Are Programmable Thermostats Effective at Saving Money and Energy?

Programmable Thermostats

During seasons of high energy usage, your mind may wander to the topic of programmable thermostats. You’ve heard about them, but you’re not convinced that they’re worth the spend. They’re appealing, but you worry that they’re nothing more than a fancy new toy that will make little to no impact on your monthly energy bills.

These fears are not unwarranted. You can swap your current thermostat for a programmable one, but that may not be enough to make the energy dent you’re looking for.

However, with a few smart decisions, you can transform this small investment into significant savings.

Stop heating and/or cooling unused spaces

The first step is a practical one that doesn’t even involve your thermostat. Homeowners routinely spend a lot of money heating or cooling unused spaces. For instance, do you have vents in closets or spare bedrooms that rarely get used? You can do yourself a huge favour by closing these vents.

thermostat adjust

Choose your thermostat

If you’re going ahead with a programmable thermostat, make sure you get one that suits your heating and air system. A lot of factors influence your needs, including the type of system that you have (e.g. central heating, heat pumps, electric baseboards, etc.) and the age of your current equipment.

Your best bet is to consult your licensed electrician. With their experience and expertise, they can help you find a thermostat that fits your home, minimizes extra work (such as wiring adjustments), and features an easy-to-use display.

Some thermostat models even provide remote options and learning abilities. These advancements give you greater control and lessen your work, which can be a big advantage if you’re up for the heightened technological requirements.

 Programmable Thermostats 2

Create a consistent schedule

When it comes time to program your thermostat, the most important thing is having a consistent schedule.

Yes, you want to lower your energy usage (heating or cooling) when you’re not at home. However, if you’re setting up drastic fluctuations, you’re not going to be saving any energy or money. There’s a chance you’ll use even more as your system battles to deal with these sudden changes.

Thoughtfully consider your daily and weekly schedules. Identify regular blocks of time – not short ones! – during which you can slightly lower your thermostat. These minor changes will help you preserve a comfortable environment while you’re at home while noticeably decreasing your monthly energy bills.

smart thermostat

Hire a professional electrician to install your programmable thermostat

You may be tempted to tackle this project on your own, but there are a lot of benefits to hiring a professional electrician to install your programmable thermostat. They’ll bring the equipment and expertise needed to complete your installation quickly, and the experience and training to protect the safety of everyone involved. What’s more, they’ll help you learn how to best use your new thermostat and get the most out of your upgraded system.

Wireman Electric has been serving Greater Vancouver residents for years. We’re proud of our team of licensed electricians, who deliver quality service and expert know-how to our clients. Call us today: we’d love to help you lower your energy usage and costs.

Our Recent

Reviews

Dante Gorn
Dante Gorn
2024-01-15
Very friendly, fast and efficient. Charges by time but definitely doesn't waste time. The job was done within 5-10 minutes and everything is working as it should.
Roberto Gonsalves
Roberto Gonsalves
2024-01-12
I highly recommend Harman ! He helped me out when I was in a crunch with the apartment building I'm managing . He will for sure be the guy I call for this buildings electrical issues going forward. Thanks again Harman!
Amneet Khaira
Amneet Khaira
2024-01-11
Full disclosure - I am Harm's sister but I've decided that it's finally time to leave his company a review. You can see through the 200 + reviews that Harm and his team are reliable. My husband and I have used Wireman for a number of years for various projects. They do great work and leave the site clean. On top of that, Harm is easy to deal with and is honest when providing electrical advice. Keep up the great work!
Merlin Oldejans
Merlin Oldejans
2023-06-01
Wireman Electric did an excellent job from start to finish. The crew were professional and always showed up on time. The quality of work was great and I am happy to recommend them!
The Centre for Child Development
The Centre for Child Development
2023-04-03
Harm was extremely professional and committed, persisting to find a solution for our portable power situation. He worked with us to get our portable onto a dedicated electrical service instead of being powered by a gas generator! As a non-profit organization, every penny counts and this will lower our costs and our carbon footprint. Thank you to Harm and your team for a great job!!
Jesse Davidge
Jesse Davidge
2023-03-02
We had a 400amp service installed at my house. Harman and his team did a great job and were very responsive to any questions/concerns I had. Appreciate the work they did.
Monica
Monica
2023-01-08
Barry Warne
Barry Warne
2022-10-19
Top notch crew! Expedient. Friendly. Prompt and professional.
VM Travis
VM Travis
2022-09-20
Second time using their services because I was impressed by the great service they provided regarding installing my bathroom fan. Ali came this time to fix 2 outlets in my kitchen. After checking both out, it turned out only 1 needed fixing. He explained to me what the issue was and also checked out why 1 outlet that had a smart plug that was not working. Don't call anyone else! This company is the best.
Tanya Zukewich
Tanya Zukewich
2022-05-31
Wire-Man Electric is awesome! Harman and his crew are great! They came on time, were professional and cleaned up before they left. I would recommend this company to do any electrical work.