Save Money: Choosing the Right Thermostat For Your HVAC

It’s amazing! Once you become a homeowner you begin to think about saving money every chance you get. Remember when you were a kid and your mom would yell after you, “Close that door! You weren’t raised in a barn!” Well, now that you’re paying those heating and air conditioning bills you, no doubt, have a whole new perspective on energy savings.
There are two types of thermostats on the market today: manual and programmable. The Department of Energy provides some fantastic tips for saving energy and money using your thermostat including this tidbit: Keep your house warmer than normal when you are away, and set it to 78-degrees when you return home and the house needs cooling.
So if the thought of manually adjusting your thermostat seems like a lot of trouble then you are the ideal candidate to consider a programmable thermostat. They are easy to install and have a proven HVAC savings of about $100 annually per household. $100 to use somewhere else in my budget? I’m down with that!
When placing it, the Department of Energy suggests the following:
- Read the manufacturer’s installation instructions to prevent “ghost readings.”
- “Ghost Readings” are unnecessary furnace or air conditioner cycling.
- A thermostat must be on an interior wall away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, skylights, and windows.
- Thermostats should be located where natural room air currents for—that’s the natural warm air rising, cool air sinking effect.
- Move that couch! Furniture will block natural air movement, so do not place pieces in front of or below your thermostat.
- Going to program it? Make sure your thermostat is conveniently located.
Want to get tech savvy with your thermostat? Consider a WiFi enabled thermostat which you can program remotely.
Don’t know which one is right for your unit? Let the folks at Middleton help you.
Want more money saving tips? Here are some helpful FAQ’s from Middleton about thermostats. We hope this helps you save money and keep your family cool this summer.