Your Home's Thermostat Settings

Want to keep your family comfortable for the remainder of the summer and not spend a fortune on your monthly energy bills? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got tips to help you keep your home cool without cranking down your thermostat and having your AC running nearly non-stop.

Tip #1: Install a programmable thermostat.

If you don’t already have a smart or programable thermostat installed in your home, now is a great time to get one. Not only will this help you during the spring and summer, but during the fall and winter seasons as well. A programmable thermostat gives you control of the temperature inside your home — even when you aren’t there!

Many smart thermostats also have a smartphone app for you to download. From the app, you can control the temperature inside your home while you’re away at work, school or just on the go.

You can also program the temperature to be warmer or colder when you and your family are away. For example, during the spring when you all leave in the morning to go to work or school, you can program the thermostat to automatically raise the temperature inside your home by a few degrees, so your AC isn’t running as often during the day when no one’s there. Then, you can set it to start lowering the temperature again ahead of your arrival back home. This also comes in handy during the heating season — you can program a lower temperature to be maintained when you’re away, then raise it to a comfortable level automatically before you arrive home. This could help to save you on your monthly energy bills.

Tip #2: Keep the curtains closed.

Many homeowners are shocked when they find out how much the natural light from the sun can raise the indoor temperature and cause their thermostat to send a signal to the AC to kick on. It’s true! When you leave your blinds and curtains open during the day, the heat from the sun’s rays can quickly warm up your entire home. In turn, this causes your thermostat to trigger your air conditioner to cycle on more often than it otherwise would, potentially leading to premature wear and tear on the unit, not to mention hefty energy bills.

In addition to leaving your blinds and curtains closed during the day, consider planting trees close to your windows to help block out some of the sun’s heat! And as a bonus tip, if the temperature outside cools off at night in your area, you could shut your AC off and open your windows to let in a fresh, cool breeze.

Tip #3: Seal openings around window and door frames.

If you’ve noticed that your home feels warmer than usual, even with your thermostat set to the temperature that your family is usually comfortable with, this could indicate that you have openings around your window and door frames. When there are pockets in these frames where air can escape, cool air from your AC may seep out and hot outdoor air may get in.

When this happens, it raises the temperature inside your home, and your thermostat triggers your air conditioner to run more often. In turn, this could mean your AC is running overtime to keep your home comfortable — and it’ll likely lead to higher energy bills!

Check for openings around your windows and doors by running your hand over the frame. Add extra sealant or weatherstripping around any areas where you can feel air transfer.

Tip #4: Make use of your ceiling fan.

During the hotter months of the year, your ceiling fan’s blades should be spinning in a counterclockwise direction as you look up at them. This direction helps to push air down on you and your family, thus preventing your home’s indoor temperature from increasing significantly on those warm summer days. As a result, your thermostat won’t signal your air conditioner to cycle on and off as much.

Tip #5: Schedule routine maintenance for your cooling system.

Schedule an annual maintenance appointment for your air conditioner. During this tune-up, a trained and experienced technician will clean and inspect all working components inside your unit to be sure everything is working as efficiently as possible. Potential problems can often be caught and dealt with early — before resulting in a breakdown of your system.

Additionally, the tech will make sure that your thermostat is operating as expected and sending the right signals to your air conditioner to let it know when to cycle on or off. If your thermostat relies on batteries, it’s a great time to replace them. If your thermostat is wired, your tech will also check the wiring to the unit to be sure there aren’t any signs of damage, such as fraying.

Want more useful homeowner tips?

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