Why You're Missing Out if You Don't Have a Programmable Thermostat

These days, nearly everything is automatic. You can set your coffee maker to automatically brew the perfect pot of coffee at a specific time the following morning. Your documents and photos can automatically upload to a “cloud” in the sky. Even cars may soon drive themselves. So if you don’t yet have a programmable thermostat in your home, what are you waiting for?

A programmable thermostat allows you to pre-set the temperatures at which you want your home air conditioning and heating system to turn on and off, based on the current temperature in your home. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average household spends more than $2,000 a year on energy bills, half of which goes to heating and cooling. The good news – a programmable thermostat can save you a chunk of money each year. The EPA estimates that homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings. A programmable thermostat also allows your system to work more efficiently, thereby also likely saving you money on Phoenix AC repairs.

A programmable thermostat works by allowing you to pre-set the temperatures by time of day. So if your family is home in the mornings and evenings, but your house sits empty during the day, you can set the system to increase or decrease (depending on season) the temperature based on when your family is home. That way, the system isn’t needlessly working during the times when no one is there, racking up unnecessary wear and tear that could lead you to need Phoenix AC replacement sooner rather than later.

Need tips on what the most efficient temperature settings are? The EPA offers recommendations for temperature settings. In early morning, set the air conditioning to 78 degrees for cooling in warm weather (70 degrees for heating in cool weather). Increase air conditioning temperature by seven degrees mid-morning (set back the heat by eight degrees). Go back to the 78 degrees cool (70 degrees heat) in the early evening. Finally, for sleeping hours, increase air conditioning once again by seven (heating by eight degrees).

Now that you know all the benefits, you’re ready to buy a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can be purchased at most home improvement stores. You can choose from different models, including a 7-day model which is designed for those whose daily schedule tends to change day-to-day; a 5+2-day model follows the same schedule every weekday and a different schedule for weekends; and the 5-1-1 model is for those who have the same weekday schedule but then a different schedule on Saturday and a different schedule on Sunday.

Want more information on programmable thermostats and how they could save you money on your energy bills and potentially on Phoenix AC repairs? Or, need help with installing one in your home? Chas Roberts is here to help. To schedule an appointment, visit ChasRoberts.com or call (602) 943-3426 in Phoenix or (520) 292-6858 in Tucson.