How To Set Your Heater Thermostat

Download Article

A thermostat activates your furnace or air conditioner to come on at pre-set times determined by temperature changes in your domicile or office. Free energy experts agree that setting your thermostat to adapt to dissimilar temperatures when you're domicile and away helps to save money on utility bills. By programming your thermostat based on your schedule, you can save coin while also helping to conserve energy.

i

Learn the differences between settings. If your home has central heating and cooling, then you most likely have a central thermostat to command information technology. Thermostats, whether programmable or not, will have many similar settings, including fan options, heating options, and cooling options.
2
Turn on the fan. With fan options, yous will virtually likely have "on" or "automobile." By choosing "on," you will engage the fan on your system to broadcast air through the home without heating or cooling it. The fan volition run for as long as the "on" choice is engaged. The "auto" option will only appoint the fan when either the rut or air conditioning turns on and needs to exist circulated.
- The "on" choice for the fan is mostly considered an energy waster since it volition crave a decent amount of energy to movement that much air on a constant footing. Due to this near people only ever get out the fan set to "auto."
- Many people use the "on" option but to affluent air out of a house—if something burned while cooking and y'all want to circulate enough air to clear the smell, for example.
Advert
3
Fix the air conditioner. Depending on your model of thermostat, you will likely either have a small switch on the thermostat's faceplate or a cycle push to cycle between heating, cooling, and off options. You can prep the system to cool the abode by moving the switch or pressing the push button until you reach the "absurd" setting. You will see a number on the thermostat display. This number is the ambient temperature in your home. Use the up and down arrows on the thermostat to fix the temperature you want the home to reach. You lot will run into a dissimilar display number come up that corresponds to the temperature y'all set.
- You will probable hear the arrangement click equally it engages and turns on the ac to lower the temperature in the house to what you have set.
- The system will run until the house reaches the chosen temperature, and so it volition automatically turn itself off and merely reengage when the internal thermometer registers that the home is warmer than the fix temperature.
- You tin use the same switch or push to cycle the system to "off" at any fourth dimension.
iv
Set the heat. Setting the estrus for your thermostat is very similar to setting the cooling option. Use the same switch or button to cycle through until you reach "heat." You can and so use the same set of arrows y'all used to prepare the cooling temperature to set the heating temperature. Once more, the system will only run when the internal thermometer registers that the ambient room temperature is colder than the set temperature.
- You lot may also see an "EM heat" or "emergency estrus" setting on your thermostat, especially if you alive in an expanse prone to bitter cold conditions. This setting corresponds to a separate electric heating unit in the domicile in the event that the larger system breaks or freezes over during winter.^[1] While it does non hurt to test the emergency heating option periodically, you should stick to the standard heat setting for day-to-day use.
Ad

i

Read the transmission. While all programmable thermostats have roughly the same functions, they aren't universally operated in the aforementioned manner. If you have the transmission for your thermostat, go on it handy in case it has a unique set of operations.
2

Determine your schedule. Track when you get out the house (or workplace) and are away regularly for at least four hours. Make notes about your schedule for seven days, including all 24 hours each day.
iii
Program fourth dimension and engagement information. The current time and date must be entered into your programmable thermostat for it to function properly. Nearly all thermostats take a push that reads "set" or possibly even "24-hour interval/time"^[2] Press this button and a clock will appear on the display for yous to prepare the fourth dimension and the date. Utilise the up and down arrows to set up the items and printing the same "set" or "day/time" button again after each step to proceed to the next.
- Prompts will indicate whether to enter the time as a twelve-hour increment or as a xx-4-60 minutes figure.
- Y'all may also need to set the day of the calendar week, just information technology will follow in the same process after the time and date.^[iii]
iv
Press the "set up" or "programme" button. Once you accept the date and time programmed, y'all are ready to program the thermostat's schedule. Some brands volition have an actual "plan" push, whereas others may require you to scroll past the fourth dimension and date information by hitting the "set" push button several times.^[iv] You will reach a screen on the display where it prompts you to set a "wake" time for weekday mornings.^[5] You may actually want to set the fourth dimension very slightly earlier yous wake upward then that the system is already running.
- Most thermostats will allow you to schedule weekdays and weekends separately, whereas some may let you to schedule each day separately.
- Again, you can use the upward and down arrows to bike through the time.
v
Press "set" or "plan" again to set up a temperature. With the "wake" fourth dimension set, yous will at present have to set the "wake" temperature. Press the respective button for your model thermostat again and the temperature volition begin blinking. Utilize the up and downward arrows to observe the temperature you want.^[6]
- Some models may allow you to ready a temperature range so that y'all don't accept to reprogram the thermostat with each season. For example, it may prompt you to set both a wake summer and wintertime temperature. This will ensure that the system heats when the ambience temperature is below a certain threshold and cools when above some other threshold.^[7]
half-dozen
Set the "get out" time and temperature. With the "wake" time and temperature prepare, the thermostat will prompt you to schedule the time you leave for the twenty-four hour period during the calendar week. Most people fix these temperatures much higher during the summer or lower during the winter to conserve energy and run the system less while no i is dwelling house. Employ the same process of hitting the "fix" or "plan" push and the up and down hours to cycle through and discover the settings y'all want.
- If you don't want the organisation to run at all while you're abroad, you can simply set it to plow on at a temperature that y'all know your home won't reach.
7

Set the "return" time and temperature. The adjacent time and temperature setting the thermostat will request is for what fourth dimension you render dwelling house during the calendar week. Equally with the "wake" setting, you may want to set the time fifteen-to-thirty minutes before you get habitation if you want to ensure that the dwelling has already reached the temperature when you arrive.
8
Set the "sleep" fourth dimension and temperature. The fourth and terminal weekday setting the thermostat will request is for the time you lot go to slumber at night.^[8] Since many people might open up windows during summer nights or pile on extra blankets during the winter, you can salve money and energy by respectively raising or lowering the overnight temperature setting.
- Wherever you prepare this temperature will concord over until the "wake" fourth dimension and temperature you lot have set for the following forenoon.
9

Echo the procedure for the weekend. Once you stop setting the weekday schedule, the thermostat will prompt you to set the same iv times—wake, leave, return, and sleep—for the weekend. As with the other settings, keep using the "set" or "plan" push button in order to advance the menu and keep using the arrows to suit the times and temperatures.
10

Printing the "run" button to initiate. Depending on your thermostat model, once you hit "ready" or "program" on the terminal weekend "sleep" settings, information technology may return you to the current twenty-four hours, time, and temperature and begin post-obit the schedule. Other models may take a "run" push that y'all must press to initiate the schedule.^[ix]

Advertisement

ane
Acquire the settings on your smart thermostat. Smart thermostats come with 3-4 standard settings. If you're using a Nest thermostat, for case, click the blood-red Mode button on the tiptop-left of the dial. There, yous will have the option of Heat, Cool, Heat/Cool, Off, and Eco.^[ten] You can also run the fan. To do then, return to the home screen on your punch and click the fan image on the top right. This volition circulate air throughout your dwelling without cooling or heating information technology.^[11]
- Heat controls the heater.
- Absurd controls the air conditioner.
- Heat/Absurd allows yous to run both at the aforementioned time to give your home a more personalized temperature.
- Eco sets the thermostat according to energy-saving temperatures when yous're out of the house.
2
Schedule your settings. Smart thermostats allow you lot to set the temperature in your habitation according to a schedule. If you're using a Nest thermostat, click the agenda prototype on the bottom right of the dial. In one case it takes you lot to the schedule, twist the punch until yous achieve the engagement and time you would similar to set up a new temperature. Tap the bottom of the dial and click "New."^[12]
- Twist your dial to the left or right to pick your preferred time, then twist the dial up or down to select the temperature y'all would like.
iii

Connect your Smart thermostat to Wi-Fi to program information technology remotely. Smart thermostats allow you lot to plan or alter your thermostat settings via an app on your telephone or your calculator. If you have a Nest thermostat, click "Settings" on the thermostat'south home screen. Select "Network," click your Wi-Fi network, and enter your countersign.^[xiii]
4
Use the app to program your smart thermostat. You'll need to exist at home to connect your thermostat to the app for the start time. First, download the corresponding app to your smart thermostat. If you lot're using a Nest thermostat, download the Nest app and create an account. Go to your thermostat at domicile and select "Settings." Next, click "Nest App," followed by "Get Entry Fundamental." Use that key to connect the thermostat to the app.
- To enter the entry key, open your app and select "Settings." Click "Add Product," followed by "Continue Without Scanning." The app will prompt you to enter the entry cardinal.^[14]
- Once you connect your thermostat to the app, you'll be able to access your thermostat's habitation screen via the app anytime you're connected to Wi-Fi.^[fifteen]
Advertisement

1

Set your thermostat to 78 °F (26 °C) in the spring and summertime months. Keeping your home in the high 70s allows you to cool off while still saving energy and money. If it's a little also hot, go a few fans going. ^[16]
two
Heat your habitation to 68 °F (twenty °C) in the fall and wintertime. A temp in the high 60s helps you stay warm while also saving energy. Staying at this temperature also helps you salve coin on your electrical beak.^[17]
- If this feels a little cold at first, vesture warmer clothes around the firm and bundle up with some actress blankets at dark.
3

Lower the temperature at night by 1-ii degrees no matter the flavor. For example, if y'all set your thermostat to 68 °F (xx °C), lower it to 66 °F (19 °C). This helps you save on your electrical nib, and information technology can also help yous sleep more comfortably.^[18]
4

Raise the temperature to save coin in the summer. Try boosting information technology to 85 °F (29 °C) when y'all're out and nearly.^[nineteen] That way you're not spending coin cooling off your home when you're not there.^[20]
5

Lower the temperature to 55 °F (13 °C) if yous leave town during winter. This temperature helps you cutting costs on your electric bill. Information technology as well keeps your house warm enough so that y'all don't take to think about the pipes freezing while you're gone.^[21]

Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

What is common depression-cost setting for cooling on thermostat?

Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Marker specializes in constructing interiors, projection management, and project estimation. He has been a structure professional since 1987.

Construction Professional

Proficient Respond

The common low temperature setting for regions where it gets in the 90s is 78 degrees.
Question

When I set the temperature for air conditioning, does a college temperature lead to less cooling?

Marking Spelman is a Full general Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over thirty years of construction feel, Mark specializes in amalgam interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Yes, when setting a college temperature, this will lead to less cooling.
Question

How should you lot ready your thermostat in the winter?

This respond was written by one of our trained squad of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

When you lot're at home during the daytime, try to continue the thermostat set between 68° and 72° F (20-22° C). At dark or when you're abroad, fix it to 62-66° F (17-nineteen° C).
Question

What'southward a proficient temperature setting for a thermostat in the summer?

This answer was written past one of our trained team of researchers who validated information technology for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Reply

The U.South. Department of Energy recommends keeping your thermostat at 78° F (26° C) while you're at home to stay cool and save coin and free energy. To be even more energy efficient, whatsoever time you're away for more than than 2 hours, set it to 88° F (31° C).
Question

If a thermostat is set up high, will it just stay on until the temperature is reached, or will it stop at a sure level if the insulation in the dwelling house is not good enough to retain the heat?

It will proceed to heat/cool your house until it reaches the desired temperature; if the desired temperature cannot be reached, information technology will go along to cool/heat your business firm. A "smart" thermostat, such as the Nest, could potentially tell y'all your house couldn't become that hot/cold. It also can warn you lot about other things, such as energy consumption, how long it would take to rut/absurd the house etc.
Question

One time I set the heat to a certain temperature, is it supposed to maintain that temperature without letting it drop as outside temperatures drop?

Correct.
Question

Why is my air workout not blowing cold air?

It probably froze up - see if the lines have ice around them. If so, run the heat until they thaw out and then plow on the AC. Also, if y'all set your temperature too low, your unit volition not plough off, thus causing information technology to freeze. Try putting the temperature to 71 later on information technology has thawed out. If your unit still isn't blowing cold air, yous might exist low on freon.
Question

What temperature should I gear up the air-conditioning on?

That is an incredibly subjective question with a lot of factors to consider. Yous'll want to think well-nigh outside temperature, personal condolement level, and how much money you want to spend heating and cooling your firm, amongst other things.
Question

How do I gear up a thermostat to cool?

Look at the settings on your thermostat and either adjust the temperature so it goes down or select the "cool" setting.
Question

What temperature is good for heating a home?

It depends on your personal preferences, but 75 degrees is a pretty boilerplate temperature for heating the house.

Show more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Regulating your temperatures may yield fewer savings in milder climates with less variation in temperature.
To hold a detail temperature, you tin utilize the upwards and downwardly arrows to manually override the programmed schedule and then press "concur" to maintain that temperature. When you want the system to run based on your schedule again, you can just press "run" to initiate it.
You can temporarily override whatsoever programmed setting by manually using the upwardly and down arrows to set a temperature. The temporary setting volition hold until the next wheel fourth dimension—wake, leave, return, or sleep—puts the thermostat in a dissimilar manner.
If you're interested in maximizing savings with your thermostat programming, the U.S. Dept. of Free energy recommends only heating your house to 68 °F (20 °C) during the winter and only cooling to 78°F during the summer while you lot're home and awake and not running the system at all while you're away.^[22]

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertising

About This Article

Article Summary 10

To set up a thermostat, start by programming the correct date and time on your thermostat so that the program volition run correctly. Then, printing the "set" or "program" push button and select the waking time at which you lot'd like the oestrus or air conditioning to start running. Side by side, printing "ready" again to prepare the temperature. Repeat the process for the "exit", "return", and "sleep" times. When all the times and temperatures are set, return to the main card and press the "run" button to begin the plan. For tips on figuring out a temperature schedule for your thermostat, read on!

Did this summary assistance yous?

Thank you to all authors for creating a page that has been read 720,613 times.

Did this commodity help you lot?