Frugal Hack: Adjust Your Thermostat

Amanda Peterson

January 27, 2023  •  1 Minute Read

Money Saving Tips

This week's Frugal Friday tends to be a daily struggle for some households. How warm or cold to keep the house. Keeping your home a few degrees cooler in the winter or even a few degrees warmer in the summer helps your heating & cooling systems from being overworked. This in turn, saves you more money on energy costs each month!

How Much Do I Actually Save

According to energy.gov, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. The percentage of savings from setback is greater for buildings in milder climates than for those in more severe climates. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.

Setting the thermostat to a different temp during the daytime, while you're not home will help immensely! Not only will it save on your monthly bill, it will also save on the life of your heater & air conditioner. To add, if you adjust your window coverings during the day, this will help as well.

Home Too Warm or Cold?

You've been in your home a while now. Sometimes the heater doesn't feel like it's quite warm enough, or the A/C just doesn't cool the house down anymore. When the thermostat reads warm but the air feels cold, or vice versa, it might be caused from a variety of different things such as:

• The ductwork may be leaky or not configured properly.
• You could have a faulty furnace or A/C unit.
• Your home may have poor or insufficient insulation.
• The home is too dry and needs more humidity.
• Your air filter may need to be changed.

Simple fixes, like replacing an air filter or even adding insulation are relatively easy to complete. However, if the heater or A/C unit itself needs repairs, it’s best to call in a professional to take a look and determine the problem.

In The End

If adjusting your thermostat is beyond adjustment, and your equipment is just too old, CreditSoup has some options to help fund a new one! Keep following us here at creditsoup.com to learn how to save money and build your credit!