10 Common Programmable Thermostat Mistakes

Throughout each day, even in the coldest temperatures, your preferred home temperature will likely vary depending on the time and your whereabouts. You’ll find that you’re better able to manage your heating oil– or propane-fueled system efficiently—and cost effectively—with the help of a programmable thermostat. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind:

1. Avoid variations. With a programmable thermostat, you avoid the 5° variable that is always a possibility between your set temperature and the actual temp with manual thermostats.
2. Give your system a reasonable workload. When you’re in the house, keep the temperature as low as possible, within reason. (And in the summer, do this in reverse and keep your home at the warmest temperature that’s comfortable for you.)
3. Go remote! If you have a smart thermostat, you can control your home comfort system on your phone or tablet—from anywhere.
4. Let your lifestyle guide you. Set your thermostat according to what your days are like. You can have multiple settings, depending on your routine—one for weekends, one for weekdays, one for when you’re out of town and more.
5. Lock the settings. When you lock your settings, no one can tamper with the thermostat.
6. Manage the humidity level. Does your home comfort system have humidification or dehumidification capabilities? If so, you can manage the humidity levels in your home with a programmable thermostat.
7. Receive reminders. If you have a “smart” programmable thermostat, you can adjust your settings so you receive updates about when you need to set up a tune-up or change your air filter. You’ll even get a notification if your system has an issue you need to have checked.
8. Take a look at the owner’s manual. You’ll have a better sense of how your system works if you give the owner’s manual a once-over. It will likely be especially helpful in understanding how much time you should allot for the system to reach your desired temperatures in extreme weather.
9. Take advantage of zoning. If you have rooms that you’re definitely not using on a given day, zone your system. This will enable you to cut off heat to that area of your home, rather than wasting energy and money to heat (or cool) a room that’s not in use.
10. Think about when you’re leaving. You can program your thermostat to start shutting down the heating system in your Massachusetts home about 20 to 30 minutes in advance of your departure. Then you can set it to start coming back on about a half-hour before you return home. (This also applies to air conditioning in the summer.)

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