As outdoor temperatures drop, your air conditioner will begin to take a backseat while your home’s furnace takes center stage. At [company_name], there are certain practices we recommend businesses and residences in Richmond Hill, GA, and surrounding areas take to be sure their thermostat is properly set for the transition from the indoor cooling season to the warming season.

Why Your Thermostat Is Important

Your home’s thermostat is the central player in your HVAC system whether it is hot or cold outside. When you set your thermostat to your desired temperature, your thermostat monitors and regulates the temperature in your home. During cold weather months, when you set your thermostat to a warmer temperature, the furnace will engage and blow warmer air into the home until the air reaches your desired temperature.

Ideal Thermostat Settings for Fall

For people who are active during the day, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends a daytime temperature of 68 degrees indoors during the cold weather months. The reasoning behind the recommendation is people tend to be able to move around more and dress warmer when they are in the comfort of their own home. Office workers and people who are more sedentary tend to feel more comfortable if the temperature is kept at 71. When considering the ideal temperature for your home, it is important to keep in mind your level of activity at various times of day as well as how you generally dress when you are at home.

Using Different Thermostat Settings for Different Times of Day

Most people operate on some semblance of a schedule during which they are active, away from home and sleeping. People who work away from the home may leave their homes completely unoccupied for eight hours or more. Most homeowners sleep for at least six hours. To maximize comfort and energy efficiency, you should adjust your thermostat to accommodate your household schedule. Most people can conserve energy and save money by setting their home’s thermostat as much as 10 degrees lower when your home is unoccupied and at night when your household members are sleeping.

Control Your Home’s Comfort With a Programmable Thermostat

While you can manually adjust your thermostat to accommodate the variable levels of activity in your household, the easiest way to control the temperature and energy consumption in your home is to install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats heat and cool your home according to user input. More advanced versions are able to learn your household routine and adjust your indoor temperature accordingly to make sure the home is comfortable when you arrive home from work or when you get out of bed in the morning. Programmable thermostats improve energy efficiency and can even prolong the life of components in your HVAC system by requiring fewer adjustments. Fewer adjustments may ultimately translate to less wear and tear on your system. Homes that have zone HVAC systems can maximize energy savings even further by combining their zone system with a programmable thermostat.

Should You Upgrade Your Thermostat?

There are several different types of technology-driven thermostats. In addition to standard programmable thermostats, there are also smart thermostats and wireless thermostats. Smart thermostats require less user input. They are able to learn your daily routine and adjust accordingly. Wireless thermostats give you access to your thermostat when you are on the go. They typically come with an app you can install or a website you can access from your phone, tablet or computer to control your home’s temperature. There is often a great deal of overlap between the features that characterize programmable, smart and wireless thermostats. For example, a programmable or smart thermostat may also be accessed wirelessly. Your [company_name] can help you determine which type of thermostat is most suitable for your lifestyle, current HVAC system and budget.

Friendly, Helpful HVAC Service in Richmond Hill, Georgia

[company_name] has been Richmond Hill’s trusted HVAC contractor since the 1980s. We have grown from a small office with two employees to a larger enterprise that now serves Bryan, Chatham, Liberty and Effingham Counties and also the Beauford and Hilton Head areas in South Carolina. Our reliable, knowledgeable technicians are committed to helping you keep your home or place of business comfortable and energy-efficient as the fall season approaches. Give us a call to schedule your appointment for your annual HVAC inspection or to learn more about how to choose your ideal thermostat settings for fall. We provide comprehensive heating, cooling, indoor air quality and solar services.