What Are the Average Savings After Installing a Programmable Thermostat?

You have likely heard that installing a programmable thermostat can bring down your heating and cooling costs. While this is certainly true, you don’t immediately save just by replacing your old manual thermostat for a programmable one. To maximize your savings, you ought to select, set up and use a programmable thermostat to the fullest. 

As reported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), homeowners can save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs by using a programmable thermostat to automatically change the temperature 7 to 10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours each day. For the everyday home, this amounts to close to $180 per year. Check out these programmable thermostat tips to save the most on your heating and cooling costs. 

How to Shop for a Programmable Thermostat 

As you look at different thermostats, verify the compatibility with the rest of your HVAC system. For example, radiant floor heating may call for a different type of thermostat than one developed for forced-air heating and cooling. 

Then, assess the scheduling controls. Most programmable thermostats have four daily programs—Wake, Leave, Home and Sleep, or something close. Different models offer dynamic levels of control throughout the week. Here are the four principal options: 

• 7-day programming allows a different schedule on a daily basis. This is perfect if your family’s schedule fluctuates daily. 
• 5-1-1 programming generates a weekday schedule and separate Saturday/Sunday schedules. This is better if your routine is consistent Monday through Friday but different on Saturday and Sunday. 
• 5-2 programming lets you set separate weekday and weekend schedules. 
• 1-week programming follows one schedule for the whole week. 

How to Set Up a Programmable Thermostat 

The ability to program setback periods while you’re away or sleeping makes it simpler to save energy with a programmable thermostat. Finalize the settings you want at the start of the season. While you can choose the times and temperatures that work best for your family’s preferences, here’s how an ordinary weekday schedule might work: 

• Wake at 7:00 am: The thermostat provides a comfortable temperature in time for you to get out of bed. The DOE recommends 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees during the summer. 
• Leave at 8:00 am: Instruct the thermostat to adjust the temperature back 10 degrees around 30 minutes before leaving for work. This setting should be approximately 58 degrees during the winter and 88 degrees in the summer. 
• Home at 5:30 pm: The automatic recovery schedule resumes a comfortable temperature before you get home from work. This setting should be approximately 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees during the summer. 
• Sleep at 10:30 pm: Program the thermostat to the nighttime temperature for 30 minutes before bed. This nighttime setting should be around 65 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees through the summer. 

Getting Maximum Savings from a Programmable Thermostat 

The best benefit of a programmable thermostat is that you can save energy without losing comfort. Try these tips to get the most from your upgrade: 

• Don’t override programmed settings: You can always override the current temperature if you are really uncomfortable. However, your energy usage will go up if you constantly change the settings. Put on an extra layer in the winter or grab a fan in the summer before adjusting the thermostat. 
• Use the correct hold feature: All programmable thermostats allow temporary overrides without deleting the current setting. This is referred to as a “temporary hold,” which only continues until the next programmed time. The “permanent/vacation hold” is for when you leave town. This overrides the settings indefinitely. The thermostat won’t resume your regular schedule until you manually disable the hold. 
• Don’t make steep temperature changes: When you must override a setting, adjust the thermostat by just a degree or two. You should feel more comfortable after making this minor adjustment while avoiding the energy waste of cranking the temperature way up or down. 

• Replace the batteries: Most programmable thermostats use batteries to keep the settings from being deleted during a power outage. Make a habit of changing the batteries once a year at a time you can easily remember, like the new year or when the kids go back to school in the fall. 

Start Saving by Installing a Programmable Thermostat 

If you want to set it and forget it, turn to Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for help selecting and installing a programmable thermostat. We can also share more info about Wi-Fi programmable thermostats, which come with even more benefits like remote temperature control, learning capabilities, motion sensors, auto-generated energy reports and more. For more information or to request a free thermostat assessment, please contact your local Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office today.