The thermostat for your HVAC system is an important gauge that can save you money and make your heating and cooling more efficient. The two different types of modern electronic thermostats are programmable and smart. A programmable thermostat has a vacation mode that automatically raises the standard temperature by a few degrees while a smart thermostat allows you to make temperature adjustments with a smart phone. The following information explains the benefits of a thermostat upgrade for Jacksonville, Florida residents.
Choosing a New Programmable Thermostat
Sometimes you can bypass replacing ducts, furnaces and air conditioners simply by upgrading your thermostat. The better thermostat you have, the more efficiently your HVAC system will run. If your thermostat is older than ten years, your system will probably run better with an upgrade to a programed thermostat. Even if you already have a programmable thermostat, a newer unit can mean enormous energy savings.
Usually the newer a thermostat is, the more control it has in remembering the temperature you want to set for a room, whether it is for heating or cooling. Newer thermostats let you program temperatures at specific time periods and set scheduled temperature changes. For example, you can set your thermostat’s timing based off of:
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Weekday and weekend
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Weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays
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Each day of the week
Advantages of Programmable Thermostats
When you have the power to program temperatures, you no longer have to tip toe across a cold floor in the middle of the night to reset the temperature. You can plan your temperatures for the day all at one time. Another advantage is that you will no longer have to pay for heating or cooling that you do not use. You can lower the heat when you are away from home and schedule it to increase before your arrival. These types of thermostats also have the sophistication to correct temperatures quickly without putting any strain on your heating and air conditioner system.
You can tell if you have an old thermostat if it has hot and cold settings, which do not really offer a comfortable atmosphere. A more modern programed thermostat gives you controls to keeping your home comfortable every part of every day through all seasons. The newer devices will give you control of heating and cooling for each room in your entire house. Newer systems also require the least amount of maintenance by giving you maintenance reminders, such as replacing an air filter. For this reason alone, a thermostat upgrade is worthwhile because it eliminates the biggest HVAC problem over time, which is neglect.
Controlling Temperatures with Your Smart Phone
One of the biggest advantages for a thermostat upgrade is that you can link a new thermostat to your smart phone and make programming adjustments whenever you want from any location. You will also receive maintenance updates on your smart phone so that you will always be up to date on your heating and air conditioner condition. This ability allows you to keep your temperatures set at optimal energy savings levels while you are away, with the option to reset temperatures when you decide to come home.
Best Reasons for Thermostat Upgrade
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lower your energy bills
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automatic temperature setting changes
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access to HVAC monitoring data about system status
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modern thermostats use touch screens rather than manual controls
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newer thermostats facilitate zoning systems
Jacksonville Humidity
Since Jacksonville has the second highest humidity in the United States behind New Orleans, it’s important to know what it means and how to deal with it. In times of high humidity you should not have your thermostat in the “fan on” position. It’s important to monitor your indoor moisture levels, which ideally will be between 40 to 50%. Here are tips for handling humidity in Jacksonville:
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high humidity drains your body of fluids, so drink plenty of water when outside
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wear natural clothing made of cotton or linen instead of synthetic fabrics
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wear loose-fitting light-colored lightweight clothing outdoors
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wear sunscreen when you’re outdoors to help your skin retain moisture
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avoid sugary, caffeinated or alcoholic beverages outside
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make sure your air filter is clean, which is when it works best
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pay attention to regular maintenance involving coils, drains, refrigerant, airflow
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use exhaust fans for moisturizing
Lowering Energy Costs
If you plan on a vacation, the EPA recommends that you turn up your thermostat instead of leaving it off. The reason is due to how air conditioners work, which is recirculating air that’s already near the desired temperature. Leaving your air conditioner off for a long time makes it work harder to achieve the desired temperature, which increases its wear and tear. For short periods within a day an ideal temperature is 85 degrees but when you are going to be away for a weekend or longer the ideal setting for efficiency is between 70 and 80 degrees.
Each degree is worth a savings of 5 percent, according to EPA estimates. So programming the temperature to 70 degrees can provide maximum savings on hot days. Newer homes tend to have better insulation than older homes, as it is always an energy cost savings to have a well insulated home.
Programming Your Thermostat
A thermostat upgrade will make your life much easier, as it will save you time and bring you peace of mind about energy bills. Not only will the power of programming allow you to save money, you will not have to sacrifice comfort. You can use it to make temperature changes when necessary and program temperatures to slowly increase or decrease before coming home.
Understanding how your heating and air conditioning system works is important to saving money and avoiding wear and tear on equipment. It’s best to avoid too many sudden temperature changes and concentrate on gradual temperature changes when programming your thermostat. You can program desired temperature levels for various times of the day.
Eco-friendly Advantage
A programed thermostat protects the environment in multiple ways. It not only helps cut energy usage, it does not use the toxic substance of mercury used in older thermostats.
If you are ready to speak to an heating and air conditioning specialist regarding your programmable thermostat, contact us today.
