Save Money This Winter With A Programmable Thermostat

2/17/2022

You can save money on your heating and cooling bills by simply using your programmable thermostat as it was intended! There are countless benefits to consider.

Did you know that the EPA estimates that you could save about $180 per year or more on energy costs by using a programmable thermostat? You can save up to 10% a year just by switching to a programmable thermostat or smart thermostat with an app on your phone. With rising energy costs, a programmable thermostat is a perfect way to save money on your home’s heating bill this winter.

How to Reprogram Your Thermostat for Winter

Resetting your programmable thermostat is a necessary task to survive the harsh Iowa winters while also saving money on your heating bills. You can program your thermostat to varying temperatures depending on the time of day, or whether you’re in or out of your home for extended periods of time. This will help you save energy and money without losing any comfort this winter.

What Should I Set My Thermostat To In the Winter?

Programming your thermostat to varying temperatures throughout the day is an easy way to keep your house comfortable, your energy bills lower, and your furnace from being overworked. We broke out the optimal temperatures based on the time of day or scenario you may need to account for:

Winter Thermostat Setting During Waking Hours

When at home and awake, the Department of Energy found that the optimum comfortable temperature range is 68 to 70 degrees. This range will easily help you save energy in the winter while still maintaining a comfortable indoor living environment.

Winter Thermostat Setting During Sleeping Hours

Save energy overnight by programming the thermostat to reduce the temperature to 62 to 66 degrees. If you prefer to sleep in cooler temperatures, set the reduction to begin one hour before the time you normally go to bed.

Winter Thermostat Setting When You’re Out Of The House

You can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day, according to the Department of Energy. During the workweek, program the system to turn the heat down approximately 30 minutes before you or other occupants typically leave home for the day.

Winter Thermostat Setting When You Return Home

To maintain a comfortable indoor environment when you return home, program the system to turn up to a normal occupied temperature approximately 30 minutes before you typically arrive home for the day.

Other Things to Consider When Implementing Your Ideal Thermostat Setting In Winter

There are several other factors to keep in mind when reprogramming your thermostat for the winter. These scenarios may not apply to all programmable thermostats, so it’s important to be aware of what settings your system includes.

Add Weekend Settings On Your Programmable Thermostat

If the thermostat offers separate time and temperature settings for weekends, set those times/temperatures to your preference. Consider the schedules of everyone in the household, and if there are times during the weekend when the house is unoccupied for at least four hours, it makes sense to reduce the temperature.

Utilize Your Programmable Thermostat’s Vacation Setting

If you go out of town during the winter, utilize the thermostat’s “Vacation” option to continuously maintain indoor temperatures at a safe minimum and prevent damage such as frozen pipes. Remember to program the system to turn back on approximately one hour before you return home.

Change Your Programmable Thermostat’s Batteries

If your thermostat is battery-powered like most, change the battery once per year. If you didn’t change it when you reset the settings for the summer, change the battery now.

Update Your Settings To Heat Mode On Your Programmable Thermostat

It may seem obvious, but remember to set the thermostat to the “Heat” mode when it’s time to begin furnace operation for the heating season. You’d be surprised how often our certified HVAC technicians show up to a house to check on a broken furnace and it turns out it was still on “Cool” mode. Learn more about other ways to troubleshoot your thermostat.

Still Have Questions?

If you have questions about resetting your programmable thermostat to maximize indoor comfort and lower heating costs this winter, contact your Home Comfort Heroes at Service Legends! Give us a call to schedule an appointment for a technician to take a look at your system.

515-657-6634 Request Appointment Online

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