According to Energy Star, a central HVAC system can account for as much as 50 percent of the total energy used in a typical home. Programmable thermostats allow the homeowner to enter settings that automatically adjust the temperature at different times of the day. Most units also allow you to change the schedules for weekdays and weekends. Upgrading your thermostat will give you better control over your heating and cooling system. Newer smart models use adaptive intelligence to learn about your family’s living habits, and they virtually program themselves.
The Top Five Benefits of Programmable Thermostats
Energy Savings
When a setback thermostat is used correctly, Energy Star estimates that a homeowner can save up to $100 per year on utility costs. Smart thermostats are even more effective, and some manufacturers claim you can lower your heating and cooling bills by up to 20 percent annually. Settings can be programmed once and then forgotten, which is far more reliable than trying to remember to change the settings manually.
The automation process helps enhance energy efficiency without sacrificing comfort. The thermostat self-adjusts for maximum savings when your home is empty and returns the temperature to the original setting just before the first family member arrives. Some models even have a vacation setting that can be used for times when your home will remain unoccupied for extended periods.
Longer Equipment Life and Lower Repair Costs
Your heating and cooling equipment runs most often during extreme weather, and the accumulated run-time hours ultimately affect repair costs and unit longevity. The stress and wear on critical components can lower energy efficiency and lead to costly repairs and premature failure. When you install a setback thermostat, the thermal load is reduced when your home is unoccupied, so your equipment will cycle less often. Ultimately, this can help lower the chance of an unexpected breakdown during severe weather and extend the useful life of your equipment.
Advanced smart thermostats include automatic alerts for filter changes, maintenance and system diagnostics. Problems that affect overall performance can be identified early to avoid a catastrophic breakdown later on.
Environmentally Friendly
Replacing an analog thermostat with a programmable model is very eco-friendly. Many analog thermostats use mercury, which is unsafe and should be disposed of in a responsible way. Digital thermostats do not contain any hazardous substances, and the reduction in energy consumption means the local utility will burn less fossil fuel. Lower power consumption results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions and shrinks your carbon footprint.
Home Automation Hubs
As the role of the thermostat continues to evolve, newer smart programmable models incorporate features that manage humidity, indoor air quality, ventilation and the temperature in up to eight different zones. There are several advanced models that can even serve as a central hub for a home automation system to control your lighting, pool equipment, security system, stereo and other compatible devices. With a wifi connection, you can use smartphone apps to access your system and change settings from virtually any location in the country.
Maximum Comfort
Instead of maintaining the same consistent temperature in every room, you can use programmable features to tailor the setting to match your personal comfort preferences. For example, the setting can be lowered at night in the winter when you are warm and toasty in your bed. Just before you rise in the morning, the thermostat will begin to raise the temperature so you remain comfortable when you walk to the kitchen to get your morning coffee. With zoning capabilities, every family member can create their own personal comfort profile. Unlike older setback thermostats that were difficult to read and overly complex, newer models come with large displays and user-friendly programming options.
Your Thermostat Experts
Ireland Heating and Air Conditioning has been serving the residents of the North Shore area since 1978 while providing a complete array of HVAC repair, installation and maintenance services. If you would like to learn more about the many benefits of installing a programmable thermostat, call one of our friendly representatives today at (847) 388-0108.
