ENERGY STAR® asserts that 68°F is the ideal thermostat temperature setting for the winter season. This magic number offers a healthy balance of comfort and energy efficiency. You’re free to pick a different temperature setting based on your preferences, of course, but it’s wise to stick to this recommendation as much as possible.
Then again, heating and air quality HVAC specialists will attest that setting your thermostat to 68°F alone is not enough to reach and maintain a good indoor climate. To optimize your device, utilize these expert tips from Cooper Brothers Inc, below.
Avoid Hot Locations
A thermostat doesn’t monitor indoor air temperature in a vacuum. Any source of heat can affect its reading, potentially causing the furnace to blow warm air unnecessarily.
As a general rule, don’t place a thermostat on a wall that’s exposed to direct sunlight, even if you have high-performance windows. Also, heating and air conditioner replacement experts advise against installing this device in the kitchen, as it’s usually hotter than the rest of the house because of the amount of cooking and baking done in it and the abundance of moisture in the air.
Take Advantage of Programmability
Setting your thermostat to 68°F is necessary only when you’re at home during the daytime. When you’re away or asleep, lower the temperature by 10° to noticeably drive down your energy costs. One estimation says that turning back your thermostat by about 7° to 10° for eight hours every day can result in up to a 10% reduction in your annual heating expenditures.
Temperature setting changes should happen automatically. Otherwise, you may forget to adjust the setting, inadvertently wasting a lot of energy and triggering a heating and air conditioning repair. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat yet, go get one. It will be worth every penny.
Be “Smart”
Upgrading to a smart thermostat is another surefire energy saver. These high-tech devices can learn your patterns of HVAC usage and moderate temperatures accordingly on their own. A smart thermostat can also be controlled remotely, so you’ll be able to manually change its settings using an app.
Let Cooper Brothers help you determine the most suitable thermostat for your HVAC equipment so you can begin conserving more energy this winter. Call us at (408) 649-2008 to get a free estimate for a new system.