Throughout the summer, a majority of homeowners are trapped in a back-and-forth struggle with the thermostat. On one side of the spectrum is trying to keep the thermostat set as high as possible to try to save on utility costs. But then again, it sure is preferable to feel cool when the temperature outside consistently rises to brutal levels.
In a lot of ways, thermostat balance is a year-round struggle because energy efficiency and comfort should be addressed in winter weather as well. A simple way to decrease utility bills but also feel comfortable in the summer is with a programmable thermostat—an inexpensive, easily installed accessory that includes multiple benefits. Here are several listed below.
Fewer utility costs
One of the biggest wastes of energy is when the air conditioner is kept low at times when it’s not required, like when people are at work, outdoors, or when they are sleeping. A majority of people are vigilant about turning the A/C off when they leave for lengthy periods of time, but a programmable thermostat removes any risk of forgetfulness and automatically adapts to a more practical temperature at off-peak times.
More comfort
In general, one of the frustrating things about turning the AC off for the day when you leave is that you return to a hot and stifling house. A programmable thermostat can be directed to decrease the temperature in the house starting at 30 minutes before you get home so that you come inside to a cool, pleasant environment.
Convenience
Programmable thermostats truly are a “set it and forget it” appliance, as many of them have options for either 7-day (different times for each day), 5 + 2 (weekday and weekend settings), and 5-1-1 (weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays) schedules. In addition to the touchscreen technology, thermostats are pretty easy to set up and they can be installed perfectly by a certified HVAC technician. Modern programmable thermostats can even be controlled using your smartphone and offer total control over your home comfort wherever you are, day or night.
Affordability
The baseline programmable thermostats retail for close to $20 and typically demand under an hour of labor to be installed. In addition, whatever the initial investment is can be recouped rather soon with the 10%–30% reduction in energy bills that the programmable thermostats can achieve.
If anything, the installation of a programmable thermostat is the first direction in optimizing the HVAC equipment of a home. Projects that follow might include sealing up any gaps around doors, upgrading windows and increasing wall insulation. It’s not impossible to save 50% from what you’re paying in heating and cooling bills now and all that is lost profits the more time that’s wasted.
So in essence, if you don’t already use one, buy a programmable thermostat today!
Some popular thermostats to choose from: