How to Set Your Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is one of the simplest and most effective tools for saving energy and maintaining year-round comfort in your home. But to get the most out of it, you need to know how to set it correctly.

Setting a schedule that matches your lifestyle is key, whether you’re looking to lower your energy bills, keep your home cozy while you’re away, or avoid constant manual adjustments.

In this blog, Precise Comfort and Climate Specialists will walk you through the basics of programming your thermostat—step by step—to help you optimize comfort and efficiency every day.

Benefits of a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats offer a simple, affordable way to improve comfort and energy efficiency in your home. By allowing you to set automatic heating and cooling schedules based on your daily routine, programmable thermostats reduce the need for constant manual adjustments and help avoid energy waste.

You can program lower temperatures while asleep or away and have your home comfortable again by the time you return. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), if you turn your heat down (or cooling up) 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours, you can achieve a 5 to 15 percent savings on your energy bill.

Over time, those savings can add up significantly. Some models even offer Wi-Fi connectivity and learning capabilities, making them even more efficient. Whether you’re focused on lowering your utility bills or reducing your carbon footprint, a programmable thermostat is a smart step toward a more sustainable home.

Programmable Thermostat Scheduling Options

Here are a few of the main types of programmable thermostats and how they function:

•  7-Day Programming: This thermostat allows the most flexibility. You can set individual temperatures for each day of the week.

•  5-1-1 Programming: This thermostat allows one schedule for the week—set temperatures across Monday through Friday, a separate schedule for Saturday, and another for Sunday.

•  5-2 Programming: This thermostat is very similar to the 5-1-1 programming type, except Saturday and Sunday are combined into a matching programmable setting.

•  1-Week Programming: This thermostat allows you to only set one repeated schedule, the same for every day, regardless of weekdays and weekends.

Programmable Thermostat Dos and Don’ts

Depending on the type of programmable thermostat you have, you will have somewhat different choices for building out the temperature schedule. That said, most programmables generally work with the same time options: Wake Time, Sleep Time, Leave Time, and Return Time.

These are a few things to keep in mind prior to setting your schedule:

• Install quality batteries, and change them annually. Cheaper batteries do not have as long of a charge in them. You want your thermostat to work when you need it.

• Feel free to temporarily adjust the temperature outside of your programmed schedule when needed—this is called a temporary override. The thermostat will automatically return to your regular settings afterward. Avoid using the “Hold,” “Permanent,” or “Vacation” settings (names may vary by thermostat model) unless you’re truly leaving for an extended period.

• Avoid the temptation to drastically raise or lower the temperature thinking it will heat or cool your home faster. HVAC systems work at a consistent rate, so extreme settings won’t speed things up—they’ll only waste energy and increase your utility bills by causing your system to cycle longer than necessary.

How to Program Your Thermostat

Be sure to follow your manufacturer’s instructions; there may be specific steps or buttons/selections unique to your thermostat model.

In general, here is how to set your thermostat:

1. Locate and enter your program settings. Terminology and button selections vary by model. You can use the “guided setup” feature, though this will typically walk you through all settings of your thermostat, not just programming the daily temperature schedule.

• Choose either heating or cooling, depending on the season. If your thermostat has the Auto feature, you can set both heating and cooling under the same daily/weekly program, allowing the thermostat to determine whether the heat or air conditioning should turn on based on internal temperatures.

• Now, you’ll set the temperature for each day or set of days. Depending on your model, start with Monday or just weekdays, and set the temperature and times for your typical weekday routine. Your thermostat should walk you through what temperature you want for the following periods: Wake, Leave, Return, and Sleep.

• Repeat this for each day of the week or weekend, then select “Done,” “Run,” or another selection to finalize the programmed schedule.

Contact Precise Comfort and Climate Specialists for All Your HVAC Needs

Programmable thermostats are designed for you to “set it and forget it.” They will help make your New Orleans home comfortable and may allow you to save money at the same time.

Call Precise Comfort and Climate Specialists at 504-273-0522 or request service online if it is time for a new thermostat or if you need help programming yours. We are always happy to help.