Open up the weather app on your phone, and you’ll see that the weather is unpredictable this time of year. In Essex, Passaic and Bergen Counties, we’ve had some days this month that have felt almost like summer, but we’ve also had our share of frigid nights.
You’ve likely started up your home’s furnace or boiler in preparation for the winter months ahead. But have you looked at your home’s thermostat settings recently? Being smart about your thermostat usage can lower energy expenses while keeping you consistently comfortable.
For late fall and winter, we have found that setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit can minimize the fuel your heating system consumes. We suggest using this setting while you and your family are awake. It will stop your boiler or furnace from cycling too often.
What do you do when some summer weather happens in the fall? You can revert to a summer thermostat setting of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the most cost-effective way to address unseasonable heat in the fall is to forgo air conditioning altogether and run ceiling fans instead. Moving the air around can make rooms feel cooler on their own.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, families can save up to 10 percent on annual heating and cooling expenses by turning their thermostats back 7 to 10 degrees from their standard settings for 8 hours a day. The best way to do this is with a programmable thermostat. You can schedule cost-saving adjustments for when you’re sleeping or out working.
And JW Pierson can help you take this to the next level with a Wi-Fi-enabled smart thermostat. We sell and install RedLINK Wireless Comfort products from Honeywell. With this cutting-edge thermostat, you can change your settings remotely with a phone app. Even better, the RedLINK will adjust your settings to lower usage when utility prices are high.
We recommend that, once you’ve set your preprogrammed temperature adjustments, you leave your thermostat alone as much as possible. Raising and lowering the temperature constantly will make your heating system run more often, using more fuel.
Finally, we suggest you use sunlight to your advantage. Just as you should keep blinds and curtains drawn in the summer to avoid heating up your home, you can open them up in winter and enjoy some free home heating from the sun.
One of the best ways to lower your fuel consumption is to arrange annual heating maintenance for your boiler or furnace. A yearly tune-up will keep your equipment running efficiently so it uses less heating oil or natural gas. It also lowers the frequency of repairs and extends your service lifespan.
To arrange a heating system tune-up and explore other ways to save money this winter, drop the JW Pierson team a line.