The cost of everything is going up. From food to fuel the budget is doing its best to stretch to cover everything in a given month. Let’s face it, we’re all looking for a little savings.
As we head back to the office, one area of opportunity to save may be your energy bills. Running your HVAC system at a lower load when you are away can help put a little bit of money back in your pocket and give your system a little breather.
The optimal temperature range for your HVAC system is 68-72 degrees. This is a range that most people feel comfortable with, even considering temperature variances as you move up or down in your home. A general principle for temperature settings while you’re away is 7-10 degrees closer (from 68-72) to the temperature outside.
SUMMER
The biggest concern with setting your thermostat too warm is creating excess humidity. In addition to cooling your home, air conditioners also dehumidify. The less they run the more humidity can build up in your home.
Another concern is getting your home back to your normal temperature setting. If you set your thermostat too high in the summer, it will essentially waste everything you have saved working to get your home back to the right temperature.
WINTER
As we mentioned above, having too great a variance between when your home is occupied and when you are away, creates strain on your HVAC system. It’s important to remember that in winter as well.
The biggest concern with dropping the temperature in your home too low is freezing. Pipes run in exterior walls and generally within cabinets, places that are usually colder than the open space of your home. Remember that the heat doesn’t circulate in your cabinets. That being said, dropping the temperature too low could cause your pipes to freeze.
SCHEDULING
Most thermostats have a schedule functionality that will allow you to adjust the temperature when you are away. Many even save the schedule based on function so that it remembers when you switch from heating to cooling and vice versa.
When scheduling temperature changes be sure to account for the time it takes the system to reach that temperature. If you adjust your home to be 82 degrees while you’re at work in the summer, you’re going to want it cooled off before you get home.
Wifi thermostats offer a lot of additional functionality for temperature control. For instance, if you leave work early on a Friday, you can adjust the temperature before leaving the office so that it’s comfortable when you get home. Or, if you leave on vacation, you can switch your schedule over from the airport, because let’s face it, remembering to switch it over before leaving is unlikely.
Wheher you’re looking for more information about efficiently running your HVAC system or considering replacing your thermostat, our experts here at Blue Heating and Cooling can help. Just give us a call at 816.719.1099.
