Each year the average American household spends in excess of $2,000 on energy bills, with over half of that amount being dedicated to heating and cooling alone. There are a number of ways to reduce the cost of staying comfortable throughout even the most frigid and the most sweltering months of the year, from ensuring that your HVAC system and insulation are in tip-top shape to altering your clothing and cooking styles to suit the seasons. One of the wisest things one can do to reduce energy consumption and utility costs while also making your home more environmentally-friendly, however, is to install a programmable thermostat.
No one likes to return from a day in the sun only to bake in the heat of their own home. Or to step in from the cold only to have to wait for the house to heat up before removing a heavy coat. Many people avoid these unpleasant scenarios by leaving their thermostats set to a desirable temperature even when they will be away from home for many hours—or days—at a time. Unfortunately, this comfort comes at a high price, both in terms of energy usage and one's bank account.
A programmable thermostat offers a quick and easy solution to this problem, enabling homeowners not only to designate an automatic shutdown time for heat and A/C units, but also to program them to come back on prior to their return home. Experts recommend that homeowners program their thermostats to shut down their heat and cooling systems when they leave the house for the day, and to turn them back on approximately 30 minutes before they expect to return. Many units even allow the user to create different settings for weekdays and weekends, which is especially convenient for those who work Monday through Friday but spend their off-days in the house.
A programmable thermostat can help to reduce energy costs in other ways, as well. When you are asleep, for instance, you are less likely to require the same degree of heating and cooling that you do during the day. By programming your unit to alter the temperature around one hour before you go to bed (reducing it during the winter and increasing it during the summer) and to return the temperature to daytime settings immediately prior to your usual wake-up time, you can minimize energy usage throughout the night.
Some programmable thermostats, such as the one sold by Nest, even go the extra mile by allowing homeowners to control the temperatures of their homes remotely, and this feature, too, can mean drastic energy and money savings. For homeowners who travel frequently for work or are planning an extended vacation, for example, a WiFi-enabled remote control, desktop-based program, or mobile application can help you keep tabs on—and adjust—the temperature of your home.
Beautiful though it is, living in northeastern Kansas—with its chilly winters and hot, humid summers—can be trying when it comes to staying comfortable at a reasonable cost. Fortunately, a programmable thermostat by a top company such as Honeywell, Aprilaire, Carrier, York, or the ultra-innovate team at Nest Labs can reduce the heating and cooling portion of your energy bills anywhere from 10 to 30%. And for those seeking HVAC services in Olathe, you'll find professional, affordable installation of these and other energy-reducing, money-saving products at Davenport Service Company.
Founded in 1980, Davenport Service Company has provided "Customer First" service in Johnson County, Kansas for over three decades. We provide 24/7 emergency service, preventive maintenance service, and seasonal tune-ups for commercial and residential heating and air conditioning systems. If you need programmable thermostat installation from an HVAC pro in Olathe, call 913-441-2222 for hassle-free scheduling from Davenport today!