How Smart Is Your Thermostat?

Technology has led to incredible inventions which can make life not only easier, but also more affordable. This is definitely true of the HVAC thermostat. The newer models are designed to make it easier to control the temperature of your home while also learning your preferences without needing regular programming. If you have an older thermostat installed in your home, it may be time to consider upgrading to one of the higher tech models which can help make your space both more comfortable and more energy efficient. 

Features Available On New Thermostats

First and foremost, a programmable thermostat is a worthwhile investment for any homeowner who currently has or is considering the installation of an HVAC system. The ability to program your home’s temperature throughout the day can lead to large savings on your energy bill. This allows you to reduce the heating or cooling when you and your family are gone during the day, also at night when you are sleeping. Some other fantastic features that newer thermostats offer include: 

  • Learning capabilities. Many computerized thermostats now can learn your preferences and program your temperatures accordingly. These smart thermostats can memorize what settings you use, give you energy efficient options and even create reports regarding energy usage during a set period.
     
  • Remote technology. Newer thermostats often now have Wi-Fi capabilities, allowing you to control your home settings from any internet capable device, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer.
     
  • Display. Many of the high-tech thermostats come with back-lit displays which are easy to read and use, often with touchscreen options. Battery backups ensure settings are not lost during a power outage. 

To learn more about the smart options available in thermostats, talk to your local HVAC service company for advice. They can suggest a newer model which will meet your personal needs, and which can possibly offer substantial savings off your energy bills when used correctly.

Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC

Google

Programming Your Thermostat For Vacations

If you have one last vacation planned for the summer or are getting away for a long Labor Day weekend, save some money on your energy bills by programming your thermostat accordingly. While you are away, there is no reason to pay for your home to be cooled to the same comfort level you would expect while your home is occupied. While you may not want to turn the HVAC system all the way off, you should at least raise the temperature a few degrees. 

Where Should You Set Your Thermostat?

While you are away, you want to save on your energy bills. However, you should still keep your home cooled to a reasonable level. Allowing it to get too hot can destroy items in the house, plus make it expensive to cool down when you get back. A good rule of thumb is to set it between 3-6 degrees above your normal setting. This will save on energy while still keeping your home reasonably cool. 

The same is true for winter vacations, in the opposite direction. During the winter, set your thermostat about four degrees below your normal setting while away for heat pumps. For gas furnaces, you can go a little lower, up to eight degrees since they can heat a home back up to temperature quickly and efficiently. 

By raising or lowering your thermostat during your vacation, you can save a bundle off your energy bills while keeping your home at a safe, moderate temperature. This will ensure that when you return your home will be able to return to your normal settings quickly and efficiently. For those with programmable thermostats featuring smartphone applications, consider changing your temperature setting back to normal a few hours before you get home.

Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC

Google

Choosing A Programmable Thermostat

An easy way to save money on your air conditioning and heating bills is to replace your standard thermostat with a modern programmable thermostat.   Programmable thermostats automtically adjust the temperature in your home to keep you and your family comfortable and switch to an energy savings setting at night or during the daytime hours when you and your are away at work or school.  Depending on your lifestyle, there are many different features and models that can help lower energy costs while maintaining a comfortable home temperature. 

Additional Features

The additional features beyond the standard four pre-programmed settings can make one thermostat stand out from another. Some of the additional features that models may come with are:

  • Voice programming
  • Smart phone programming
  • Vacation or hold features
  • Troubleshooting indicators
  • Adaptive recovery/smart recovery 

Daily Settings

In general, there are three different kinds of models to choose from to program your day and week temperatures. The model you choose will depend on how much your schedule changes throughout the week. 

  • 7-day model. If your family’s schedule changes from day to day, a seven-day model allows you to program it for each individual day throughout the week. For example, if the kids are home early on one day, but later on others, you can set the timers differently for each day.
  • 5 + 2-day model. For those who have a set schedule Mon-Fri and a similar schedule for the weekends, this model can let you set one program each.
  • 5 +1+1-day models. If you are on a routine for 5 days and then the other two days need to be individually set, this may be a good choice for you. 

Once you choose the model that best fits your lifestyle and schedule, your service technician can professionally install it and help you learn how to program your new programmable thermostat. By using the various settings you can make sure your heating and cooling system is always on when you need it and off when you don’t.