Tips For Thermostat Success This Summer

How often do you really think about the thermostat in your Massachusetts home? Our guess is not much. For the most part, people think of their thermostat when they’re feeling too hot or too cold, and that’s pretty much it. You could save 10% or more every month, just by putting some more thought into your settings.

Many people say they rarely—and in some cases, never—program their thermostats, mainly because they are not clear on how to use it. The truth is, taking a few minutes to learn how to use your thermostat properly can really pay off. When you use this handy device correctly, it could pay for itself within the first year, PLUS save you money on repairs as you’ll be subjecting your furnace or boiler to far less work.

Thermostat Setting Suggestions

Try these tips on how to properly use your thermostat.

1. Learn about what kind of thermostat you have. You may have one that requires manual adjustment. However, if you have a programmable thermostat, there are a few possibilities in terms of the flexibility yours offers. Here’s a look at the modes your thermostat may have:
   • 7-day: You can set up a different schedule for each day of the week
   • 5-1-1: You can set up a schedule for weekdays, and then another for each day of the weekend—Saturday and Sunday.
   • 5-2: You can set up a schedule for weekdays, and then another for the weekend.
   • 1-week: You can set up a single schedule for the week.

   If you have a smart thermostat, you can even program your settings (including these modes and other features) from your phone.

2. Think about your lifestyle when you program your thermostat. Customize your thermostat according to how you live. Most programmable thermostats cover the following benchmarks in your day:
   • When you wake up
   • When you go to sleep
   • When you leave the house
   • When you return

   Get to know your thermostat, even if it means sitting down with your owner’s manual for a little while. Once you understand how to adjust the settings, and consider your potential savings, you’ll see that it’s worth the time you’re putting into learning how to use it!

3. Consider these suggestions, from the U.S. Department of Energy:
   • For cooling season: Set your AC for 78°F when you’re home and awake, and program it to shut off when you are not home.
   • For heating season: Set your AC for 68°F when you’re home and awake, and lower the temperatures by 7 to 10° during times when you are asleep or out.
4. Think about when you leave the house and when you’re sleeping.

   During the day: Set your thermostat to make these adjustments about 20 minutes to a half-hour before you leave the house, and set them to return to your preferred temperatures 20 minutes to a half-hour prior to your return home.

   Overnight: Program your heating or cooling adjustments to start an hour before you go to sleep and set them to return to normal comfort levels 30 minutes before your wakeup time.

At Pioneer Oil and Propane, we can help with all of your home comfort equipment installations, repairs and more. Contact us today!