Find Your Ideal Thermostat Settings for Comfort and Savings in Oklahoma City
Thermostats are small but mighty.
Consider, for example, the tiny temperature box on the wall in your Oklahoma home. It turns your temperature preferences into pure comfort during hot summers and frosty winters, all while keeping skyrocketing energy bills at bay.
At All Comfort Specialist Heating and Air, we understand that most homeowners learn to achieve a comfortable temperature without breaking the bank through trial and error. We’re here to tell you how a few temperature adjustments and maybe even a technology upgrade can help you maintain comfort without busting your budget or relying on guesswork.
Let’s look at the ideal thermostat settings that can make a difference in your home!
Thermostats and Your Money
How you set your thermostat directly dictates how hard your HVAC system works. Prolonged, over-the-top settings that squeeze as much heating or cooling as possible from your unit will cause unnecessary wear and possibly even premature failure.
Plus, consistently extreme temperatures cost a fortune during the heating and cooling seasons.
Every degree you dial back on your thermostat can make a noticeable difference in energy consumption. The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save as much as 10 percent annually on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7° to 10° Fahrenheit from its usual setting for eight hours daily. Dialing back by 10° may seem insignificant, but those degrees add up over weeks and months!
Summer Thermostat Settings in Oklahoma City
Your instinct may be to crank the air conditioning up by lowering the thermostat as much as possible, but at All Comfort Specialist Heating and Air, we recommend these settings to save your wallet and your system:
At Home: Aim for 78° Fahrenheit while awake at home. This temperature significantly reduces the workload on your air conditioner compared to lower settings. Once you get used to the temperature, it may feel surprisingly comfortable—especially when complemented with fans.
When You’re Asleep: Many people find 75-76° Fahrenheit comfortable for sleeping. Your body temperature naturally drops when you sleep, so you might not need your home as cool as you think.
When You’re Away: Set your thermostat to 82-85° Fahrenheit. Why cool your unoccupied home? Raising the temperature by just a few degrees when you’re out can cut energy consumption and save money. When you return, your AC won’t struggle excessively to decrease the temperature.
Summer Energy-Saving Tips
These tips can keep your home cool when you dial your thermostat back.
- Use Your Fan: A ceiling fan does not lower room temperatures like AC, but creates a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. When running your ceiling fan, you can set your thermostat a few degrees higher.
- Close Window Treatments: Block direct sunlight, especially on south- and west-facing windows. Close blinds or use blackout curtains or thermal drapes.
- Seal Air Leaks: Prevent cool air from escaping through cracks around windows, doors, and outlets.
Winter Thermostat Settings
Cranking up the heat can quickly lead to skyrocketing winter energy bills. Finding the sweet spot that keeps you comfortable while curbing energy consumption is your best solution.
At Home: You might be surprised how warm 68° Fahrenheit feels, especially if you layer up with a sweater.
When You’re Asleep: Lower the thermostat to 62-65° Fahrenheit. Most people sleep better in slightly cooler temperatures, and this setback can significantly reduce heating costs overnight.
When You’re Away: Set your thermostat to 58-62° Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from freezing and your house from getting too cold. It avoids wasteful heating when no one is home.
Winter Energy-Saving Tips
Incorporate these do-it-yourself tips into your heating strategy.
- Window Treatments: Let sunlight in on south-facing windows during the day for passive solar heating, then close curtains, drapes, and blinds at night for insulation.
- Seal Drafts: Check for drafts around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. Sealing these can make a huge difference in your comfort and heating bills.
- Maintain Your Furnace: Regular professional maintenance from All Comfort Specialist Heating and Air ensures your furnace runs efficiently and is free from minor issues that can become significant and costly problems.
Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat in Oklahoma City
Adjusting your thermostat when you leave or return home, prepare for sleep, or wake up can become a chore. Why not let a smart thermostat do the work for you? These incredible devices can learn your daily routines and preferences and automatically change the temperature settings.
By downloading an app to your smartphone, you gain remote control of your thermostat and can adjust your home’s temperature from anywhere. Most models also collect data on your HVAC unit’s energy consumption and help you identify trends for more savings.
Smart thermostats easily integratewith other smart home devices, such as voice assistants, smart lighting, and security systems, to create an automated home environment.
A smart thermostat can pay for itself in energy savings over time, offering unparalleled convenience and peace of mind.
Find Your Comfort Sweet Spot in Oklahoma City
Balancing comfort with energy savings doesn’t have to be a struggle. You can keep energy bills in check by adjusting the temperature in your home based on its occupancy, your preferences, and the time of day. If your comfort strategy includes upgrading to a smart thermostat, let us at All Comfort Specialist Heating and Air recommend the best brand and model for your home and budget. Call us at 405-323-0994 or request service online.