One of the easiest, most affordable ways to save energy is by installing a programmable thermostat. These thermostats, which can be programmed to automatically raise or lower the temperature according to your own personal schedule, are capable of dramatically lowering your heating and cooling costs, thereby saving you money.

Try using the following tips to get the most out of your programmable thermostat settings:

• Ideally, you should set the thermostat to an energy saving temperature for at least eight hours at a time. However, depending on your schedule, that may not always be practical. If you are in and out of your house frequently throughout the day, set it back for a minimum of four hours at a time instead. Anything less than that may not result in significant energy savings.
• If possible, use the default programmable thermostat settings. When you install a new thermostat, the factory default settings are designed to keep your home at a comfortable temperature while maximizing energy savings. As long as these settings work well with your schedule, you can save a lot of money by leaving them as is.
• Before programming your thermostat, take the time to read the user manual. In most cases, the manufacturer of your thermostat will have suggestions in the manual for how to set it in order to save the most energy.
• Follow the Energy Star guidelines for maximum savings. During the winter, Energy Star recommends setting your thermostat back by at least eight degrees when your house is empty or while you are sleeping. For the summer months, they recommend setting the temperature seven degrees higher when you are away from home and four degrees higher while you are sleeping. Using these suggestions as general guidelines is a great way to get the most out of your programmable thermostat.

If you live in the Asheville area and would like help choosing or installing a programmable thermostat, contact us at Smoky Mountain Heating & Air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Smoky Mountain Heating & Air services Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!         

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