A programmable thermostat can help lower your electric bill in summer by reducing unnecessary cooling when youre asleep or away from home. The biggest savings usually come from households with regular schedules that can keep temperatures higher for extended periods, while savings may be smaller if someone is home all day, the thermostat is programmed poorly, or the system is not a good fit for the homes HVAC setup.
Instead of constantly adjusting the temperature by hand, a programmable thermostat lets you set a schedule for different times of day. Some models are simple basic units, while others include added connected features, but the main benefit is the same: using less cooling when you do not need the house as cool.
A programmable thermostat helps save energy by automatically reducing cooling during parts of the day when comfort matters less, such as when youre at work or asleep. That means your air conditioner does not have to run as often just to maintain the same temperature in an empty home.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7b0-10b0F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. In practice, that means setbacks work best when they happen for long enough periods to reduce unnecessary system run time.
A programmable thermostat can reduce utility costs, but savings are not always immediate or identical from one home to another. How much you save depends on your schedule, how consistently you use setbacks, and whether the thermostat is installed and programmed correctly.
If you are away for much of the day, setting the temperature higher for an eight-hour work period can help cut cooling use. If your home is occupied most of the time or you frequently override the schedule, the savings may be more limited. The goal is not to turn cooling off at random, but to use longer scheduled periods that match when the house does not need to be as cool.
A programmable thermostat can make it easier to keep your home comfortable without constant manual changes. You can set temperatures in advance for mornings, work hours, evenings, and overnight so the house adjusts automatically.
Some newer thermostats also offer online or smartphone access, but that is not true of every programmable model. If remote control matters to you, check the features and HVAC compatibility before you buy.
Below are a few tips to keep bills down and your thermostat running efficiently.
A programmable thermostat can be a worthwhile upgrade if your household follows a fairly predictable routine and your system supports it. Used well, it can help you stay comfortable while avoiding some unnecessary cooling costs during the summer.
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They can help lower your electric bill by reducing unnecessary cooling when you are asleep or away from home. The biggest savings usually come from homes with regular schedules and longer periods where the temperature can be set higher.
It can save money, but the amount varies from one home to another. Savings depend on your schedule, how consistently you use setbacks, and whether the thermostat is installed and programmed correctly.
Set the temperature higher during times when nobody is home or while everyone is asleep, and keep those setbacks in place for longer periods instead of making constant manual changes. Consistent scheduling helps reduce unnecessary air conditioning run time.
A common approach is to set the home warmer during a typical workday and return it to a more comfortable setting before everyone gets back. Longer scheduled setbacks usually work better than frequent short-term changes.
Not usually if the home is empty for large parts of the day. A programmable thermostat is meant to reduce cooling when comfort matters less, so keeping one constant temperature all day can miss chances to save energy.
Letting the temperature rise during longer periods away is often more efficient than cooling an empty home all day. The benefit is strongest when the setback lasts long enough to reduce unnecessary system run time.
Some newer thermostats include connected features such as online or smartphone access, but the main energy-saving benefit still comes from using scheduled setbacks effectively. Smart features can add convenience, but they do not replace good programming habits.
A programmable thermostat lets you set scheduled temperature changes for different times of day. A smart thermostat may include extra connected features such as remote access, but not every programmable thermostat has those features.
It should be placed away from air vents, open doorways, and windows with direct sunlight. Poor placement can lead to inaccurate temperature readings and reduce how well the schedule works.
Not always. Compatibility depends on your home’s HVAC setup, so it is important to check whether the thermostat is a good fit before you buy or install it.
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