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Best Air Filters for Pet Owners
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March 17, 2023
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What Is the Best Thermostat Temperature to Save Money?
The average electricity bill is over $115. This is due to a constant battle with your thermostat.
When it’s blazing hot in your neighborhood, do you do what the neighbors do? Many people battle the heat by bumping the thermostat down so low they need to wear a sweater. Then, when it’s cold outside, they do the opposite.
It’s like playing a game with your thermostat.
Players in the thermostat temperature game usually don’t win. Instead, they notice higher energy bills and sometimes more frequent HVAC system repairs.
If you’ve found yourself on the losing end of the game, you have options.
If you have a programmable thermostat, you already have an advantage. Buying the right furnace air filters is another strategy you can use to win the game.
There is a catch!
If you don’t know how to use your weapons, you won’t be an effective player. We’ve put together some strategies you can use to help keep your home comfortable—regardless of the season.
If you’ve ever asked, “At what temperature should I set my thermostat?” you’ll want to read this article. We have the answer to that question and more.
Read on and explore how thermostat settings work and why you may not be optimizing your position in the temperature game.
Do You Set it and Forget It?
Long before the debut of the programmable thermostat, people played a different kind of game. Instead of fighting over the temperature, people fought over who oversaw the thermostat. The one who took control set the temperature and then forbid the rest of the household members from getting anywhere near the thermostat.
If they were thoughtful, the caretaker of the thermostat kept the temperature at a comfortable 78 degrees. But they also didn’t have an issue turning the thermostat down, to say, 74 degrees on a sweltering summer day.
The most effective way to use a thermostat is not to get too attached to the set it and forget it mindset.
To get the most out of your HVAC system and effectively manage energy bills, you must be willing to let your thermostat work for you. Consider doing so this year if you haven’t already brought your heating and cooling system up to date by installing a programmable thermostat.
What Role Does Your Air Conditioner Play?
You might assume the primary role of your AC is to keep you cool. And yes, the cooling components of your HVAC system keep indoor temperatures comfortable, but there’s more to it than temperature.
Your air conditioner plays two equally essential roles.
In addition to maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature, it helps control indoor humidity.
Is there a sweet spot that allows your AC to fulfill both roles?
The answer is a resounding yes!
How to Set Your Thermostat for Summer Days
Before determining where to set your thermostat during the warmer months, you’ll want to assess your expectations. Are you genuinely concerned about keeping your energy bills low, or do you prefer comfort at any cost?
Most people would like to find a balance between comfort and cooling costs.
So, where should you set your thermostat to maximize energy savings? There’s not a short answer. It depends on several factors, including seasonal temperatures.
Generally, experts recommend setting the thermostat to 78 degrees when you’re at home. When you’re away, you can boost your savings if you bump the thermostat up to between 85 and 88 degrees.
Some people cringe at the thought of 85–88-degree temperatures outside, much less indoors. Don’tworry—you can set up a programmable thermostat to turn the air on automatically shortly before you return home.
What About Those 100 Degree Days?
When it’s sweltering outside, the natural urge is to make it cooler inside—feeling cool doesn’t mean creating an environment suitable for penguins.
When it’s 100 degrees outside, you can’t set your thermostat to 68 degrees (or lower) and expect the big chill!
As much as air conditioner marketing may want consumers to think they can put this demand on their system, it’s not entirely true—manufacturers design air conditioners to keep indoor air a maximum of 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature.
IIt’sabout size.
People living in Phoenix, where summer temperatures average around 106°F, need a unit sized to take that heat level. If you live in Maine, where the average temperature during summer hovers around 70°F, you won’t need as much cooling capacity.
Keeping your local climate in mind, if you want to stay comfortable when the temperature soars to 100 degrees, set the thermostat to around 80 degrees.
These recommendations work for daytime temperatures, but what about setting the thermostat to keep you comfortable while you’re sleeping?
Recommended Thermostat Settings for a Good Night’s Sleep
Do you know what your grandparents did on warm, humid summer nights? They threw the windows open and hoped for a refreshing breeze.
They might have told a different story if they’d had central air conditioning.
Nighttime is when most people need to crank up the cool. A fickle breeze now and then just doesn’t do the trick.
The best temperature for sleeping may surprise you!
Sleep experts recommend keeping nighttime temperatures between 60 and 67 degrees. You’ll set your home up to provide the best sleep environment if you do.
We’re not all identical as far as how chill we need to keep temperatures in the bedroom. Experiment a little by setting the thermostat higher by one degree every night until you find your sweet spot.
Not every sleeper needs it as cold as 60 degrees.
Ideal Thermostat Setting for Winter
Summer and winter create situations for everyone. If it’s not your body rebelling about weather extremes, it’s your wallet.
Whether you live in an area like Denver—where people are experiencing unusually cool seasonal weather—or in Alaska, where it seems like it’s always cold (it’s not), you want to keep things warm and cozy.
The U.S. Department of Energy advises that you set your programmable thermostat to keep your home at 68°F during the day. It’s a recommendation designed to keep your home comfortable and help you manage your energy bills.
If you’d like to keep your furnace running efficiently and reduce energy costs, they suggest turning the thermostat down 7-10 degrees for 8 hours each day.
This is where a programmable thermostat can genuinely pay off!
Once you determine what 8-hour timeframe works for your household, you set it and forget it.
But wait, didn’t just say that method isn’t the best? Yes, we did, but we didn’t explain why.
A Few More Words About Setting Your Thermostat
Just like one-size-fits-all clothing doesn’t work for every person, neither does one thermostat setting work for every household.
To use the example above, setting a designated time when your thermostat keeps the temperature at the same level means evaluating your schedule. It also requires you to understand your household’s needs and preferences. Finally, you must pay attention to seasonal temperature fluctuations.
Let your thermostat work for you, but don’t let it boss you around.
Just because experts offer suggestions doesn’t mean their advice fits your family’s unique needs. Don’t hesitate to experiment with your thermostat.
Try out the idea of lowering the thermostat for a designated period. Please give it a month or so, and then reassess your comfort level and your energy bill.
You can always reprogram the thermostat.
How to Optimize Your Thermostat Temperature
Sometimes it’s not enough to install the latest technology in your home. You need to help it learn your ways.
One of the easiest things you can do to help your thermostat is to tell it what to do beforehand. Take some time to study the manual to know how to preset settings.
An optimized thermostat lets you transition gradually from your relaxed sleep environment to the warmth needed to start your day. Set the thermostat to raise the temperature about 30 minutes before you usually get out of the bed.
Reverse the process in the evening. Start lowering the temperature about 30 minutes before you go to bed.
Also, when you’re installing a new programmable thermostat, make sure you place it where it can work most efficiently. That means installing it on an interior wall away from direct sunlight.
The natural room air currents impact how your thermostat measures the correct indoor temperature in your home.
Another way you can help your thermostat work in tandem with your heating and cooling system is to change furnace air filters when needed. Refer to the manual for your HVAC system for suggestions about when to install a new filter.
You Can Order Furnace Air Filters Right Here
We hope you use this guide to help determine how to win the thermostat temperature game. Making the right moves means you can enjoy a comfortable home year-round.
Changing furnace air filters should also be part of your plan. Installing a programmable thermostat, understanding your household’s needs, and following expert advice will help you win the game.
The team here at Filters2Go loves to see customers win.
If you have questions or need assistance with your order, we’re always here to assist. Contact a team member here, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
How to improve energy savings with your Nest smart thermostat
Google Nest thermostats are engineered to learn from you and your home. They will learn to keep you comfortable when you’re home and save energy while you’re away. Here are some tips to help your thermostat save energy in your home. “Source: Google Nest“
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