Autumn in Nova Scotia can be a great time of the year. From observing the wonderful colours of foliage, celebrating with family at Thanksgiving, and enjoying the excitement of children at Halloween, fall can also be a good time for outdoor activities and yard work as we prepare for the next season.
Fall also brings shorter days, cooler temperatures, and more dependence on your home heating equipment.
As your furnace works to keep your home warm and cozy, there are ways to make sure it operates as efficiently as possible. While equipment inspections, tune-ups and changing your furnace filter regularly will help save money on heating expenses, there is an additional opportunity to reduce costs by replacing your manual thermostat with a programmable device.
Programmable thermostats have been available for 20 or so years and many homes are already equipped with these. They are extremely useful for reducing temperatures at bedtime when you’re under the covers and then increasing the warmth just before you get up in the morning. They can again bring down room temperatures when you leave for work or go away for the weekend, and add more heat when you come home. Manual thermostats use mercury and coils to keep temperatures at where you set them, but as they age, they can accumulate dust and weaken as they become less precise. Programmable thermostats rely on a computer chip that is accurate to within .5 of a degree.
The latest versions of programmable thermostats may also feature ‘Smart’ technology, which can be Wi-Fi-enabled to allow you to control home temperatures with your smartphone from remote locations. These devices can also include sensors that detect when you leave your home and when you come back, and can even provide warnings when your furnace is not working properly, when it’s time for a tune-up or when to change your furnace filter.
Many standard programmable thermostats can be purchased for under $100 at local home improvement suppliers, hardware stores, or through your furnace fuel provider. ‘Smart’ thermostats can cost more.
Interested in finding out more about the benefits, cost advantages and installation of programmable thermostats? Please call us at 902-453-2121 or drop us a line at https://scotiafuels.com/contact-us/. One of our experienced agents will be happy to answer your questions.