If you use your smart thermostat the right way, you could actually end up saving almost 5% in your monthly utility bills. So if you’re looking to save energy and money, how you’re using your thermostat is one of the first things you should consider. You’d be surprised how much the savings can add up with just a few simple changes!
Keep these three tips in mind if you want to save money on your utility bills:
- Don’t turn your thermostat up or down in an effort to heat or cool your home faster — it does more harm than good!
- Only change your thermostat setting when you’re away from home for eight or more hours.
- Don’t constantly change the temperature when you are home — this turns the system on and off and wastes money instead of saving it!
3 Thermostat Mistakes You Should Stop Making
1. Trying to Heat or Cool your Home “Faster”
Does a lower thermostat cool your home more quickly? Picture this: You arrive home after a long day at work and your home is hot (like sauna hot). You check the thermostat and your home is at 82 degrees Fahrenheit, but you like it at 70 degrees. You quickly change the temperature to read 65 degrees in hopes that it will cool off your home more quickly. All this will end up doing is unnecessarily using more energy – it doesn’t actually make your AC work faster.
2. Leaving your Thermostat at the Same Setting
Did you set your thermostat to a specific temperature and then never touch it again? Even though you may think you’re saving energy and money by not fussing around with the temperature, ENERGY STAR says you actually could be wasting as much as $180/year! The beauty of a programmable thermostat is that you can program it to a specific temperature depending on the time of year (AC or heat) and the time of day (when you’re at work vs. when people are home). There’s little point in heating or cooling an empty home all year round!
3. Frequently Adjusting Your Thermostat
People who constantly fix and change their programmable thermostat settings and temperature actually use more energy than those that don’t. Constantly changing the temperature can cause your HVAC system to turn on and off, which can lead to an excessive amount of wear and tear leading to inefficiencies over time. Instead of making frequent adjustments, it’s a better idea to set it for the temperature that will make you the most comfortable and allow the system to run for longer.
Read More: Tips and Tricks for your Smart Thermostat
Keep your home comfortable with My Plumber Heating, Cooling & Electrical. Our professional repair team provides timely service when you need it most. Our customers in Manassas, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, and throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland appreciate how quickly we respond to their call for help. In most cases, same-day service is available!
Call 844.294.8999 to learn more about our services or to request a quote today!
About the Author
Mark Presgrave has served as VP Owner of My Plumber Heating, Cooling & Electrical since 1985. A respected and knowledgeable figure in the world of residential electrical, plumbing & HVAC contractors, Mr. Presgrave is a former member of the board of directors at Nexstar, a member-owned organization promoting contractor success through professional development. Mr. Presgrave is committed to ensuring that My Plumber provides premier service and the highest-quality workmanship to customers throughout Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, and Washington D.C.
