A programmable HVAC thermostat not only keeps indoor comfort more consistent, it also saves money via reduced energy costs. The old-school manual thermostats required hands-on operation to keep heating or cooling temperatures appropriate to a specific time. In a typical day, you’d have to adjust the thermostat multiple times as indoor temperatures varied and occupants came and went.

Programmable thermostats execute temperature adjustments for you at the precise time you want them to occur. Wake up to a comfortable preprogrammed temperature. Indoor temperatures change automatically during hours when nobody’s home. The house is cooled down or heated up just before you return, and later, you enjoy a comfortable, efficient overnight temperature for sleeping — all without making manual adjustments. Programmable thermostats are also useful when you’re out of town and need to maintain specific indoor temperatures in your home while you’re gone.

Some of the benefits that come from upgrading to a programmable HVAC thermostat include:

• Substantial savings. The enhanced efficiency of programmable HVACS to control heating and cooling means very real savings without replacing your existing furnace or air conditioner. According to the Department of Energy, installing a programmable thermostat saves an average of $185 per year versus an old manual unit.
• Fine-tuned temperature control. Manual thermostats do not incorporate technology for optimum temperature accuracy. According to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), most manual models have a temperature accuracy of plus or minus five degrees. Programmable thermostats, conversely, can set temperatures to an accuracy within half a degree.
• Remote operation. A Wi-Fi programmable thermostat allows remote monitoring of programmed home temperatures — as well as manual adjustments, if desired — from anywhere in the world with a smartphone or tablet app.
• System alerts. Many programmable models will display system alerts such as letting you know about indoor temperatures that are below or above the programmed range, reminders to change the air filter, and low-battery warnings.

Interested in gaining more control over your indoor environment without making thermostat changes all day? Ask the experts at Jackson & Sons for more information about programmable HVAC thermostats.