The thermostat is where it all begins with your home’s heating and cooling system. A properly-operating thermostat sets, regulates and monitors the temperatures in your home, and helps keep your family comfortable during the heat of summer and during the colder winter season.
As Old Man Winter makes his way towards us, we are reminded of our customers’ frequent questions about thermostats and how to operate them in the most effective manner possible. Following are our top five most-asked questions and our replies. As we get going, keep in mind that we wanted to have some fun with this blog!
- How do I get my grandma to leave the thermostat alone?
Install your thermostat in a locked compartment, monitor it with a motion-control alarm system and keep the key in your possession at all times. Seriously, another more practical way is to install a WiFi-controlled thermostat that enables you to keep tabs on it remotely. Just remember who has control of the thermostat at all times. If you want a good laugh, read about this humorous WiFi thermostat review. - My husband is a cheapskate and turns our thermostat WAY down at night and off when we are gone. Is it really cheaper to do that?
Probably not, because turning your system way down or completely off leaves your home susceptible to outside factors. For example, an unexpected and brutal cold spell could freeze the water in your fish tank (not to mention your indoor plumbing). While we are just kidding, of course, the better option is to simply turn the thermostat down 7-10 degrees or, even better: invest in a programmable thermostat. This will allow you to move the temperature back up to a comfortable level before you get back home. - My dog will be at home all day while I’m at work this winter, so what should I set the thermostat to?
If you are leaving Fido home alone, put him in a sweater and then turn the thermostat down like you normally would 7-10 degrees. In fact, our pet’s’ body temperatures are a bit higher than humans, so they are equipped to handle you being energy-efficient—unless they’re hairless! To learn more about handling different times of the year visit http://www.akc.org/press-center/akc-syndicate/ask-akc/temperature-setting-for-dogs/. - Is it more efficient for me to just use the programmed features or for me to set at a constant, specific temperature?
Easy answer: duh… if you have a programmable thermostat use it! A programmable system allows you to maintain climate control efficiency while saving you money on your utility bills. Precious time is also saved because of the need to manually adjust settings is eliminated. - How often should thermostat batteries be changed out?
Some HVAC experts say every six months, others say at least once per year. Both are usually OK, though the best plan is to check your thermostat owner’s manual. And whatever you do, don’t procrastinate and wait until the batteries go dead… your teeth will be chattering while you rummage through your cabinets looking for new ones.
For more information about your Honeywell and Nest thermostat and all your heating and cooling needs, call CCC.
