This summer has been just as hot as last year and it looks like another cooling season of sky high electric bills. In San Antonio, the average high temperature in August is almost 95 and that means air conditioners are running constantly to keep homes cool. One way to save on utility bills is to install a programmable thermostat which will control the temperature inside your home when you are not there. Why pay to cool a home when no one is going to be inside?

Programmable thermostats allow you to set the temperature higher during certain parts of the day, like when you are at work or sleeping. They are easy to install and very easy to operate. The digital display makes it simple to program in the temperature you desire and most have up to six different settings per day and separate settings for days during the week and weekends.

After installation of the device, the first thing you must do is set the calendar and the correct time.

The digital display window will cycle through the numbers as you hit the up or down arrow until you get to the correct day and time. A battery back-up in the thermostat will save your settings even if the power goes out. After you have set the time, it is time to start setting the temperature changes that you desire. This will require some thought as you must consider your daily routine and habits.

The first thing to consider is your work hours. Each day during the week when you know you are not going to be home because you are at work, set the house temperature 5 to 10 degrees higher. Program the unit to go back to your home’s normal temperature about an hour before you arrive home from work. If you have a regular sleeping routine, this is another good time to set the temperature a little higher and then have the unit kick back in a few minutes before you get up.

If you do a great deal of cooking you might want to program your thermostat to drop the temperature in your home a few degrees during the dinner hour to combat the effects of turning on the stove. The options that you have with a programmable thermostat are really unlimited and if at any time your home seems too hot or cool, you can manually override the system and change the thermostat setting. How much money will you save by making the switch? The rule of thumb is you save 1% off your bill for every degree that you raise the temperature in the home for 8 hours, the average savings is about 10% per month.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about setting up a programmable thermostat and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.