We heat and cool our homes and businesses to maintain a comfortable temperature. So it makes sense to adjust the thermostat setting as our comfort level changes throughout the day, right? If all you care about is not being too hot or too cool, the answer would be yes. However, this strategy can be costly in several ways.
A better approach is to set heating and cooling setpoints and maintain them throughout the day.
The cost of frequent thermostat adjustments
You are not alone if you tend to ‘tweak’ your thermostat setting several times a day. It’s common to think that a few degrees change in temperature here and there won’t make a difference. But this misunderstanding can cost you.
These changes:
- Use more energy. Every time your HVAC system kicks in, you use more energy. And depending on what you’re asking of your gear, it can require a significant amount of power. You think of the need for a temperature change right at your location, of course, but your HVAC system needs to raise or lower the temperature across the entire zone controlled by the thermostat. That means, for example, your entire home for most living systems.
- Increase your electricity bill. Every time your furnace or air conditioner turns on, you’re spending money. It’s easy to overlook this fact as you don’t see the increase in your bill in real time. But no matter, the costs are incurred.
- Increase wear and tear on your HVAC equipment. HVAC systems are robust and reliable. But like any mechanical system, they have parts that wear out and need to be replaced. The more cycles you run your system through, the faster this decline will occur.
- Create more frequent service. Proper care of your HVAC system is crucial, which should include regular inspections and maintenance by a certified professional, as well as repairs when necessary. When you make your heating or cooling system work harder, it needs more frequent maintenance. And from…
