5 Simple Thermostat Adjustments to Save You Money

Whether you are heating or cooling your home, it is important to know how to properly manage and regulate your thermostat. Not knowing how to set and adjust your thermostat can result in wasted energy, which can be harmful to the environment. In addition, using extra, unnecessary energy to heat and cool your home can dramatically increase your monthly energy bills, costing you lots of extra money. Follow these 5 simple thermostat adjustment tips to help you save money and energy in your home.

1. If you are trying to cool your home, only use the air conditioning when you are home and actually need the cool air. Keeping the air conditioning cranked while you are out and about or at work is a complete waste! If no one is around to enjoy the temperature, you should not keep the cool air flowing. However, it is also not smart to completely shut the air conditioning off during the day. When you come home, your cooling system will actually have to use more energy to re-cool your entire home drastically, instead of just a little bit. As a rule of thumb, try to keep your thermostat set to about 85, so it doesn’t get too hot while you are out during the day, and then set it to a comfortable temperature, around 78 degrees, when you are home to enjoy it.
2. In the cold months, you should keep a similar mentality in mind. Keeping the heat cranked serves no one and is a waste. During the day your thermostat should be set to around 55-60 degrees for optimal efficiency. When you are home and need the warmth, set your thermostat at 68 degrees. Another way to warm your home efficiently is to leave windows uncovered where the sun will beat into your home during the day. Every bit of natural warmth can help you to save more and waste less energy through your heating system.
3. Set the thermostat higher whenever possible. The use of ceiling fans can allow you to do this while still keeping cool. Fans circulate the air, and do not actually change the temperature of a room significantly; they just blow on your skin, giving you the feeling that temperatures are cooler. Therefore, your cooling system will not have to work as hard and you can keep it set higher while still feeling just as comfortable in your home.
4. Purchase a programmable thermostat. These smart thermostats self-adjust the temperature of your home based on your activity during the day. This means more efficiency and less work for you. You will not longer have to worry about remembering to turn the thermostat up or down as needed. These thermostats can be set to adjust automatically when people are home or when they leave the house. Many smart thermostats can adjust on their own based on movement, lighting from indoor or outdoor sources, humidity and more. Some smart thermostats can even adjust based on energy companies because some actually charge more during peak hours! While these thermostats are a bit pricier upfront, the long-term energy savings will be worth it and will allow you to earn back your initial investment in energy bill savings.
5. Finally, make sure all vents are clean and unobstructed. This applies to both your heating and cooling systems. If all air is not reaching your rooms because of a blockage, your system will continue to send out warm or cool air to achieve the set temperature on your thermostat. This could result in you cranking the AC or heat even more because you aren’t feeling a difference. Wipe vents regularly and even clean out ductwork when possible to make sure your heating and cooling systems are working properly. This will reduce the need to continue fidgeting with the thermostat.

All of these thermostat adjustment tips will help you to keep your home comfortable while also saving you money on your energy bills. Be sure to set the thermostat accordingly when you are home or out, use ceiling fans, consider a smart thermostat, and clean vents and ducts .You can take other measures such as monitoring and adjusting your home humidity level, but these thermostat adjustment tips will produce significant results as well.