Knowing how to program a thermostat is a crucial skill to have. If you have a manual thermostat, that means you’ll need to set the temperature yourself and wait for the temperature to adjust. Rather than wasting your own time, energy, and of course, money, try switching to a programmable thermostat. Having a programmable thermostat allows you to set a temperature that adjusts itself when needed.
So how exactly do you program a thermostat? Well, first you need to find out whether your thermostat is programmable or not. If it has only a temperature setting and the ability to turn it on or off, then your thermostat is an older model. If you have one of these types, you will need to purchase a programmable thermostat in order to start saving money.
The programming itself will vary from thermostat to thermostat. Most thermostats will have a way to program the thermostat directly by means of a schedule or program button. If you need help with this part, consult your user manual for directions on what to do.
To effectively and efficiently program your thermostat, there are some general rules to keep in mind.
1) Make sure to program the thermostat so that it turns off heat or air conditioning when you aren’t home. Schedule it to return to the regular temperature again roughly 20 to 30 minutes before you get home.
2) Program the weekend based on your schedule. Many people are home on Saturdays and Sundays so you’ll want to keep the thermostat on if you’ll be home.
3) Program your thermostat so that the heating or cooling turns off or is reduced when you’re sleeping. Once you’re asleep, you probably won’t notice any changes in temperature. Set the thermostat to turn back on about 20 to 30 minutes before your alarm goes off in the morning.
4) Should you decided to go out of town, make sure to shut down your programming for the duration of your trip. However, if you have pets in your home or you live in a very cold climate, keep the heating on and ensure the temperature is set above 55 degrees.
Once you program your thermostat correctly, the savings will be evident in your heating and cooling bill. Knowing how to program a thermostat correctly is a vital step to maintaining an efficient home air conditioning system.
If you have followed all these instructions and still need assistance, consider using TalkLocal. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable heating and air conditioning companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.
