Everyone’s always looking to save money on their utility bills, but you should know there’s a way to keep costs down, even when you're out of the house.
The secret is your thermostat. By learning more about its special features and settings, you can structure its daily schedule around your personal preferences. This means establishing various temperature settings for when you’re at home, away or even when you’re sleeping.
By trying a few of these schedules, you'll be able to enjoy comfortable temperatures while also keeping more of your money. Here are some ways your thermostat can be a source of energy savings:
While at Home
When you’re home, you want comfortable temperatures. For the most part, you probably have your thermostat lower in the summer while inside to make the most of the cool air.
But the most energy-efficient temperatures for when you're in your home during the summer is usually between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. With this adjustment, you'll avoid the worst of summer while still lowering your monthly energy bill.
While Gone
If you're setting the temperature for a vacation or other trip away from the house, the majority of homeowners will set the thermostat higher than you would if you were in the house.
Depending on the local climate or your home's location, you can set the thermostat to temperatures as high as 88 degrees while no one is home before lowering it back to the sweet spot of 78-80 degrees once you're home again. This way, your air conditioning system isn't working around the clock to keep an empty house cool.
While Sleeping
When it comes to sleeping in the summer, you want a temperature that's nice and cool. You should try and keep things between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. This will keep you from getting too hot or too cold when you are trying to get some rest.
Other Ways to Use Less Energy:
- Install a smart thermostat: Using a smart thermostat in the summer can lower energy costs since it can plan your temperature adjustments according to your lifestyle and home environment. They can lower the temperature while you are home or sleeping, before allowing it to get warmer when no one is around. With reliable brands like the Lennox iComfort, you can adjust the temperature remotely through your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Planning smart thermostat installation in your Payson home can be the simplest strategy for maintaining comfortable, yet energy-efficient temperatures even when you aren’t home.
- Upgrade your HVAC system: Upgrading your HVAC system can save money in the long run. With greater energy efficiency, you can also count on lower utility bills since more efficient equipment requires less energy to achieve comfortable temperatures. Air conditioning installation in Payson is a great way to beat the heat in the summer.
- Stay on top of routine AC maintenance: Investing in or ignoring regular air conditioning maintenance in Payson can have a big impact on your monthly energy use. With regular cleaning of the coils, checking for damage and clearing ventilation of dust and debris, this can help your HVAC system run more efficiently. Higher energy efficiency will also reduce strain on key parts and lowers operational costs, resulting in lower energy usage and subsequently, smaller bills.
- Clean or replace the air filter on a regular basis: Regularly changing the air filters in your HVAC system saves money by helping air flow efficiently through your air conditioner. When filters are clogged with dirt and debris, an AC unit has to work harder, and the added strain may impact the system’s life span and lead to breakdowns.
- Verify your attic has enough insulation: Insulation is a crucial component for any energy-efficient home, keeping the hot air outside and the cool air inside through summer. The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) offers an official recommendation stating homeowners in southern states should possess at least 13-14 inches of insulation, while states further north need 16-18 inches.
- Inspect your air ducts: A leak in the air ducts could increase your energy bills much more than 20 percent, plus it can potentially allow harmful emissions from your water heater, clothes dryer and other appliances to get into the atmosphere of your home. Watching for signs of leaks and sealing them can address both concerns.
- Seal all other leaky spots in your home: Sealing up other leaks in your home with caulk, foam sealant or weather-stripping keeps temperatures a little cooler on hot summer days. You should also check for any gaps around windows, doors and even outdoor fixtures. Devoting time and effort to sealing leaks now can help you save a lot over time.