The thermostat is an essential part of any household, including those in Cheverly, MD. Every heating and cooling system depends on it to control indoor comfort. Here are some of the most common myths about thermostats and what the truth is behind them.
Setting Your Thermostat Much Higher or Lower Will Heat or Cool Your Home Faster
This is probably the biggest myth that needs to be addressed first. Simply put, your heating and air conditioning system can only produce so much hot or cold air simultaneously, and there’s no way to increase that rate magically. The only thing that cranking up the heat or AC will do is bump up energy costs, especially if you forget to set the thermostat back to a normal temperature.
A Programmable Thermostat Will Automatically Lower Your Energy Costs
Programmable thermostats are convenient and can help lower your heating and cooling costs, but they won’t automatically do so on their own. The only way is if they’re set to a higher or lower temperature at night and during the day when no one is home. You’ll always want to set it to an ideal temperature throughout the year, so your HVAC system doesn’t need to run as long or as often.
Location Doesn’t Matter
The location of your thermostat is a key factor in determining how well it works and how frequently your HVAC system runs. Ideally, the thermostat should be in a central part of your home that everyone can access. If it isn’t properly located, your HVAC system will be forced to run longer, potentially leading to an increased need for cooling and heating repairs.
Your thermostat also needs to be somewhere that accurately represents the temperature within your home, never in increasingly hot or cold areas. Some areas to avoid include bathrooms, kitchens, and drafty basements. It should also never be in a location where it receives any direct sunlight, as this will always make the system register higher temperatures.
If the thermostat is in a hotter area, your heating system won’t run often enough in the winter, and your AC will run too much in the summer. The opposite is true if the thermostat is in an area that always stays colder. Either way, both your comfort, and your energy bills will suffer.
Changing the Thermostat By a Few Degrees Doesn’t Make a Difference
Changing your thermostat setting to even a degree or two higher can make a much bigger difference in energy costs than you might think. Turning it down in the winter will lower your energy costs by somewhere between 1 and 3 percent for every degree, and the savings can be even greater for every degree higher that you set it to in the summer. This may not sound like much at first, but the Department of Energy notes that setting your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees higher or lower for eight hours a day can reduce your yearly energy costs by as much as 10 percent.
Only One Is Necessary
Most homes only have one thermostat, but the truth is that many of them could hugely benefit from having at least one or two more. If your home has multiple levels, you’ll typically always have issues with some areas staying much colder or hotter.
Installing multiple thermostats as part of a zone-control system can overcome these issues and lower your energy bills, allowing hot or cold air to be directed where it’s needed. In the back of your mind, remember that a zoned HVAC system differs significantly from a ductless system in more ways than one! Case in point, do your research and reach out to a reputable HVAC company for advice.
If you have any questions or issues with your thermostat, our expert team is always here to help. At Griffith Energy Services, we specialize in all types of HVAC maintenance, repairs, and installations, so give us a call today to schedule an AC or heating service.
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