A programmable thermostat is one fairly inexpensive device that lets you pare down your energy consumption and reduce monthly utility bills. Learning to use the settings to your advantage is the key to achieving energy and cost savings. The following tips can help you maximize its effectiveness:

• Make sure you program temperature adjustments for periods of at least eight hours to reap the full energy-saving benefits. The ideal times to schedule adjustments are typically at night when everyone's sleeping and during the day if no one is home.
• Once you've programmed the thermostat, try not to use the temporary hold feature to make short-term adjustments. The more you use this feature to override your preset programming, the less energy savings you'll realize.
• Use the vacation setting only if you plan to be away from home for an extended time. Don't use it to make adjustments for short periods. Ideally, you'll program in a temperature that's a few degrees above or below your usual setting, depending on the season. When you do, it will keep your home at a constant temperature while you're away, so you'll save on energy use.
• Avoid making radical thermostat adjustments in an effort to get your home to a desired temperature faster. Unless you have a smart thermostat that factors in the length of time required to reach a target temperature, cranking the thermostat setting won't work. The reason is that most programmable thermostats simply function as a timer to turn your HVAC system on and off as scheduled.
• If you have a zoned HVAC system, invest in a programmable thermostat for each area. You can program each one to match the use and occupancy of that particular zone and optimize your energy efficiency and comfort.
• Pay attention to the low battery indicator on your thermostat, if it has one. If not, periodically check the battery in your unit to keep it working properly.

For more tips on using the settings on your programmable thermostat to increase HVAC effectiveness in your West Chester area home, contact us at Tri-County Heating & Cooling.

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