Smart and Programmable Thermostats

Posted by Service Champions

Heating Blog

Maximize Heater Efficiency With Smart and Programmable Thermostats

Why should homeowners upgrade to a smarter thermostat? Smart and programmable thermostats offer the ultimate amount of personalization when it comes to heating and air conditioning. With a smart thermostat, you can time when heating starts and stops, at what temperature and even how. With all these options available, homeowners are in control, not only of their home heating but also how much they spend.

Smart and Programmable Thermostats

Most homes do well with programmable thermostats. It’s simply a matter of learning to use it efficiently. Considering that thermostats control half of the heating process, it’s vital that homeowners learn all they can about their particular thermostat.

Few homes today still have mercury thermostats, which can make for inefficient heating control. Today’s HVAC technology produced some incredible devices designed to make home life easier and heating more accurate. For homes still operating on mercury thermostats, it is well worth the investment to replace it with a smart or programmable thermostat.

Some of the best programmable and smart thermostats include:

Once you have your programmable thermostat installed, it’s time to implement easy tips to maximize savings and home comfort.

Save 15 Percent on Heating Expenses by Scaling Back

When we sleep, we can hardly tell apart small differences in temperature. This makes it the perfect chance to cut back on energy use. Pull back on the thermostat and set the temperature at about 10 degrees lower than what you like when awake. For the next eight hours or so, you save about 15 percent in savings.

While this can seem like a big change, most people get by just fine by using an additional blanket while falling asleep until they fully acclimate.

Homeowners should also scale back on the thermostat temperature when the house is empty rather than to turn off the thermostat altogether. Depending on where you live and what type of home you have, the temperature inside may drop too low. This only creates additional work.

With a programmable thermostat, you have total control, so why not use its special functions?

When the home is empty, keep the thermostat set, again, at 10 degrees lower than where you’d like it if you were home. This manages the workload for the furnace so that when you return home, it has a smaller heat difference to make up.

Set the Thermostat at 68 Degrees for Optimal Comfort

What is the difference in feel between 68 and 70 degrees? Not much. However, there is a big difference in energy costs. Rather than cranking up the thermostat to reach the 70s, hover in the high 60s and you’ll shave energy costs on a day-to-day basis.

This may take some practice. Especially when there are many people in one home, finding a sweet spot for everyone takes time. Homeowners are encouraged to experiment and play around with the thermostat, and evaluate energy bills to find the perfect balance between home comfort and energy savings.

Program the Thermostat with the 15-Minute Rule

Program the thermostat so that it turns on to heat to your desired temperature 15 minutes before you need it.

For example, if you sleep with the thermostat set at 65 degrees, schedule the thermostat to heat to 68 degrees 15 minutes before your alarm rings in the morning. This way, you have comfortable home air to enjoy while preparing for the day. Likewise, program the thermostat to heat the house as you drive home from work.

While the additional work of programming may take some time and practice, it is well worth the energy costs saved.

Upgrade Your Thermostat with Service Champions Experts

Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning is the Diamond Certified HVAC provider for Orange and Los Angeles Counties. We lead in heating maintenance, repairs and installations. We also provide a wide array of air care and home comfort services.

To upgrade your thermostat, work with our HVAC experts. We are positive that our genuine customer service and superior technical care will not disappoint. Complete the form below to meet your Service Champions technician.