Can an Old Thermostat Cost You Money on Your Energy Bill?

Thermostats are designed to give you proper control of your air conditioning and heating. When you have an older thermostat, you may find that you don’t have the control that you really need. As a result, you could be spending more money on your energy bill than what is necessary.

Understand How HVAC Works

Your HVAC system is capable of providing you with air conditioning and heat. You’ll use AC when it’s hot outside and you’ll use central heat when it’s cold outside.

Your thermostat allows you to set the desired temperature for your system to maintain. As your system runs, it uses energy. The more your system runs to maintain the desired temperature, the more you’ll spend on your energy bill.

There are a lot of things that can cause your system to run longer – too much of a temperature difference from outside, problems with your system’s efficiency, and even insufficient sealing on your doors and windows. While you’ll want to ensure your HVAC system is running properly, it all comes down to setting a temperature that is not only comfortable but also realistic.

As an example, if it’s 100 degrees outside, you’ll want a cooler temperature inside. If you set your thermostat to 75 versus 70, it won’t have to work quite as hard because the temperature differential isn’t too dramatic. A single-degree difference can cause your system to stay on longer – and that will raise your energy bill.

Features Found in New Thermostats

Older thermostats don’t have the capability of being programmed. Often, there’s a dial that allows you to set the temperature you want to achieve indoors. You’ll do your best to get the dial set to the right number, but it’s not a sure thing. Additionally, as the thermostat gets older, the calibration is no longer accurate. That means you could mean to set the thermostat to 75 but you’re really setting it to 70 – and you won’t even know it.

Newer thermostats have several features to ensure you’re setting the temperature accurately. What you see is what you get, essentially.