Tips for Setting the Programmable Thermostat in Your Maryland Home
According to a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, nine out of ten Americans say they’ve rarely (or never) programmed their thermostat because they’re not sure how to do it.
That’s a shame, because it’s one of the easiest ways we know to save 10 percent or more on your energy costs.
Identifying the kind of programmable thermostat you have
If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, getting one is a smart move: if you use it correctly, it will pay for itself in the first year you own it. Contact us to learn about programmable thermostats we carry and install.
If you already own a programmable thermostat, it’s helpful to know what kind of flexibility your model offers. Typical models, ranked in order here from most to least flexible, offer:
- 7-day programming, which lets you program a different heating/cooling schedule for each day of the week;
- 5-1-1 programming, which allows one heating/cooling schedule for the week, plus separate ones for Saturday and Sunday;
- 5-2 programming, which lets you program on heating/cooling schedule for the week and one for the weekend; and
- 1-week programming. Daily program
Re-setting your programmable thermostat
No matter which of these options you own, you’ll want to change the default or factory settings, since most programmable thermostats are pre-programmed for the “typical American family” (Not sure what that means? Neither are we). You want settings that work with your family in your home.
The settings you can control on virtually all types of programmable thermostats are:
- Wake time
- Sleep time
- Leave time
- Return time
The U.S Department of Energy suggests the following settings for an optimum balance of comfort and savings:
Winter months:
- When you’re home and awake, set the thermostat for 68°F.
- Lower temperatures by 10° for the hours you’re asleep or out of the house. Summer months:
- When you’re home and awake, program air conditioning to 78°F.
- Program the AC to shut off during the hours you’re out of the house.
In general,
- Program heat or A/C to shut off 20-30 minutes before you leave home each day; return them to normal comfort levels 20 to 30 minutes before you come home.*
- Program reductions in heating or cooling to begin 60 minutes before you go to sleep; return them to normal comfort levels 30 minutes before you awaken.
* If you have wi-fi / wireless thermostat, you can control your home’s temperature from your smart phone. Contact us to learn more about smart thermostats.
Save 10 percent on your annual energy bill without sacrificing comfort by installing a programmable thermostat and using it correctly! Contact us today to learn more about the latest smart and programmable thermostats for your Maryland home.
