Tips For Setting Your Programmable Thermostat

As thermostats become more sophisticated, the concept of “set it and forget it” takes on a whole new meaning. 

What if you can’t figure out how to program it? Is it easier to just leave it alone?

According to the Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling simply by turning back your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours a day. 

Of course, that can be difficult to remember when you’re racing around to work, school, and other activities all day long. That’s why programmable thermostats were invented. 

Still, the actual programming can be a bit intimidating if you aren’t a techie. Depending on the type of programmable thermostat you have will give you a variety of different options. Most offer several different programmable times: sleep, wake, leave, and return. 

Consider your family’s schedule, and program it in a way that makes sense for an average day. Most programmable thermostats have options for all seven days of the week, knowing your Mondays will look different than your weekend days. 

We recommend you install name-brand batteries, and schedule changing them on an annual basis. Doing so with daylight savings time change works. Or go with a favorite holiday. 

Programmable thermostats usually come with temporary override features that allow you to adjust the temperature away from your normal routine. Some come with vacation settings that can keep the temperatures low for the time you’ll be away. 

Avoid walking in and cranking the temperatures to extremes, hoping to get your space warmed or cooled faster. The system doesn’t work that way, and it only adds stress to the equipment. If you’re home early from work, you can do a temporary override to send warm or cool air into the space to bring it up to temperature, then return it to your normal routine once it’s set into play. 

Follow manufacturer’s instructions for setting. Most come with an owner’s manual. You can usually find videos online that will walk you through each step. Check with the manufacturer of your programmable thermostat. Or Google it – you’ll usually find helpful videos that can help you along. 

Have further questions? Give us a call? We can help you with all of your thermostat and HVAC needs.