Your thermostat is more than just a device to keep your home cool and comfortable. It’s also the largest share of your household’s energy bill. That’s right, your heating and cooling system is the biggest culprit for high utility bills. According to the Department of Energy, using a programmable thermostat can actually reduce your heating and cooling bills by a whopping 10 percent. Air conditioning alone accounts for 12 percent of total household energy costs in the United States. With the warmer months just around the corner, you may want to consider investing in a programmable thermostat. Honeywell is one of the most well-known brands for heating and cooling technology. You’ll find that thermostats from this brand are common in a lot of households. Learn more about how to program your Honeywell thermostat below.

What is a programmable thermostat?

A programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature of your home. You can simply input or program the device to maintain a certain temperature during specific times of the day. The preset schedule can help you save money simply by having the device adjust the temperature several degrees throughout the day. Not only do they help you lower your utility bills, but they are also very easy to use and set up. A lot of these devices come with a button display where you can just push on the buttons to set your schedule. Some of them use a touchscreen to make these features easier to use. If you have one made by Honeywell, you’ll find that it isn’t difficult to program it for weekdays and weekends.

How do you program a Honeywell thermostat?

img

If you want to learn how to program Honeywell thermostat, the first thing you’ll need to do is enter the time. Simply push the “SET” button on any Honeywell thermostat, and you should be able to use the arrow keys to set the clock. Then, you can start looking into setting up the first program. Press the “SET” button again and find the scheduling option. There are different scheduling styles found on a programmable thermostat. You may be able to set a schedule for every day of the week, while others only allow you to program a weekday and a weekend schedule. It all depends on the model of your thermostat.

Since most people follow a Monday to Friday workweek, it’s common to see programming for weekdays. By using the arrow keys, you’ll be able to set the desired temperature for the weekdays during specific circumstances: when you wake up, when you leave, when you return, and when you sleep. These are usually the four types of programming you’ll see on a thermostat. After you choose your desired temperatures, simply hit the “NEXT” button to lock in the temperatures you’ve set. After that, you should be able to program a weekend schedule and choose the temperature for those same four circumstances. Then, when you’re ready to implement them, simply hit “Wake,” “Leave,” “Return,” or “Sleep” to activate the programming. Some thermostats do this using time blocks rather than the four programs. It all depends on the model that you have.

Should you set the temperature for each season?

img

The Department of Energy encourages homeowners to set their thermostats at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter while they’re awake. You can certainly allow the temperature to drop while you’re asleep. This actually guarantees better sleep quality. In the summer, it’s best to follow a similar strategy: Keep the house warm while you’re gone but cooler while you’re home. You should adjust your programmable thermostat as the seasons change.

As you can see, there are plenty of benefits to programming your thermostat. Start doing so a few times a year to ensure savings on your energy bill!