Like most Americans, you spend just under half of your yearly energy bill on heating and cooling—it’s starting to stress you out. You’re saving for something big and important, so every little bit counts.

“I know it’s my fault,” your spouse laments. “I’m always forgetting to turn the heat down before I leave for work.”

This seems like the perfect moment to bring up what’s been on your mind: a programmable thermostat. Either you saw for one, or your friend who has one and has been enjoying the savings.

“Have you ever heard of a programmable thermostat?” you ask.

“Great, that sounds expensive,” your spouse grumbles. “We don’t need any more toys here. Does it actually work?”

Since you want to pinch every penny, you need to know if a programmable thermostat actually saves you real money.

Let’s dig in.

Programmable Thermostat: the Basics

A programmable thermostat saves energy by ensuring that you don’t heat or cool your house when it’s empty. Of course, you could always turn your analog thermometer down when you leave, but in the bustle of daily life, even the biggest energy savers among us don’t bother.

Hence a programmable thermostat. You use the digital interface to program the specific temperature for your house at each specific time.

For example in the middle of a cold winter’s day, you don’t need to keep the temp at 72 degrees. Since no one’s home, you can let it drop by ten degrees or more and save energy.

Programmable Thermostat: Best Case Scenario

You wake up in the morning and enjoy the toasty temperature even though it’s cold outside. As you’re leaving for work, you feel the temperature dropping to an energy-efficient low. When you get home in the evening, you’re greeted by a welcoming warmth. As you get under the covers, your home temperature settles into its overnight low.

The temperature schedule matching your own schedule only requires a moment of programming.

Programmable Thermostat Benefits

That sounds pretty good, right? But does a home temperature contoured to your schedule actually save you money on your monthly bill?

By using a programmable thermostat, you’ll save on average 10% per month on your energy bill, according to local One Hour Air Owner, Frank Horvath.

Saving10% monthly savings is solid, especially when you consider the long lifespan of your HVAC system and thermostat. You’ll be pocketing those savings for a long time to come.

Wi-Fi Thermostats

Wi-Fi thermostats that allow you to control home temperature from your phone or computer have been gaining popularity. Just like a programmable thermostat, a Wi-Fi thermostat allows you to save money by only heating or cooling your house when you need it.The savings they provide is comparable to the 10% of a programmable thermostat.

A Wi-Fi thermostat is similar to a programmable thermostat.

The major advantage of a Wi-Fi thermostat compared to a programmable thermostat is that if your routine changes, you can adjust the temperature before you ever get home.

Other Ways to Save

Because you’re reading this blog, we can safely assume you’re interested in saving on your energy bill in any way possible.

If your ductwork is in bad shape, you can actually enjoy up to 20% energy bill savings by getting your ducts professionally sealed. If you know for a fact, that your ducts have seen better days that might be your best way to save.

Read more about Duct Sealing here.

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Toms River

When you’re saving up for something big, the 10% you save per month with a programmable thermostat can mean a lot. Add onto that with 20% from professional duct sealing if you know the need is there. Programmable thermostats are easier to use than ever—you’ll love the convenience and the savings.

Contact us at (732) 355-3959 for a consultation about a programmable thermostat.