Did you know 68°F is the ideal temperature setting during winter? While you can choose a temperature setting that aligns with your preference, adhering to temperature around this figure can help you achieve comfort and energy savings. However, HVAC specialists emphasize that adjusting your smart thermostat to this temperature may not suffice to achieve and maintain optimal indoor climate. There are some expert tips you can embrace to maximize your thermostat in winter.
1. Be Keen on Thermostat Location
The thermostat is the command center for your HVAC systems. Various heat sources can influence thermostat readings, triggering the heating and cooling system to condition air unnecessarily. Remove the thermostat from direct sunlight, drafty areas, and heat-generating sources. As a general rule, avoid keeping the thermostat in the kitchen, as the room might be warmer than the rest of the house. Removing your thermostat from the kitchen will prevent false readings and ensure an even distribution of warm air throughout your home.
When you avoid exposing the smart thermostat to external factors that can skew the temperature readings, you get efficient control of when the heating systems are activated or deactivated.
2. Take Advantage of Programmable Features
Utilizing your smart thermostat’s scheduling capabilities guarantees your heating system aligns with your daily routine. Set lower temperatures when away or at night when sleeping and higher temperatures when at home and active. Matching temperatures to activity levels in your home ensures your living space is comfortable when needed and prevents the system from running unnecessarily when no one is home.
You can also use the thermostat’s learning abilities and allow it to adapt to your preferences. It will automatically adjust to the settings over time. Regularly fine-tuning the programmed schedule based on your evolving needs maximizes the working potential of your smart thermostat.
3. Make Use of Geofencing Technology
Smart thermostats can adjust the temperature settings based on your location. They detect when you enter or leave a virtual perimeter around your home based on the device connected to the thermostat. When you are away, the thermostat can lower the temperature to conserve energy. When you approach, it raises it, so you find your home warm.
Smart thermostats reduce the need to adjust the thermostat manually. It is also easy to forget to change your temperature each time you leave the house. Geofencing technology can help you maintain low energy consumption even when you are away.
4. Use Remote Control
The remote control functionality in smart thermostats provides a convenient means of controlling your HVAC systems regardless of location. You can use a smartphone app or online platforms to adjust your thermostat settings remotely. This feature is valuable when plans change unexpectedly, and you cannot lower the temperature before leaving or raise it before returning.
Smart thermostats also consistently provide notifications regarding the heating status of your home. These notifications make it easy to understand when your heating system operates inefficiently. Even when away, you can make decisions to prevent unnecessary energy waste.
5. Smart Home Systems
You can connect your smart thermostat with other smart home systems. These include motion detectors and lighting systems. When the occupancy sensor detects an empty room, it can signal the thermostat to lower the temperature and reduce energy consumption. When there is automated coordination between devices, the heating or cooling systems efficiently respond to real-time coordination.
You can also connect your thermostat to weather stations to access information on weather predictions. The thermostat can anticipate changes in temperature and pre-condition the rooms according to forecasted temperature changes. They can avoid unnecessary heating when natural conditions could contribute to a desired indoor temperature.
6. Monitor Energy Use
Smart thermostats are a great way to monitor how your HVAC systems consume energy. In winter, your heating system contributes significantly to raised energy bills. Most smart thermostats have energy monitoring features you can use to know how efficiently your systems are using power at your home. It becomes easy to identify the areas where you can save money.
Smart thermostats offer personalized energy-saving tips by analyzing your energy consumption patterns. Recommendations include adjusting temperatures based on occupancy and creating temperature schedules that align with your daily routine. Also, based on weather forecasting services, you may get a tip on adjusting the temperature settings in advance.
7. Only Heat the Rooms in Use
You can focus on heating the occupied spaces rather than maintaining uniform temperatures throughout the house to save energy. You can achieve this through the use of zoning features in smart thermostats. You will ensure that conditioned air is directed only where needed by dividing your home into zones and controlling the temperature independently in each part. For instance, during the day, the thermostat can lower the temperature in the bedrooms and keep it high in the living rooms.
This approach is practical if you have a large house where not all rooms are used simultaneously. Besides saving energy, zoning provides personalized comfort for different family members.
8. Steer Clear of Manual Mode
Avoiding manual mode is another way to save energy with your smart thermostat. While manual control allows you to set temperatures to current demand, it often results in sub-optimal settings and extended periods of unnecessary heating. Manual control can also lead to deviation from energy-saving patterns as you try to maximize your comfort.
Smart thermostats are good at automation and can learn from user behavior. You can benefit from an efficient heating strategy when you rely on the device’s programmed schedules, occupancy detection, and its ability to learn algorithms. When unavoidable, you may change the settings manually, but consider adjusting the entire plan to let the thermostat adapt to new comfort needs.
9. Seal Drafts and Leaks
When a house has gaps and drafts, cold air infiltrates the rooms, causing the heating system to overwork to maintain the desired temperature. The constant need to compensate for heat loss through leaks undermines thermostats. When addressing these issues, the thermostat can gauge the indoor temperature and adjust the heating system accurately.
10. Set Reminders
Smart thermostats often monitor the usage of HVAC components such as air filters. Many air manufacturers recommend changing the air filters every three months for maximum performance. When dirty or clogged, the heating system must work harder, increasing energy use. Smart thermostats provide reminders for timely air filter replacements. You can also set reminders to schedule professional system maintenance to ensure your heater works optimally.
With these tips, you can maximize your smart thermostat operation and reap the energy-saving benefits. What are you waiting for if you haven’t upgraded your thermostat to a smart thermostat? You can inquire from professionals at BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair about the best model to use for your home. We offer heating and cooling services on all makes and models for residents in Las Vegas, NV. Our company is BBB accredited with an A+ rating. We provide a range of plumbing services, including drain cleaning, toilet repair, and sewer line installation, repair, and replacement, all performed by our qualified technicians. Contact BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair today to get more information and enjoy quality services.
