A programmable thermostat is a useful tool that can help you keep your energy use at a minimum by enabling you to establish when your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system turns on or off, based on the schedule of you and your loved ones. Knowing the basics of programmable thermostat settings will keep your home comfortable, help you conserve energy, and lower your utility bills.

Programmable thermostats typically allow you to set multiple schedules to accommodate different times of the day and days of the week. If your home is unoccupied during the day, you can create a schedule which ensures that the thermostat is set higher (in the summer) or lower (in the winter). Furthermore, a programmable thermostat helps you avoid the energy waste that can occur when you forget to adjust your thermostat manually before you walk out the door. After all, why heat or cool a home significantly if no one is home.

Additionally, you can eliminate the discomfort of coming home to an overly hot or cold home by using programmable thermostats. Program your settings to begin heating or cooing your home approximately 20 to 30 minutes before you plan to arrive home. You’ll definitely appreciate coming home to a cool house during the hot Georgia summers.

Furthermore, adjusting your thermostat for a period of eight or more hours is a key factor in reducing your household’s utility bills. Keeping your thermostat 10 to 15 degrees higher during warm weather or lower during cool weather can help you save approximately 10 percent annually on your utility bills. Use this strategy not only when the house is empty, but while you sleep, too! If you program your thermostat to raise or lower the temperature, depending on the season, during your sleeping hours, you’ll likely not notice the difference in temperature. And you’ll be saving money while you snooze!

Perhaps your schedule is more varied? Don’t worry, programmable thermostat settings can be interrupted based on your needs. Override or hold features are available on many models, which allow you to interrupt programmed schedules without messing up your settings.

Using programmable thermostat settings to control your household’s energy consumption will help you cut your energy costs, and there are many models available to fit your needs. For more information, or advice about choosing a programmable thermostat, contact Powers Heating & Air. We provide year-round heating and cooling services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree, GA and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about programmable thermostat and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock