Keeping your thermostat in the AUTO position means less overall energy is being used—and that reduces your utility bills considerably. Not only that, your air filter will last longer than they will if you leave your fan running continuously—in other words, if you leave it in the “on” position.
The reason they suggest leaving it on auto is so the unit can run at peak efficiency. Allowing the unit to have control over the fan speed generally leads to more consistent temperatures, better dehumidification, and energy efficiency.
The reality is that frequent switching on and off actually uses more energy than just leaving your heater on and can end up costing you more in energy bills. The reason why is that modern furnaces have automatic settings meant to optimize heating efficiency.
You don't need to leave the furnace on all winter long to save money on your energy bills. In fact, you can save more money if you turn the heat off and on based on need.
Whatever the case, dropping your thermostat instead of turning it off completely can help significantly reduce your heating costs — in some cases by 10%. You'll also maximize your savings by ensuring your home is properly insulated and loses less heat.
In fact, this will just cause the system to run for much longer than necessary, giving it unnecessary wear and tear and causing it to use extra energy. Instead, only adjust your thermostat by a few degrees at a time. This will allow your system to “catch up” without overworking itself or running up your energy bill.
Your room thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature, which for most is between 18°C and 21°C. If you only have a single room thermostat for the whole house, for every degree you increase the temperature, it will increase the heating bill by about 10%.
You don't have to shut it down altogether, but can set it to a low temperature like 58 or 60 degrees. The Department of Energy estimates households can save 10% on heating bills if the thermostat is dropped 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day, like when you're out of the house.
While there are occupants in the house, it is advised for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 and 72 degrees to promote maximum comfort. A pleasant temperature for everyone in the house, regardless of the apparel they are wearing, is between 68 and 72 degrees, which is neither too warm nor too cool.
Keeping your home at a constant temperature generally means that your HVAC system will run constantly to meet it. This means that your furnace or air conditioner may run when you're asleep, at work, or out of the house. This wastes more energy than the minimal amount that you might save by having it constantly run.
Thermostat Operation
The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.
Just how much depends on how well insulated your property is. The better insulated your home is, the less heat it will require in more sporadic spells. As such, less energy is expended and lower energy bills ensue. Ultimately then, the key to cost effective home heating isn't to leave the system on all day every day.
The best way to save money is by combining both. The “run” feature lets you preset the temperature when you're not home to prevent wasting money on cooling or heating an empty home. Meanwhile, the “hold” button lets you change the room's temperature without changing your energy-saving, preset schedule.
Changing your thermostat too often is another mistake people make. Namely, it can be difficult for the heating system to keep up with constant temperature changes, and the varying energy use puts more strain on your system than it should. This increases your electric bill, and can even confuse your smart thermostat.
AUTO means that the fan turns on automatically only when your system is heating or cooling air. Once the thermostat reaches the desired temperature, the entire system shuts off until the next cycle. ON means that the fan is constantly on and blowing air when your HVAC system is not heating or cooling air.
If you're cold even though your thermostat indicates you shouldn't be, your furnace likely isn't the problem. In most cases, it's working just fine. It's your home that needs attention. Lack of insulation, severe air leakage, and/or unbalanced ductwork are frequently to blame.
Sleep experts believe the best temperature for great sleep is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. But in addition to making you uncomfortable and interfering with healthy sleep patterns, being too hot at any time of day or night can cause health risks like dehydration and heat stroke.
Quick answer: The ideal house temperature is room temperature, which ranges from 68 to 78 degrees F, though this may vary from season to season. In winter, the average room temperature is generally 62 to 68 degrees, whereas in the summer, the average temperature is 72 to 78 degrees.
The main benefit of setting the thermostat to 'Auto' is that it will result in more energy efficient usage. This is because the fan will run only when it's required. Also, the air filter will need to be changed or cleaned less frequently when the thermostat setting is set to 'Auto'.
If you turn your heating off during the day, it will use less energy to heat your home, since it is not running, and therefore reduce the cost of your heating bill.
But when is the right time to flip the switch? Start by shutting off your heating system when temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. While that temperature might seem cold, it can take days for your whole home to cool down to that temperature. So you can turn the heat off and see how you feel.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can save on utility bills by turning down their thermostats before they go to sleep and during the daytime hours when/if no one is home. You can save an average of 1% on energy costs for every degree reduced on your thermostat.
Did you know you can save up to 10% a year on your heating and cooling expenses by simply setting your thermostat back 7° to 10°F for 8 hours each day. * That means you can adjust your thermostat before leaving for work and before bed each day and potentially see real savings on your electricity bill.