Looking to save on your heating bills this winter…then utilizing your smart thermostat’s features is an easy and great way to save. Since they are designed to learn your heating preferences they prevent you from overheating your home…so you save big on your power bills. Here are some of the ways you can make your programmable thermostat more efficient so you realize the biggest savings.

Stop messing with your thermostat

It’s called a smart thermostat for a reason. It learns your patterns so it knows when to turn the heat up and when to turn it down. Doing that manually usually cost you more money then just leaving things alone. Generally if you leave a programmable thermostat alone, you would save upwards to 35% each month.

Make sure your thermostat is placed properly

If your programable thermostat is not heating your home properly it might be in the wrong place in your home. If it is place in a position where it is getting confusing information it generally will not deliver the comfort level you desire.

If your thermostat is places by one of your home’s entryways, every time a door opens it will get a blast of cold air. This will confuse the thermostat into turning the heat on. Other location to avoid is next to windows and stairways. It is best to have it close to the area where your family spends most of it’s time. If you can’t move your thermostat, upgrade to one that has room sensors that you place around your home for more accurate temperature readings.

Only heat the areas you are using

For even more savings, divide your home into separate areas with an HVAC zoning system. This will give you room-to-room temperature control, so you only heat the rooms you’re using, instead of the whole house.

Turn it down when you are asleep

Cooler temperatures help you sleep better. Take advantage of this to enjoy a better nights sleep and save some money. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, setting your thermostat 10 to 15 degrees lower for eight hours at night can save you around 10% on your heating bills. Just go into your smart thermostat’s app and lower the heating temperatures for the hours you sleep.