Sky high electrical bills and energy costs can probably be traced back to a couple of machines in your home. One of those machines could be the thermostat, as setting it too high, too low, or using it improperly can cause some major problems for your wallet.
Most of us under and overestimate the amount of heating or cooling we need or we mismanage our thermostat settings. So take a look at that temperature control and see what can be done about it. A few small changes could save you a lot of money in utility bills!
Check where the thermostat is
First, make sure your thermostat isn’t set up near your heater, fridge, AC, or anything abnormally hot or cold. Thermostats read the room and adjust the temperature accordingly, and putting them in hot or cold locations can affect how they work.
For example, if you set your thermostat to 70 degrees, but put the machine right by your heater so that spot in the house is 80 degrees, the temperature will be off. The thermostat will constantly be cooling the house down lower than it should because it takes that heater into consideration. Make sure it’s in a neutral spot to prevent this.
Let the temperature vary
Keeping the thermostat on one temperature all the time whether you are home or not sounds good. But it’s not good for your wallet or your energy consumption. If you know you won’t be home, then turn the temperature down a few degrees, and turn it back up when you get home. You can even invest in a smart thermostat that “learns” preferred temperatures and your schedule then automatically adjusts to conserve energy. They require a little more money up front but produce substantial savings over time, plus you might be able to get a rebate on the initial purchase. Nest rebate Illinois programs are available as well as in other areas.
Use common sense
When you aren’t around, or maybe even if you are, try to keep the thermostat setting as close to the ambient room temperature as possible. It’ll stop the thermostat from working as hard, and allow you to transition from the outside and inside without feeling too much of a change.
It’ll take some getting used too, but using your thermostat to manage your energy consumption will make you feel more comfortable. Plus it’ll keep your energy costs down and savings high!
