfort level before you return home or awaken. Some of the "smarter" units can automatically sense movement in the house and adjust temperatures accordingly. New models can also be controlled remotely using your smartphone, computer or tablet, so you can adjust temperatures or turn the heat or A/C on and off from your office or car.
Programmable thermostats typically come with four pre-programmed settings. If you need to adjust the temperature for a special situation, you can adjust it temporarily without canceling the pre-programmed setting. Many models have additional useful features:
- Lighted digital displays
- Touch-pad screens
- Voice programming
- Hold features
- Maintenance indicators
To get the maximum benefits from your programmable thermostat, follow some simple tips:
- Leave the temperature set for long periods of time (at least eight hours at a time), at the energy-saving pre-programmed set-points
- Avoid using the hold feature for daily functions
- Don't reset temperatures often; let the thermostat do it for you
- Use a different thermostat for different zones or levels in your home
- Don't forget to change batteries in battery-operated units
Programmable thermostats are a great way to conserve energy, cut utility costs and help protect the environment. They will keep your home's temperature at your desired setting around the clock. If you would like more information on programmable thermostats or energy savings for your Mid-Ohio home, please contact us at Joe Behr Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Mid-Ohio area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
