The thermostat is the brains of your home's heating and air conditioning system. In order for the thermostat to provide the best balance of comfort and efficiency, it must be programmed for each climate and adjusted to a home's comfort needs.
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your thermostat during the cooling season:
** PROGRAM YOUR THERMOSTAT - It's not uncommon to find homeowners using their programmable thermostat as a simple on-off switch for their heating and cooling system, never realizing the potential for energy savings and increased comfort that the device is capable of providing. ** OPTIMIZE SEASONAL TEMPERATURE SETTINGS - To program a thermostat for the best mix of comfort and energy efficiency, we recommend setting your thermostat as follows: - IN THE SUMMER set the thermostat at 78 degrees when you are home. Set it to 85 when you are away and set it to 60 when you are home, sleeping. - IN THE WINTER set the thermostat to 68 degrees when you are home. Ste it at 60 degrees when you are away and set it to 60 degrees when you are sleeping.
In the spring and fall these temperatures can be adjusted based on the greater degree of temperature changes from day to night.
** CONSIDER HUMIDITY LEVELS - Humidity plays a large role in home comfort. While it may only be 80 degrees outside, it can feel like 95 when the humidity levels are high.
Some thermostats offer humidity control, enabling more energy-efficient cooling and heating. Systems that operate at variable speeds can also help control humidity levels by drawing air across the coil slowly to remove more moisture when starting up.
Maintaining Even Temperatures in Your Home During the Cooling Season
The in between seasons of spring and autumn in the Boston area can be unpredictable. One day it’s over 80, the next day it’s back in the 40s. In these conditions, adjusting your home’s thermostat to maintain comfortable inside environment can be a bit tricky. Larger, multi-level homes with large windows can present a particular challenge when trying to maintain comfort throughout the home. During the spring months the lower levels may be ice cold, while the upper level may be uncomfortably warm.
