Setting Your Thermostat to Save Money

Air conditioning can determine the quality of your everyday life, for example a home where the temperature is set for optimum comfort will be more relaxed and harmonious than one that has fluctuating temperatures or hot spots. With residential air conditioning, it is also important to recognize that you can save money by using your thermostat intelligently. Here are some tips that will help you save money and energy as well as improve the general atmosphere of your home by setting your thermostat:

Upgrade your thermostat

Long gone are the days when you didn’t have programmable thermostats and if you haven’t already, now is the best time to upgrade your thermostat. These days there are a variety of makes and models that fill different needs and functions. If you are looking to save money, invest in eco-friendly options. If you are looking for ultimate comfort and control you can get individual thermostats that work within one central air conditioning system and can be used with a zoning control system so that each person can change the temperature of the room to suit their own comfort level – an added bonus is that this can also help save on your energy bill if used wisely! Lastly, if you do have an older thermostat it is sensible to get it checked out and adjusted by a professional as it may be reading temperatures incorrectly and unwittingly working overtime to compensate. If this is the case, you may also want to look into replacing your thermostat to save money in the long run.

Managing the heat load inside the home

When no one is home and on cooler days, keep the air conditioner on, but set it at a reasonable temperature – a good idea is to keep it on economy mode if your thermostat has this option. It is important to remember however, that you should not change your thermostat by more than 3 degrees because otherwise the energy you save on a vastly different temperature will be used up as your AC works to get back to your desired temperature. Luckily, most modern thermostats do most of the work for you; it will automatically adjust the temperature of your home during certain times of day and depending on who is at home. Also, if you are going away for an extended period of time, be careful about switching off your AC – especially in summer. If your home gets too hot and humid, you are inviting mold to settle in your ducts and other corners of your home.

Make sure your house is well insulated

A well insulated home can save on your energy costs and prolong the life of your AC and thermostat. Good insulation will keep cool air in and hot air out, or vice versa. Keeping this in mind, you should also consider how opening doors and windows affect the temperature in your house – sometimes you can go for hours with the doors and windows closed and the AC off and you will barely feel an increase or drop in temperature. Also, always using the garage door to enter and exit your home could be sapping the hard-worked-for cold air out of your home unnecessarily.

For more information about thermostats, air conditioning zoning, and the general health of your AC system, contact Art Plumbing, AC and Electric today!