Heating & Central AC Settings for Your Thermostat
Setting your thermostat for maximum energy savings is essential during California’s scorching summers. Fortunately, our Sacramento HVAC experts are here to help you find the sweet spot for your central air thermostat settings. We understand the need to stay comfortable while keeping energy costs in check.
Discover practical tips from our experts that strike the right balance, ensuring you stay cool without breaking the bank. Don’t miss out on these easy-to-follow suggestions to make the most of your cooling system and beat the California heat.
Setting Your Thermostat for Maximum Energy Savings
The temperature inside your home can quickly rise to uncomfortable levels during spring and before summer, especially if you have a two-story home without zoning. This can result in a spike in your monthly energy bill if you rely on your air conditioner to maintain comfortable conditions in the home.
However, you may not be aware that you can adjust the setting on your thermostat in a way that keeps the home comfortable without denting your monthly utility budget. Here are a few tips the experts at Gilmore Heating and Air suggest to help you save money with your thermostat during the hotter months of the year.
Be Careful When Setting Your Thermostat
In an ideal world, we would all leave our thermostats set to keep the temperature within the 60s, but in reality, that would send our energy bills soaring during the hotter months of the year.
Keeping the cost of air conditioning affordable requires that we adjust the thermostat to as high a level as we can tolerate so that the HVAC system doesn’t have to do so much work to keep our homes cool. Our HVAC technicians say that when the difference between the thermostat temperature setting and the outdoor temperature is minimal, the load imposed upon the AC will be lower, and energy consumption will also be lower.
Our trusted heating and AC contractors from Gilmore recommend setting the thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the warm months in California, and adjusting it to 68 degrees Fahrenheit for the winter season. These California-recommended thermostat settings are designed to help you maintain a comfortable home environment without causing a spike in your utility expenses.
Adjusting to the Higher Thermostat Settings
Adjusting to warmer indoor temperatures can be a gradual process, but it’s a financial decision that can pay off in the long run. To facilitate this transition, our professional technicians suggest avoiding abrupt temperature changes.
Rather, opt for a gradual approach by increasing the thermostat setting by one degree each day. This incremental shift provides your body with the opportunity to acclimate comfortably, and you may find that the slight increase in indoor temperature goes virtually unnoticed!
Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat
Another way to enjoy maximum energy savings is by installing a programmable thermostat. These devices make it possible for you to automate the process of adjusting the temperature setting at different times of the day.
For example, as you leave for work in the morning, the thermostat temperature can be adjusted upwards since no one will be at home to require cool conditions. The thermostat can then lower the temperature setting in the evening when you are about to return so that you get home when the indoor temperature is at your desired level.
Our AC service professionals assure you that the energy savings that you make when you install a programmable thermostat will quickly add up, and you will notice a drop in your monthly bills.
Other Effective Ways to Keep Your Home Cool
Our team at Gilmore Heating and Air always advises its clients to use other techniques alongside the air conditioner in order to keep homes cool. The Sacramento HVAC company recommends the following:
- Ceiling Fans: A functional ceiling fan can help create a cooler ambiance in a room, potentially reducing the need to lower the thermostat by about four degrees. This simple adjustment can save energy while keeping you comfortably cool.
- Block the Sun: To prevent your home from quickly overheating, it’s important to block out the sun’s rays. Our technicians recommend using blackout curtains and blinds to limit the sun’s intrusion, maintain a cooler interior, and reduce the workload on your AC system.
- Open the Windows: During the night, temperatures tend to drop, even on the hottest summer days. Take advantage of this natural cooling effect by turning off the AC, opening the windows, and allowing the cool air to flow in. This helps you enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep without the AC running. In the morning, close all windows and use blackout curtains or blinds to keep out the sun’s heat during the day.
- Install a Whole House Fan: If you have a two-story house without proper zoning, consider installing a whole house fan. This proactive step can help maintain comfortable temperatures throughout your home, especially before the weather heats up. Discover the best thermostat settings for a two-story house in summer with this energy-efficient addition.
Contact Our Thermostat Technicians at Gilmore Today
The heat can reach unbearable levels during summer in Sacramento, and you may think that cranking up your air conditioner is the only way to stay comfortable. However, as the recommendations above indicate, it is possible to stay comfortable without seeing your energy bill go through the roof.
Contact us at Gilmore Heating and Air for heating and cooling repairs in the Sacramento area. Whether a defect is compromising your home’s AC system’s performance or it simply needs a tune-up to maintain peak efficiency, we’re ready to help.
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