While setting your thermostat when you’re home is easy—you can just use trial and error until you’re comfortable—what to do when you’re away is a more complicated question if you’re looking to save money. But it turns out there are best practices for what to do with your thermostat to maximize comfort and savings. Here’s a rundown of how to approach your HVAC unit when you’re away for the day. 

What Are the Best Temperatures To Set When You’re Not Home?

Instead of tinkering with the thermostat on your own, it turns out the United States Department of Energy has released temperature guidelines on what to dial it to when you’re away. The government experts recommend 68°F when you’re out of the house in the winter and around 78°F when you’re away in summer. Each is around 8 degrees higher or lower than the average temperature people like to set when they’re home. 

The idea of this tactic is that by getting the indoor temperature closer to that of the outside temperature, your HVAC units will not have to expend much energy when you’re away. At the same time, they’re not so low or high that they can’t quickly heat or cool the house back up after you get home. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can even automate that step and create a smooth transition without having to touch the dial again.

What Are the Benefits of Being So Diligent?

The biggest advantage of being savvy about your thermostat when you’re away is the regular savings you’ll reap on your energy bills. Since you’ll be demanding less of your HVAC units than usual, your monthly bill will start going down. The U.S. government reports that you can expect to save up to 10% off your bill if you follow the above temperature guidelines.

Beyond that regular financial boost, you’ll be able to take some satisfaction that you’re being greener and helping the environment. The power that feeds air conditioning and heating often is drawn from power plants that burn fuel, releasing more greenhouse gases and trapping more heat in the atmosphere. 

If you’re having any difficulty with your thermostat or HVAC system, get in touch with the respected air conditioner and heating maintenance experts at Gary Duncan Service Company in Olive Branch, MS. In business for over four decades, the locally owned and Trane®-certified crew will optimize your HVAC unit. Schedule a quote by calling (662) 895-2023. Learn more about the company by visiting their website.