Winter Thermostat Settings

The cooler months are heading our way, and even though it usually does not get that cold in the New Orleans, there are a few things you should keep in mind if you want to save some money on heating costs. In winter, you may want to set your thermostat to a different setting compared to the summer. When heading out to work, don’t leave your AC system running all day. You do not want to waste money on heating or cooling your home while you are gone. However, if your place gets too hot or too cold while you were out, it may not only take forever to reach a comfortable temperature, it may cost you even more to get it back to a moderate climate. The Department of Energy says you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.

Winter Thermostat Settings

In Winter, you can easily save energy during the colder months by setting the thermostat to 68°F while you’re awake and setting it lower while you’re asleep or away from home, according to the Department of Energy.  When leaving for work or other errands, turn your winter thermostat setting should be between  61°F to 58°F to save some money on your energy bill. If you are going on vacation and are gone for a couple of days, it might make sense for you to turn your thermostat even off. Just don’t turn it too low since you do not want the pipes in your house to freeze.

Zoning Can Keep Everybody Comfortable & Save You Some Money

If you have rooms in your home you don’t use, turn the vents off, there is no need to heat an empty space. Did you know that an existing HVAC system can be retrofitted with a zoned control panel, thermostats, zone dampers, and a bypass damper?  Essentially, the zoned control panel is the “brains” of the operation, controlling every aspect of the zones.  Thermostats read the temperature in each zone of the home, sending signals to the control panel to adjust the temperature as required within a zone.  Zone dampers function within the ductwork to open and close, controlling airflow into each zone and regulating the temperature. Signals are sent to the dampers by the control panel.  Bypass dampers are not recommended to be used because, by alleviating pressure within the ductwork when other various dampers close, it can cause the evaporator coils to freeze because temperatures can drop drastically within the ductwork.  The colder the coil becomes, the less efficient it is.  Air cannot pass through a frozen evaporator coil.  With zoning thermostats, the temperature is adjusted within each zone, affording comfort throughout the house. No one has to compromise!  By making efficient use of the HVAC system, zoning your system can save you money on energy costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, system zoning can save homeowners up to 30 percent on a typical energy bill. Those savings can mount up significantly, as the Department of Energy also estimates that heating and cooling costs account for approximately 40 percent of the average household’s utility costs.

The initial cost of retrofitting AC zoning causes hesitation, and resistance, in homeowners to make the transition.  However, those costs can be recuperated over time through reduced energy costs.  Check with the AC Ambulance sales staff to see if any of the manufacturers are offering special offers or financing.  Check with your tax accountant to see if tax credits are available for making your HVAC system more energy efficient.

If you have any questions about how to operate your AC unit most efficiently, ask the experts. We can help with winter and summer thermostat settings.