A programmable thermostat is a powerful tool for home comfort. You can use a smart thermostat to improve your energy efficiency while enjoying optimum comfort throughout the day. Follow these tips to get the best use out of the programmable thermostat in your Lakeland, Florida, home.
Set Your Daily Schedule
Programmable thermostats typically adjust your home’s temperature four times during the day. These are:
- When you wake up in the morning
- When you leave for work or school
- When you return from work or school
- When you go to sleep at night
The first step in programming your thermostat is determining when these things occur in your daily schedule. Set the approximate time that you wake up, leave, return, and go to sleep each day. You may want to select times slightly before you go to bed and wake up to make it easier to adjust. Set your bedtime as an hour before you go to sleep and select a wake-up time about 30 minutes before you get out of bed.
Many smart thermostats have different options for weekdays and weekends. Some even allow you to adjust the settings independently for each day of the week, which is ideal if you have a schedule that varies throughout the week. Consider these options as you’re selecting your thermostat.
Choose Your Set Temperatures
Once you’ve chosen the times when your thermostat temperatures will change, you can choose your comfort settings for each period of the day. It’s best to use less heating and cooling when you’re out of the home during the day and while you’re sleeping. This allows you to save energy during the time periods when you don’t typically enjoy the heating or cooling as much.
In the evenings, you can adjust your habits to allow you to set the thermostat back for energy savings. In summer, use lighter blankets and pajamas. In winter, switch to flannel sheets and warmer pajamas, or add extra blankets to the bed.
Select Seasonal Settings
You should adjust your thermostat settings seasonally so you’re always using as little energy as possible. In the winter, the temperature should be cooler. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting the thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in cold weather months when you’re awake. Make the home even colder at night and while you’re away. Setting the thermostat back seven to 10 degrees for eight hours at a time can help you save 10 percent on your heating and cooling costs.
In the summer, the Department of Energy recommends a setting of 78 degrees when you’re at home and awake. Make the home warmer at night and when you’re out of the house. This will help you enjoy optimum energy efficiency.
Adjust your thermostat settings when you switch from heating to air conditioning. Keep in mind that the goal is to stay as close to the temperatures outside as you can comfortably manage.
Check Your Thermostat for Alerts
Once you’ve set your temperatures, you shouldn’t have to adjust your thermostat again until you switch from heating to cooling or vice versa. However, you should still look at your thermostat from time to time to see if you have any alerts. Some smart thermostats will let you know when it’s time for a tune-up or filter change. Others will report on the weather or provide tips for better efficiency.
If your thermostat has an associated app, you can use this to look for alerts and make adjustments to the thermostat settings. Your smart thermostat may track your usage over time and suggest changes to the settings that will maintain your comfort levels while using less energy overall.
During the first few days with a smart thermostat, you may want to tweak the settings periodically. Once you’ve chosen settings that you’re comfortable with, try to avoid making frequent adjustments, as this uses more energy.
If you’re interested in adding a smart thermostat to your air conditioner and heater, call Del-Air to learn more. We can help you find the perfect thermostat for your needs.
