Do's and Don'ts: Setting Your Thermostat

Adjusting the temperature on your thermostat multiple times in an hour may not seem like that big of a deal, but it could be doing more damage than you think. No one wants to waste money and energy on heating and cooling, and understanding how it all works is the first step to fixing your thermostat habits.

After you set your desired temperature, the thermostat examines the surrounding air and determines the current temperature. Then, it sends a signal to your furnace or air conditioner when needed and shuts it off once the set temperature is reached. Basically, your heating and cooling system would be hopeless without your thermostat, so it's important to program it correctly.

Do:

Set different day and night temperatures

Though it's a good idea to leave your thermostat set to the same temperature, there's no reason to have it running at full force when you're not home. If you plan to be gone for eight hours or more, set your thermostat five to eight degrees higher in the summer and 10 to 15 degrees lower in the winter. That can save you up to 15 percent on your monthly heating and cooling costs.

Tweak the program if necessary

Factory settings on programmable thermostats are based on average times, which may not be right for your family. The schedule may not account for children who stay at home all day or the two weeks your family will be on vacation. It may seem like a hassle, but don't be afraid to adjust the upcoming week's temperature schedule.

Consider smart thermostats

Many thermostats allow you to adjust the temperature and set changes for certain times throughout the day, but a smart thermostat can adjust the temperature based on humidity, your family's behaviors and more. Plus, many smart thermostats can be accessed through a smartphone app, making it easier to control the temperature in your home and see how much you're spending on heating and cooling.

Don't:

Set the thermostat to extreme temperatures

Turning your thermostat up to 80°F won't heat your home any faster; instead, it overheats the space. No matter the target temperature, your furnace will heat up gradually. If you set it too high initially, you'll have to readjust the thermostat to bring the temperature back down, which wastes energy.

Adjust the temperature often

First it's too hot, then it's too cold. Adjusting the thermostat frequently overworks the air conditioner or furnace and leads to unnecessary wear and tear. Powering each system on and off in a short period of time wastes energy—and money. Pick a comfortable temperature, and leave it at that while you're home.

Forget to change batteries

If your furnace or air conditioner won't turn on one day, there's a good chance the problem is with the thermostat. Some digital thermostats are battery-powered, and others have battery backups that maintain settings in case of a power outage. Your thermostat may warn you when the batteries should be changed, but it's a good idea to change them once every year.

Slightly adjusting your thermostat may seem trivial, but adjusting the temperature by just one degree can save money and energy.