5 Reasons Why You Need a Programmable Thermostat
Are you away from your home every day at specific times? If so, a programmable thermostat is a great way for you to start saving money on your energy bill and enjoy the convenience of scheduling what you want your HVAC system to do and when. Here are five reasons why programmable thermostats are a great solution for your home.
- Save money
You can save money on your energy bill by programming your thermostat to adjust its temperature settings while you are asleep and then automatically adjust again when you wake up. Think about the typical times you go to bed at night and get up each morning. Schedule the temperature adjustments to start just before you go to bed and just before you wake up.
You can also do this for the times of the day when you and your family are away from home (for instance, at work or at school). If your house is empty for eight hours of the day, why not adjust the temperature during this time?
- Convenience
You can save and repeat these temperature settings each day in a pre-set schedule for your convenience, so you don’t have to remember to change the temperature before leaving the house. Some units allow you to have different settings each day or during the weekend.
With a smart thermostat, you can even make changes remotely from anywhere using Wi-Fi on your smartphone, tablet or computer.
- Consistent comfort
Programmable thermostats help maintain a consistent comfort level and temperature throughout your house, so you aren’t constantly adjusting the temperature in response to hot or cold temperatures outside.
- Energy efficiency
Make your home more energy efficient by ensuring your HVAC system runs as efficiently as possible and at a lower level when you’re not home, reducing your overall energy usage. - Individual temperature settings
If you have a zoned HVAC system (where your home is divided into multiple zones), you can use your programmable thermostat to customize the temperature in each zone, truly maximizing this setup in your home for those zones that have similar heating and cooling needs.
There are several models of programmable thermostats to choose from:
- 7-day models give you the flexibility to have different settings for each day of the week.
- 5+2-day models are good if you have the same schedule during weekdays and another schedule during weekends.
- 5-1-1 models are good if you have the same schedule Monday through Friday, a different schedule Saturdays and a different schedule Sundays.
For more information on how to use a programmable thermostat properly, check out “A Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling” from ENERGY STAR. In addition to checking your programmable thermostat’s owner’s manual, ask your HVAC contractor how the thermostat works and for recommendations for the best settings.
Keith Air Conditioning is a Factory Authorized Carrier dealer with a range of programmable thermostats for you to choose from. Learn more or set up an appointment by calling 251-517-4437.