If your HVAC system is the heart of comfort and efficiency in your home, your thermostat is the brain. For many homeowners in Lake Forest, Illinois, the thermostat is just a piece of plastic they occasionally touch when they’re feeling too cold, but your thermostat’s potential actually runs far deeper. With these three facts under your belt, you can take full advantage of your thermostat and enjoy the comfort and energy efficiency you need.
Energy Savings
Your thermostat can do much more than keep your home warm and cool; it can also play a key role in saving you money every month. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy has found that your thermostat can help you reduce utility costs by as much as 10 percent depending on how you use it. Modern thermostats allow you to program different temperature settings for different times of the day. For instance, you can set your thermostat at an efficient 68 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re at home this winter but drop the temperature while you’re away.
Energy Reports
Many modern thermostats offer weekly reports that evaluate your energy use and even identify areas where you could improve. Maybe, for example, your report illustrates a drop in energy efficiency at the end of the day when your family returns home and cranks up the heat. You can use that information to adjust your habits and lower your temperature.
Proper Location
Place your thermostat on any wall in your home, and you’re good to go, right? Wrong. Your thermostat’s location can actually affect your heating and cooling efficiency. If you put your thermostat next to a window or a door, it may produce "ghost readings," which keep the thermostat from detecting the home’s actual temperature and could negatively affect how your HVAC system heats and cools your home.
With these facts in hand, you’re ready to make the most of your thermostat. To have your thermostat checked or replaced, call Ireland Heating and Air at 847-388-0108.
Image provided by Shutterstock
