Calibrating your thermostat for each season is a smart move toward making your home more comfortable and saving money on your heating and cooling bills. There are four key settings that you need to pay close attention to when doing your calibration each season: temperature setpoints, away modes, humidity and fan settings.
Benefits of Calibrating Your Thermostat
Setting the thermostat to the appropriate temperature for each season prevents your HVAC system from working harder than required. This translates into reduced energy consumption, fewer HVAC breakdowns and manageable electricity bills.
By keeping the inside at a constant temperature, accurate calibration also improves your home’s comfort. As a result, your home will never be too hot or too cold, and the temperature will be just right all year.
Temperature Setpoints
To cut down on cooling expenses in the summer, keep the house at a comfortable 78 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re there, and turn it up to 85 degrees while you’re out. As a result, the air conditioner won’t have to run as hard.
You can slowly reduce the setpoint in the fall as the temperature drops. Keeping the thermostat between 68 and 70 degrees during the day and a few degrees cooler at night will help save energy without compromising comfort.
In the dead of winter, you’ll want your thermostat set anywhere between 68 and 72 degrees. To save electricity, adjust the thermostat to between 62 and 64 degrees while you’re not home or sleeping. Aim for a comfortable temperature of about 68 degrees to avoid overheating or underheating throughout the spring when temperatures tend to fluctuate.
Away Modes
In away mode, the thermostat is set to a more energy-efficient level to save power while no one is home. The best summer away mode setting is about 85 degrees. Using the away mode in the winter to turn the heat down to 55 to 60 degrees will prevent pipes from freezing without wasting energy.
Adjusting away mode to less extreme settings is possible during the warmer temps of fall and spring. If your smart thermostat has motion sensors or geo-fencing capabilities, it can automatically switch to away mode when you leave the house. This allows you to save energy without you having to lift a finger.
Humidity Control
Humidity control features are available on a wide variety of thermostats these days, making it easier to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. To keep the air from feeling too warm in the summer, try to keep the humidity level between 40% and 50%. This setting also makes your air conditioner more efficient. Humidity levels between 30% and 40% are perfect for winter because the air is usually drier. This safeguards you from moisture problems, like dry skin and sore sinuses. For optimal indoor comfort and air quality in the fall and spring, a humidity level of about 40% is ideal.
Fan Settings
The fan settings on your thermostat regulate the air circulation in your house. “Auto” and “On” are the usual choices. When set to “Auto”, the fan will only operate when the AC or heater is heating or cooling your home. You should leave it on this setting year-round to keep your home pleasant, save money on electricity and prolong the life of the fan.
Some situations may warrant setting the fan to “On.” For example, running the fan continually can help disperse air more uniformly or alleviate stuffiness in specific rooms. Switching to “On” may also improve interior air quality during pollen or allergy seasons by increasing air filtration frequency.
When to Call a Professional
You may notice an increase in your energy bill and a decrease in comfort as a result of your system working harder than needed due to erroneous temperature readings caused by a thermostat that has become inaccurate over time. If you want precise temperature control and a well-functioning HVAC system, you should have a professional check the calibration of your thermostat once a year.
To make sure the thermostat is accurate and reflects the actual indoor temperature, experts utilize specialized tools to test and modify it. They will also check the connections and wiring to make sure everything is working properly. Your HVAC system will last longer and save you money in the long run with this annual inspection.
Unique Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. is here to help you with an effective thermostat calibration. We also specialize in air duct cleaning, air scrubber services, hot water tank replacements, commercial HVAC, air conditioner repair, and more. Call us now to book a thermostat calibration for your home in Northglenn, CO.
