How to Save Energy with Your Thermostat This Winter

The winter season in Scottsdale, AZ is one of the mildest in the continental U.S., and in general we don’t need to spend an exorbitant amount of money to keep our homes warm through to the spring. However, homeowners often spend more than they should on heating because of simple errors regarding when and how to operate a heating system. People in colder parts of the country have more experience with efficient home heating, where we are more likely to make a few basic errors leading to energy waste.

Haphazard thermostat settings are one of the main sources of needless power drain. If you simply turn the thermostat up to a high temperature when you’re cold, and then turn it back down when you get too warm, you’re not making the best use of the heater. Here are a few basic tips for better thermostat management:

• Don’t go to the highest setting: Thermostats can go as high as 85° and 90°F. But you won’t actually be comfortable at these temperatures. You aren’t getting faster heat at these settings either, only a heater that works longer and costs more to run. A high heat concentration in a home means faster heat loss to the outside as well.
• Keep to 68°F during the day: This is the recommended setting from the U.S. Department of Energy, and it’s enough to keep most people comfortable on a cool day.
• Program a setback temperature of 8°–10°: During times when the house is empty or at night when everyone is asleep, program the thermostat to lower the temperature by 8 to 10°. This can help save up to 25% of your normal heating bills.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat: Y5ou can only receive the best thermostat performance when you have a programmable model. If you still have a manual sliders-and-dials thermostat or a no-frills digital one, call installers for an upgrade.

Magic Touch Mechanical has all your home comfort needs!