How to Adjust Your Thermostat for Wildly Swinging Temperatures
Most people appreciate spring because the warming temperatures signal the return of summer. Unfortunately, the change between spring and summer isn’t always smooth. Depending on where you live, you may possibly experience some very chilly days intermingled with unseasonably hot temperatures in a single week. This makes it difficult to manage your indoor climate.
The issue of extremely differing temperatures—where it’s cool one day and warm the next—may leave you feeling puzzled about how to set the HVAC system. Should you keep the air conditioner on all night or flip the thermostat mode over to heating for comfort the next morning? This very common challenge doesn’t have one remedy. The answer to a comfortable, energy-efficient dwelling is to adopt the right strategies until Mother Nature makes up her mind. Here are some essential tips and tactics to adapt your HVAC system during up-and-down temperatures this spring.
Install a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Investing in a programmable or smart thermostat is one of the best moves you can make for your furnace and air conditioning system. As opposed to traditional thermostats that offer modest control, programmable thermostats let you set your desired temperatures based on your schedule and comfort needs. When you do this, you can avoid using unnecessary electricity while you’re not in the home, with automatic recovery periods that resume a comfortable setting before you arrive back at your residence. A smart thermostat is even more advanced. One exceptional function is the ability to easily change between heating and cooling modes. This advanced functionality makes fluctuating temperatures much easier to manage. Smart thermostats that have this feature have a special heat/cool mode that quickly switches from your furnace to your air conditioner when it senses indoor temperature changes. This simply means that on a spring day that starts out cold and warms up by the afternoon, your heating and cooling system can heat your home in the morning and cool it back down as the temperature rises, all without you having to do anything.Find a Temperature Everybody is Comfortable With
Finding your family’s ideal comfort zone is difficult during times of temperature fluctuations. Ideally, you should maintain a temperature in the high 60s on chilly days and high 70s on warmer days to strike a balance between comfort and energy efficiency. Do not hesitate to make adjustments throughout the day based on real-time temperature changes—or switch your smart thermostat to heat/cool mode and let it take care of everything. If the struggle over the thermostat rages even with your best efforts to keep everyone comfortable, it may be time to start thinking about home zoning. This system features several thermostats and ductwork dampers to send air where it’s needed most. Zoning is particularly beneficial in two-story homes and those with large windows. You can use zoning to keep your entire house at a more consistent temperature or allow individuals to change the temperature in their area according to their comfort desires. As an example, Dad may want a cooler temperature in the home office, and the baby may need to have a warm, cozy nursery to nap in. Either way, zoning is the remedy.Dress Appropriately
Spring is all about jeans and a sweatshirt in the morning, followed by shorts and a tank top in the afternoon. Dress in layers so it’s convenient to improve your comfort with an outfit change rather than having to make a thermostat adjustment. This increases your comfort and lowers your reliance on heating and cooling.Open Up Windows and Use Fans
Take full advantage of mild outdoor temperatures to help make your home more comfortable. As an example, your furnace could run in the morning after a chilly night, and continue running throughout the day as the temperature gets warmer outside. Or, you could increase the temperature in your home naturally by opening the windows to bring sunlight and a warm breeze into the building. If your home starts to get too hot, close the windows and start up ceiling fans to produce a wind chill effect. This may reduce the need to run your air conditioner.Don’t Ignore HVAC Maintenance
Even if you utilize your furnace and air conditioning system less in the spring, routine maintenance is still critical to avoid unexpected repair visits. Here’s how to keep your furnace and air conditioning equipment running smoothly:-
- Examine the air filter monthly and change it when it looks dirty.
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- Make sure the condensate drain is isn’t blocked.
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- Dust the air registers and make sure they’re all open and unobstructed.
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- Arrange duct cleaning.
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- Gently spray off the outdoor AC unit, clear away any debris and prune back surrounding vegetation.
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- • Contact an HVAC company for professional AC maintenance.
