Your heating and cooling bill can be one of the more expensive utilities in your home. Of course, this depends on a number of factors but ultimately remains true for many families. Nonetheless, there are ways to avoid spikes in your heating and cooling costs. If you’re looking for ways to best manage your thermostat to get the best bang for your buck, the following tips can help.
Place your thermostat in a neutral location.
If your thermostat is next to a window or outside door or a hot spot like the stove or fireplace, you could be experiencing more unit usage than necessary. The thermostat takes the temperature in the location at which it is situated. A thermostat by an exterior door will catch all of the cold air coming in on winter days or hot air in the summer. If it has been placed in front of a window, the sun beating on it all day can trick it into thinking your home is far warmer than it is. Additionally, catching a draft from windows can cause some confusion. For these reasons, it is vital that your thermostat is placed in a neutral location. This location should reflect the average temperature of your home. Often, the best place to situate your thermostat is in a hallway or another interior wall of the house.
Do not adjust it to your current (everchanging) state.
Drinking hot coffee on a warm summer morning can result in you feeling a little hot. However, if you immediately change the thermostat to meet your current needs but lower it once more once you’ve cooled down, you are using more energy in heating and cooling your home than really necessary. Consider how many times you would have to change the temperature for each of the following activities:
- Taking a shower
- At-home workout
- Cooking a meal
- Eating ice cream
- Applying ice to an injury
If you had to change your thermostat’s temperature for every activity that changed your body temperature, your heating and cooling would expel a lot of energy. Leave the temperature on a good, even spot.
Avoid the extremes.
Perhaps it has gotten frigid overnight, and leaving the thermostat alone is just not nearly enough. Although a slight change may be necessary, turning the heat up exponentially is not a good idea. It is unlikely that your unit will heat your home faster because of the increased temperature. Rather, it will heat at the same rate as it typically does, but the machine will work harder and eventually make you far too hot. The same goes for cooling down your home. Avoid setting extreme temperatures!
Call in the Experts
Managing your thermostat for the best return is a relatively simple process. It may require some discipline, but experts will tell you to follow the above-stated suggestions. If you require assistance with your heating oil, Arlex Oil is a great resource to contact. Arlex Oil is an expert in your needs for heating oil.
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