The short answer is yes, an older or outdated thermostat can end up costing you money on your energy bills. However, the reasons are a little nuanced because thermostats are not one-size-fits-all. We encourage you to work with an expert technician at Heating Specialties to determine the best type of thermostat to upgrade your New Jersey home, save you money, and keep your family comfortable.
Signs your thermostat needs an upgrade
Technology for thermostats has come a long way in recent years. If your home is still operating with a traditional thermostat that is more than ten years old, you could be spending up to hundreds of dollars on unnecessary energy costs. Aside from age, a few signs that your thermostat could use an upgrade include:
Losing connection- Older thermostats are a lot more likely to lose contact with your home’s HVAC, which could make it impossible to shut off the system when needed.
Misreading the temperature- If it seems a lot warmer or cooler in your home than the thermostat is showing, it could be misreading the temperature. This can cause the HVAC system to run unnecessarily, costing you extra in your bills.
Short cycling- As they age, older thermostats can sometimes start short cycling, which means they cause your system to turn on and off quickly without completing an entire cycle of heating or cooling. Of course, this causes a bump in energy bills, and it can also put a tremendous strain on the HVAC unit.
Programmable thermostats
The most significant benefit to upgrading your thermostat is the control you gain of the temperature in your home and the overall workings of your HVAC system. Although you can still purchase a non-programmable thermostat in stores for the same price (or sometimes even cheaper), you can buy a digital programmable thermostat to set a schedule for your family’s comings and goings.
A great way to save on energy bills is to set a lower temperature in the winter (or higher in the summer) when your family is out of the house for school or work or asleep. And WiFi programmable thermostats allow you to update the temperature or schedule from an app on your smartphone (although you don’t have to share that part with your family if they are constantly fighting over the temperature!). Even changing the thermostat by a few degrees can save you a lot on bills and improve your home’s energy efficiency.
If you are ready to upgrade an older thermostat in your home, contact the Heating Specialties team today at (866) 923-2653 or schedule a visit online. We can help you determine the best thermostat for your family’s needs that will keep your energy bills low too!