Finding the Best Thermostat Setting for All Seasons

The yearly weather in much of the country can vary. With hot and humid summers giving away to chilly and windy winters, it can be hard to know the best way to stay comfortable all year long. In modern homes, staying comfortable is as easy as adjusting the thermostat to make the indoor temperature more tolerable. However, each adjustment to the thermostat can represent lots of heating and cooling dollars that one could save.

Comfort and energy savings are the two biggest factors in keeping a home on a budget, but what is the best thermostat setting? Local heating contractors are here to answer that question. With this quick guide, homeowners can learn the ins and outs of keeping their homes comfortable throughout the year.

Cool Weather Setting

The key to reducing energy usage, no matter what season it is, is to not lock oneself into a single thermostat setting. "Feeling comfortable" is far more than just a number because so many different factors affect how the body perceives temperature. The wintertime is an easy time to use hacks to lower energy bills, starting by allowing the body to acclimate to cooler temperatures then lowering the thermostat.

In the winter, the body naturally becomes more comfortable in cooler temperatures. As a result, the same thermostat setting in the winter and summer is unnecessary. Many people report that a thermostat setting in the high 60s is perfect once their bodies are acclimated. This allows the heater to cycle fewer times, thus saving energy without neglecting comfort.

Warm Weather Setting

Just as the body gets used to cooler temperatures in the winter, it also acclimates to summer temperatures. Setting the thermostat in the mid-70s in the summer is usually adequate to keep things from feeling uncomfortable while also not needlessly running the AC.

If the mid-70s sound too hot, or if homeowners discover it is uncomfortably warm, they should try running a dehumidifier. Often the air feels too warm because of the moisture present. Stand-alone dehumidifiers or whole-home units can thoughtlessly control humidity in the home, saving homeowners the trouble of fiddling with the thermostat and reducing energy costs in the process.

Vacancy Settings

The biggest opportunity throughout the year to increase energy savings comes when the home is unoccupied. Whether it is a time of day when parents and kids aren't home or long spells when the family is on vacation, these are times when one can set the thermostat for major savings.

An easy way to do this is to install a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats save money by raising or lowering the thermostat setting when no one is home. For example, a summer setting may be nearing 80 degrees, while a winter setting may be 60. Both would be uncomfortable to live in, but they are sufficient to keep the home safe while no one is there.

With automatic geofencing technology, the smart thermostat can adjust the temperature when people are on the way home to always be comfortable by the time they get there.

About Snappy Electric, Plumbing, Heating, & Air

Snappy Electric, Plumbing, Heating, & Air is a locally-owned air conditioning service in Marietta, GA. With their HVAC services, they've been helping homeowners save money on their heating and cooling bills for years. Call today to take advantage of their skilled technicians and lifetime warranties.