If you live in Cape Town and control your air conditioning with a programmable thermostat, you should ensure that you are doing so in a manner that allows you to save the most money possible. When it comes to adjusting the temperature on their thermostats, homeowners should steer clear of making at least these three common mistakes.
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Do You Have a Basic Understanding of the Distinction Between a Control and a Thermostat?
You can control the temperature and humidity in your home, as well as the heating and cooling systems, with the help of a thermostat, which is the primary energy-controlling device in use today. The non-programmable, the programmable, and the Wi-Fi-capable options are all available.
A control does more than just adjust the temperature and monitor the amount of energy used. The homeowner has complete control over the temperature, humidity, zoning, and reporting of their energy consumption thanks to this device. It does this by continuously monitoring and adjusting the level of comfort inside your home, which makes it easy for you to address any concerns you may have about comfort.
Failing to Set the Temperature Preferences on the Thermostat
It would be irresponsible on your part to ignore the fact that the thermostat is capable of making a cooling schedule for you. When someone is present in the house, the thermostat should be set to maintain a comfortable temperature of 68 degrees. Simply set the thermostat to 72 degrees Fahrenheit while you are out or asleep, and set the air conditioner to turn on 30 minutes before you are due to wake up or return.
The most important thing is to steer clear of turning off the thermostat for extended periods. This allows an excessive amount of heat to enter the home, which can lead to structural damage and will ultimately result in a longer amount of time spent running the air conditioner. Programming your home appliances to operate by your typical work schedule can result in significant savings on your monthly energy bills.
Placing the Thermostat in an Excessively Warm Room
The location of your thermostat can subtly affect when and for how long your air conditioner runs. For instance, if you have electrical appliances surrounding it or if it’s in a room that gets a lot of sun exposure, the generated heat will cause it to read the indoor temperature as higher than it typically is. This can happen even if you don’t have any other heat sources in the room. Because of this, the air conditioner turns on when it is not necessary.
Keeping Your Heating on Throughout the Day
This is probably the mistake that costs people the most money out of all the other thermostat mistakes we see. Your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system ought to be able to quickly warm up your home. If you aren’t going to be there during the day, there’s no reason to leave the heater running. You can avoid the expense of heating your home while you are at work by programming your thermostat to gradually increase the temperature in the home in the few minutes before your arrival.
Bumping the Temperature Up and Down to Quickly Heat or Cool the Home
You are also erroneously assuming that your thermostat can control the rate at which you can heat or cool your home. This is yet another mistake you are making with your thermostat. For instance, if you walk into a chilly house and immediately turn the thermostat up, you can quickly bring the temperature up to a comfortable level. Unfortunately, this has no effect other than to raise the temperature. It has no impact on how quickly the system will heat your home.
When you need to use the air conditioner, turning the thermostat down won’t make a difference in how quickly the house will cool down. After the temperature has been changed, the system will require some more time to condition the air to the level that you have selected.
Not Maintaining the Thermostat
To ensure that it is operating at peak efficiency, the heating and cooling system in your home requires a significant amount of maintenance. The thermostat also requires regular maintenance because it is such an important component of the heating and cooling system in your home.
If the power goes out at your residence, you will want to check to see if the thermostat is still operational. The majority of thermostats, thankfully, come equipped with battery backups. Always remember to change the batteries once a year, regardless of whether or not your house has recently experienced a power outage.
The placement of your programmable thermostat is another important consideration. The thermostat’s ability to provide an accurate temperature reading is negatively impacted when it is obscured by furniture or when it comes into contact with the furniture. Consider moving your thermostat if it is currently situated in a drafty area or doorway, in front of a window that receives direct sunlight, above a vent, or in any other location that could affect its accuracy.
Modifying the Thermostat by Turning It Off and on
Another typical error people make is turning off their air conditioner entirely during the day in the hope of reducing their energy bill. This can result in a decrease in the quality of the air that is found indoors and an increase in the amount of humidity experienced by residents of Cape Town. Your climate control system is responsible for clearing the air of a significant portion of the dust and pollen that may be present. Additionally, it assists in the control of excessive humidity. Leaving it off can make the house a much more unpleasant place to be.
Believing That the Thermostat Is Responsible For Controlling the AC Speed
When it is extremely hot outside, one common mistake people make is lowering the temperature on the thermostat in the mistaken belief that this will speed up the process of cooling the house down. Since thermostats do not control the speed at which air conditioners run, doing this will only cause them to run for a longer period. It will not speed up the process of cooling down your house.
Not Using a Temperature Control That Can Be Programmed
When it comes to heating and cooling their home, one of the most significant and widespread errors that homeowners make is using a conventional thermostat. There are a lot of perks that come along with upgrading this thermostat to a programmable model. “You won’t have to worry about altering your temperatures if you invest in a programmed or smart thermostat” as stated in a blog published by GreeDirect.
For instance, you can program the thermostat to maintain a predetermined temperature for specific times of the day and night, thereby reducing the frequency with which the temperature needs to be adjusted. In addition to protecting the system from unnecessary wear and tear, programming your temperatures for specific times protects it. Your system will have a longer lifespan as a result of this. The use of a programmable thermostat to set temperatures will, of course, also contribute to the reduction of energy consumption. By properly programming the thermostat, it is estimated that you will be able to save a total of R 3100 per year on average.