Live in Tennessee long enough, and you’ll realize that temperatures in the winter and spring seasons are highly unpredictable. Unfortunately, consumers who adjust their thermostat often in an effort to combat widely swinging temperatures may experience drastic increases in their monthly energy bill. The good news is that consumers can, when done correctly, use a thermostat to regulate changing temperatures in order to stay comfortable and save money on the energy bill.
Avoid Leaving Thermostat at Same Temperature
Countless people set their thermostat on a certain comfortable position and leave it at that temperature indefinitely. To save money on the energy bills, individuals should avoid leaving the thermostat at the same temperature all the time. New programmable thermostats allow you to set your thermostat temperatures for certain times of the day. It’s an excellent idea to set the temperature to a lower level when you aren’t home for 8 or more hours during cold periods and higher levels during warm periods. If you are going to be leaving your home for an extended period, such as on vacation, you should set your system to OFF (except during winter months).
An example of a thermostat program:
| OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE: 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT |
| WAKE6:00 AM71°LEAVE7:00 AM64°RETURN5:00PM70°SLEEP10:00PM65° |
Don’t Adjust Your Thermostat Too Much
Adjusting your thermostat too much can also hurt your wallet. Constantly tweaking your thermostat causes your HVAC unit to start and stop which decreases your unit’s efficiency and causes energy costs to increase. Instead, work to set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature that will allow your furnace or air conditioner run uninterrupted for longer intervals.
Consider Upgrading to Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats have the potential to keep your home comfortable while you are home while also saving you tons of money. Smart thermostats offer the ability to program them manually; however, they also learn your preferences and schedule and can be adjusted from a mobile phone, even when you are away. The ability for smart thermostats to “learn” about your heating and air habits will save you time when the seasons begin to change.
Contact a Knoxville HVAC Expert
City Heating and Air offers all the services from annual inspections to equipment management to ensure your current heating and air system functions properly. Our HVAC technicians can also replace existing units with more efficient ones to ensure maximum efficiency and reliability. Contact us over the phone by calling 865.938.1005 or online here.