Thermostats set the temperature in your home. Many families choose to set the thermostat manually, but this can result in higher electric bills. Keep your heating bills low this winter with a programmable thermostat.
TURN THE HEAT DOWN TO SAVE
Turning the temperature down in your home by 1 degree will save you 2% on your yearly energy bills. Turning the temperature down by 5 degrees will save you a whopping 10% on your annual energy bills.
Save money by layering a sweater or fuzzy flippers during the colder months to save big on energy costs this year.
DON’T HEAT AN EMPTY HOUSE
Setting your thermostat manually means that you have to remember to lower and raise the temperature to save on your heating bills. Relying on yourself to remember, especially when you’re running late in the morning, could cost you big money each year.
A programmable thermostat will automatically lower your heat for you during the day to save big when no one is home. You can even set the thermostat to automatically raise the heat back up in the afternoon, so you always come home to a toasty home.
OPEN YOUR BLINDS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HEAT DURING THE DAY
Open your blinds during the day to allow the sun to naturally heat your house. The windows can act like magnifying glasses to heat the outer rooms of your home a few degrees during the day. This might not be a noticeable difference to you, but your heating bills might notice.
Keep your blinds closed at night or when you’ll be away for longer periods of time to trap warm air inside. Keep blinds closed especially when the heat is running in your home.
TURN THE HEAT DOWN AT NIGHT
Similar to heating an empty house, trying to heat a sleeping house can cost you big money too. Use your programmable thermostat to lower the temperature in your home for a few hours at night.
Make sure to set the thermostat to raise the temperature back to normal before you wake up to avoid waking up to a freezing house. This might even help you get out of bed easier during the winter months.
ZONE HEATING
If you just don’t feel comfortable lowering the heat in your bedroom at night, consider installing zone heating. This will allow you to control the temperature for different parts of your home independently.
You could lower the temperature for the living spaces in your home like the kitchen, living room, and laundry room. Meanwhile, you could keep the sleeping spaces nice and cozy all night long.
WARM BLANKETS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HEAT DURING THE NIGHT
Warm blankets will help you keep the sleeping spaces in your home warm all night long. Consider investing in a heating blanket on your bed for a toasty alternative to your furnace with heat settings you can control. Similarly, a large down blanket or heavy quilt will keep you warm without paying extra electric bills.
INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
If you’re ready to make the switch, or if you would like to know more about a programmable thermostat, call First Class HVAC today. Our expert technicians can explain the difference between a programmable thermostat and traditional thermostat in person or over the phone. We can answer your questions regarding zone heating and cooling.