Preventing Rapid Cycling -- and Other Tips for Your Programmable Thermostat

Having a programmable thermostat makes it easy to set the temperature for different times of the day, which can save you quite a bit of money on your energy bill. But if you don’t use your programmable thermostat properly it could end up costing you more money. Here are a few tips to help you use your programmable thermostat efficiently and effectively.

• Avoid Rapid Cycling: When your heating or cooling system turns off and on quickly, it’s called rapid cycling. It’s usually the result of a programmable thermostat’s feature that keeps the room at an almost constant temperature. The majority of electronic thermostats are set to turn on with a one to 1.5 degree change in temperature. To prevent rapid cycling, check your “cycle rate adjustment” to see if it is set below one degree. If so, set it to one degree or 1.5 degrees.
• Lower the Thermostat: Even with a programmable thermostat, setting the temperature a couple of degrees lower or higher can save you quite a bit on your energy bill. You’ll save about three percent when you lower your thermostat just one degree in winter. If you typically have your thermostat set to 72 degrees in the winter, try setting it 68 degrees instead. This can save you up to 12 percent on your energy costs and you’ll still be comfortable.
• Use Preset Temperatures: The typical electronic thermostat allows you to program up to four preset temperatures. Use this to your advantage by setting the temperature to be lower in the winter when you are at work or sleeping, and higher when you’re home. This can save you anywhere from 10 to 20 percent in energy costs. If you happen to be home when the thermostat is set for a lower temperature, there is a manual override switch that you can use to adjust the temperature.

For more tips about using your programmable thermostat or if you have any questions about your HVAC system, contact the experts at CCAC, where we are Constantly Concerned About Customers. We’ve been serving the Coastal Bend area since 1979.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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