Heating and Cooling Thermostat 101: Settings, Questions and Concerns

Every home that has heating or cooling will require a heating and cooling thermostat. These thermostats are one-in-the-same, and you will not have a thermostat that offers separate options unless you have thermostats in different rooms. In most cases, your thermostat will either put on your furnace or your air-conditioning respectively. Otherwise, it is counterintuitive to have both systems running at the same time to reach the desired temperature.

Homeowners, especially first-time homeowners, don’t understand heating and cooling thermostat settings and what these settings offer you in terms of overall temperature comfort and energy savings.

We’re going to be discussing the proper settings for your home’s thermostat, as well as common questions and concerns that new homeowners have.

Thermostat Settings – Just the Right Temperature

With digital thermostats and WiFi thermostats, a lot of the guesswork is taken out of choosing the right temperature settings. But there are some pretty neat settings that you need to know about so that you can save money and keep your home in an adequate temperature range.

Winter

The frigid winter months are when people spend the most on their energy bills. Why? Nobody wants to be freezing cold at night. Experts recommend that you keep your thermostat set at 68°F during the day in the winter.

If you’re leaving home for eight hours, like you do with work, it’s recommended that you lower your temperature between 10° and 15°. By lowering your temperature by just a small amount, you’ll save between 5% and 15% on your energy bills during the winter.

I personally recommend choosing a temperature between 68°F and 70°F because it’s the most comfortable for me.

Summer

The summer heat will require your air-conditioning unit to turn on and cool down your home. When this occurs, you’ll also find that your energy bills skyrocket. During the spring months, many people choose to leave off their heating or cooling system because the outdoor temperature is rather comfortable.

But in the summer months, it’s recommended that you choose a temperature between 75°F and 78°F.

While many people find that this is too warm for them, it’s not recommended that you go much lower as your energy bills will skyrocket as a result.

And did you know that if you set your heating and cooling thermostat above 78° that you’ll increase your energy bill by approximately 6% or more for every one-degree increase?

Common Thermostat Questions

If I turn my thermostat to its lowest temperature, will my home cool faster?

No. Your thermostat can only work so fast to heat or cool your home respectively. If you choose to set your thermostat to 90°F or 60°F, your home will not heat up faster or cool faster. Essentially, your furnace or air conditioner can only work so hard, and setting it to these drastic levels will not cool your home faster – it will cost you more money, though.

I don’t have a C-wire, can I still install a digital thermostat?

Yes. A C-wire is required for the utmost control of your thermostat unit, but many older homes don’t have a C-wire present. There are kits that will allow you to install this wire, or you can hire a professional to do it for you. I always recommend a professional installation because it’s easier, and you can be sure that your unit will work appropriately.

When do I need to replacement my thermostat?

Thermostats are like any other electronic in your home: they can break, malfunction, or simply need to be upgraded. Most homeowners upgrade their thermostat when they want to save money on their electric bills, or when the unit starts to malfunction, which is easily noted by temperature swings in the home.