3 Things You Shouldn't Do With Your Thermostat

Heating and cooling your home makes up nearly 50 percent of your yearly utility bills. If you're looking to save a little bit on your bills, that would be the best place to start. Unfortunately, there are a few things regarding our thermostat that we do that could be wasting energy (and causing our utility bills to increase). Luckily, the best heating and cooling company at the Lake of the Ozarks has three tips to keep in mind when dealing with your thermostat.

1. Heat Or Cool Your Home Too Fast

If you get home from work and your home is at 79 degrees, but you want it at 75 degrees, so you set it at 72 degrees to cool your home more quickly, you should think twice. You may think this helps your air conditioner work faster, however, it doesn't. It just makes your AC unit run longer to reach 72 degrees. This could actually result in your utility bills increasing, as the AC unit is running inefficiently.

2. Leaving The Thermostat At The Same Setting

If you set your thermostat at a specific temperature and never touch it, you could be wasting as much as $180 per year according to Energy Star. Instead, it's recommended to change the temperature setting whenever you leave your home for 8 hours or more. However, it's important not to change it dramatically, as this would cause your HVAC system to have to work harder to heat or cool your home once you return. Sometimes, though, it can be difficult to remember to set your thermostat every time you leave. That's where a programmable thermostat can be handy. They can be programmed so it automatically makes the adjustments for you. There are even smart thermostats that can be controlled from your smartphone.

3. Changing Your Thermostat Too Much

A study conducted by GasNetworks found that people who micromanaged their thermostats use more energy than those that leave them alone for long periods of time. That's because constantly changing the set temperature on the thermostat causes the AC unit and the furnace to stop and start back up too much, which causes them to run inefficiently. If you have your thermostat set at 78 in the summer. Your AC unit will run until it reaches that point then shuts off. However, you realize you're still too hot, so you lower the thermostat a couple degrees. The AC unit must now immediately turn back on. Your AC unit and furnace should be running for longer, steadier times to save you money. It's similar to your car's MPG. You'll get better mileage on the highway rather than on streets with lots of stoplights.

If you remember these three things, it could help you save a little bit of money on your utility bills. If you need help with your HVAC system at the Lake of the Ozarks, Royal Heating & Air can help. Contact us at 573-480-4313.

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com
CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

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