As the weather turns colder, you may be ready to turn up the heat in your home. But, what temperature is right to keep your family warm and comfortable while still saving money and not making the house too warm? Here are some tips on how to program your thermostat to a temperature that’s right for the entire family and where to go if you need help with your heating needs.
Understanding Your Thermostat
Before you can set your thermostat, you need to know what type of system you have in place. Since every type of thermostat works differently, you want to understand how your thermostat works to keep your house warm. There are three main types of thermostats including programmable, smart, and non-programmable options. Here’s how each type of thermostat works to get your heating system on target:
Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat enables you to manually set your thermostat to certain temperatures during the day and night. Once you input the information into the system, the thermostat will adjust automatically at those set times each day.- Smart Thermostat: A smart thermostat is a programmable thermostat with a lot of extra features, one main feature being the fact that you can use your smartphone to adjust your thermostat, even when you’re not home to do so. With the use of a smartphone, you can turn your heat and air conditioning on or off from any location, plus you can adjust the temperature.
- Non-Programmable Thermostat: A non-programmable thermostat requires manual adjustments that you must do inside your home on the actual thermostat gauge. Plus, you don’t have the option to set your thermostat to change temperatures on its own. You can only adjust the temperature in person.
Whatever thermostat you have in your home, the general concept of how a thermostat works is the same. The HVAC system turns on and off depending on the temperature in your home. When the temperature in the house rises or falls, the metal in the mechanical thermostat will expand or contract which will make the electrical circuit turn on or off. How you program your thermostat to react depends on the type of system you have and the temperature you select for your HVAC system to run.
Analyzing Your Heating Needs for the Fall
When selecting a prime temperature for the inside of your home, you should consider various factors. First, consider whether you live alone or with other family members and whether there are any pets in the home. Also, if you have a lot of houseplants inside your home, keep this factor in mind as well as these items need to have certain temperatures to thrive. In addition, consider how much time you spend at home and when you’re at home the most during the fall season. There may also be certain heat zones within your house that you use more often than others, so keep this factor in mind when considering how warm to keep your home. Lastly, consider the comfort levels of both you and your family members throughout the day and find a temperature that works best for everyone.
Setting Up a Schedule
Before you set up a schedule, you have to set up the initial thermostat programming for your system if it’s a new addition to your home. Follow the manufacturer’s directions to set up the HVAC initial thermostat programming and then take the steps to set up different schedules for each day. For example, you may want the temperature settings to be different for weekdays and weekends and for different times of the day. You can do all this with a programmable or smart thermostat. Best of all, if you find that the temperatures need to be higher or lower, you can adjust these according to your preference.
Reach Out to a Professional
If you are ready to have a new thermostat installed in your home or want some assistance getting your current one set up to fit your needs, Air Design can help. Contact these HVAC professionals for details and more information on your HVAC system thermostat. You’ll be glad you consulted the professionals to get the job done right.
