Did you know that many Springfield, Virginia, homeowners set their thermostats incorrectly? Setting your thermostat wrong not only compromises home comfort, but could also cost you money. Here are a few mistakes to avoid.
Too Much Cooling at Night
Don’t waste energy when it’s hot outside by cooling your house too much while you’re asleep. Before you go to bed, set your thermostat a little higher than you would for daytime. If you’re prone to forget, invest in a programmable thermostat to do the job for you. Even if you get hot at night, it’s much better energy-wise to run an overhead or portable fan than crank up the air conditioning.
Adjusting the Temperature Too Often
Constantly adjusting your thermostat makes the system work too hard. In fact, when you set your thermostat at a certain temperature for eight or more hours at a time, your HVAC system runs more efficiently. Find a comfortable temperature you can live with for prolonged periods, and stick with it.
Not Adjusting the Temperature When You’re Away
While you don’t want to fiddle with the thermostat throughout the day, you do need to set it to a reasonable temperature when you’re not home. Keeping your house comfortable while nobody is home obviously wastes energy, so set the thermostat to 10 to 15 degrees higher in the summer months or lower in the winter months than you’d like if you were home. If you have a programmable unit, you can always program it to cool things off shortly before you arrive home.
Using the Wrong Thermostat
The wrong thermostat model could be costing you a lot in wasted energy. Instead, invest in a programmable thermostat with multiple settings. This type of model allows you to program the temperature for your daily work routine and for a different weekend schedule. There are even seven-day models that allow for daily programs.
If you have questions about thermostats or are considering upgrading yours, call Brennan’s Heating & Air Conditioning at 703-763-0399. Our team of HVAC experts are here to help.
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