Don't sleep on these daylight savings time HVAC tips
Spring is almost here! The snow is melting, the robins are chirping and, oh wait, we’re losing an hour of sleep this month?! On March 12, while you’re adjusting to your new sleep schedule and scrambling to change all the clocks on your home, don’t forget about your HVAC system. Below are some tips to help you “spring forward” into action and get the most out of your HVAC system in the months to come.
Change the setpoints of your thermostat temperature
Choosing temperature setpoints that balance comfort and efficiency can sometimes be a challenge, but if done properly, your thermostat can actually save you money while you sleep. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save up to 10 percent a year on heating and cooling costs by simply turning the thermostat back between 7 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. Lowering your thermostat can also benefit your health, as studies have found that sleeping at temperatures between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit can help lower core body temperature and increase the body’s ability to fall asleep.
If you plan on being away from your home for extended periods of time, consider raising or lowering the normal temperature of your thermostat between 10 and 15 degrees, depending on how cold or hot it is outside.
Take advantage of scheduling features
Your Sensi smart thermostat lets you create custom temperature schedules for each day of the week (up to seven independent schedules). This makes it easy to create one or multiple schedules to sync up with your spring schedule. Using the Sensi mobile app, select the days you want to follow a specific schedule. Then choose the time and temperature set points for each. As temperatures tend to fluctuate this time of year, the Early Start feature tells your Sensi thermostat to start the cooling (or heating) system early to ensure that your home is at the exact temperature you want at the time you want it, according to your schedule.
Use this time to perform routine HVAC maintenance
For many Americans, the start of Daylight Savings Time coincides with the time in which homeowners switch over from the home’s heating system to its cooling system. To ensure your system runs optimally throughout the spring, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a licensed HVAC technician that can thoroughly detect and diagnose any issues related to efficiency and safety.
There are also several ways you improve the safety and efficiency of your home without the help of a professional. For instance, now is the perfect time to replace HVAC filters in your home to help protect you and your loved ones from spring seasonal allergens. Over time, these filters can build up dust and other contaminants that are not only unhealthy to breathe, but also detrimental to the performance of your HVAC system, as it must work harder and consumer more energy to heat or cool the home. If left unchecked, dirty filters can also become fire hazards. Speaking of fire safety, Daylight Savings Time is also the perfect time to test the batteries and check the replacement dates of all the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
Other quick and easy tasks you can do on your own include weather-stripping and caulking any cracks or openings to prevent warm or cool air from leaking into the home and using fans to help keep cool before summer months arrive. Just remember to save energy by turning fans off once you leave the room.
