Your thermostat is designed to send a signal to your heating and air conditioning system to control the temperature inside your home. If you’re interested in improving your home’s overall efficiency and reducing your utility costs, it can easily be one of the most valuable tools in your home. Here’s how to take advantage of the thermostat, avoid AC repairs, and save money all at once.

How to Use Your Thermostat to Save Money

1. Install a Smart Model

Smart thermostats are designed to work according to your schedule. For example, you can set it to turn down the temperature by several degrees when you leave the house during the day and to turn back up shortly before you arrive. You can do the same if you go out of town or at night when you can depend on blankets for warmth or a fan for cooler air. Programming your thermostat this way can save up to 10% a year on your heating and cooling costs.

2. Avoid Speed Adjusting

There’s a temptation to try to reach your desired temperature in a hurry by adjusting the thermostat to an extreme. For example, you might turn it down a few degrees lower than what you prefer to make the house cooler more quickly. This, however, can backfire because it forces the unit to work much harder than necessary—and it won’t produce the result you want since the system only works at a single speed. You may end up dealing with a costly AC repair by forcing the unit to do something it can’t do. Instead, ask your HVAC contractor about installing a zoned system that heats or cools individual rooms.

3. Use Natural Sources

When you do turn down or raise the thermostat, you can trust it to reach that temperature eventually. Don’t risk your own discomfort in the process, though. Pull back the curtains to allow natural light into the room and flood it with warmth. During spring and summer, crack the windows open to allow some fresh air into the home. Doing so also gives your system a break and may prevent unnecessary heating and AC repairs.

Homeowners throughout Monroe County, NY, trust in the experts at Empire Heating & Air Conditioning for all of their heating and cooling needs. The qualified HVAC contractors have served the community for more than 50 years, offering everything from AC repairs to installations. They also provide plumbing repairs and can tackle those clogged drains and water heater issues with ease. Visit the website for information, or call (585) 325-6768 to schedule an appointment.