Today’s thermostats allow Branson, Missouri, homeowners to control indoor temperatures precisely throughout the day. When used correctly, programmable thermostats can reduce annual energy use by 10% or more. Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats allow you to change settings, monitor energy use, and check humidity levels from wherever you are using your smartphone or another connected device. Here are three common mistakes that use more energy.
Heating Up the Thermostat
Thermostats should be installed on an interior wall in an area that does not get direct sunlight, heat from appliances, drafts or air from registers, which can affect readings. The thermostat should be placed so that it senses the normal indoor air temperature.
Some homeowners add decorative trim or covers to hide ugly thermostats. Although it may be more aesthetically pleasing, these practices will skew settings and affect your comfort by making the thermostat sense that your home is hotter or cooler than it is.
Using Extreme Settings
The Department of Energy recommends setting thermostats to approximately 68 degrees F during winter months and 78 degrees F during the summer when you are home. You can experiment by increasing or decreasing temperatures a degree at a time until you find comfortable settings. Using ceiling fans in the summer increases ventilation and creates a windchill effect. You can increase thermostat settings 4 degrees F and still be comfortable.
Heating or Cooling an Empty House
There is no need to heat or cool your home to comfortable temperatures when you are away for extended periods of time. Set thermostats back between 7 and 10 degrees in the winter when you are away for several hours a day. During the summer, you can save approximately 3% on cooling costs for each degree of increase. Program the thermostat to bring temperatures to comfortable levels before you reach home.
Branson HVAC provides residential and commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning services for a large geographic area around Branson, Missouri. Our professional HVAC services include installing and servicing equipment, accessories and controls that complement your lifestyle, work with your budget and meet your indoor comfort needs. For more information about programmable thermostats, call to speak to one of our service technicians.
