November 5, 2018

Ten Benefits of Programmable Thermostats

There is a reason why more and more homeowners are making the switch to programmable thermostats every year–well… ten reasons actually:

1) It Saves You Money (Really)
The best way to combat those high bills is to reduce your energy usage. Instead of heating or cooling your house while you are away, you are able to save energy and money by customizing a schedule that adapts to your routine. Your energy savings will quickly offset the minimal cost of making the upgrade.

2) Automation = Convenience and Savings
Before programmable thermostats, you were stuck with only two options: pay to heat/cool your home while you are out, or come home to an uncomfortable temperature in an effort to save on bills. Now, programmable thermostats can do the work for you without giving it a second thought. No more readjusting throughout the day.

3) Provides Reliable Precision
Programmable thermostats are precise, giving you the ability to adjust and pinpoint the exact temperature that is ideal for you. This is important, because every degree can lead you to save 1-2% on your utility bill. According to the ACCA, manual thermostats can suffer from a five degree variance in temperature, while programmable units vary within a half a degree.

4) Keeps a Consistent Temperature
The programmable thermostat can also run at a constant level, maintaining the perfect temperature throughout your home as it follows your customizable schedule.

5) Increases Your Home’s Efficiency
With a programmable thermostat, your home immediately becomes more energy-efficient throughout all seasons. A more efficient home means you are utilizing your resources more effectively, better preserving your systems and appliances as time goes on.

6) Optimizes Your Home’s HVAC System
Your HVAC system is nearing the end of its life, but you are not financially ready to commit to a full upgrade. Luckily, pairing your HVAC system with a programmable thermostat provides a more affordable way to help your system operate in the meantime. When you do make your HVAC upgrade, already having a programmable thermostat will start you off on the right foot by optimizing the efficiency and lifespan of your new unit.

7) Cuts Costs with Zoning
Zoning systems divide your home into areas that have similar conditioning requirements, helping you manage the temperature throughout your home. If you pair this system with a programmable thermostat, you can automate each zone’s thermostat and your bills will be cut even more.

8) Provides System Alerts
Some models include sensors that monitor your air filter, notifying you when it is ready for a change with indicator light. Depending on your model, your automatic thermostat can alert you when a various parts need to be checked or serviced, helping you catch issues early.

9) Lets You Control Your Wifi Thermostat Anywhere
If you decide to go with a “smart” thermostat, you will be able use Wifi to program it remotely from a computer or smartphone.

10) Allows You to Lock Your Settings
Other “smart” models allow you to lock your settings, ensuring someone does not tamper with your thermostat and change the temperature unexpectedly.

So, when you are ready to sit back comfortably and see the savings roll in, give us a call and ask to have your programmable thermostat installed.

Keep Reading

View All

Two Easy Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality this Winter

As the weather gets colder and days get shorter, your family is likely spending a little more time indoors. It’s important to ensure the air circulating in your home is as healthy and dust-free as possible! Even when it’s too cold to open a window, there are some ways to proactively protect your indoor air

3 Signs Your Heating System Needs to be Checked

Are you receiving high electric bills or noticing strange noises or smells from your heating system? When our customers call us and mention warning signs like this, we recommend a service check immediately! Bad Smells Strong, foul odors are a common warning sign of a heating system that needs attention. The bad smells could be

5 Signs You Need to Call A Plumber

Most people only call a plumber in crisis mode or when installing new fixtures. However, there are some common signs of wear and tear that shouldn’t be overlooked! #1: Slow Drains and Persistent Clogs Do you have a stubborn drain that always holds water? This is likely due to hair, grease, debris, or other debris

Cozy and Cost-Effective: A Checklist to Help Prepare Your Home for Fall Heating Savings

Here in Central Virginia, fall is quickly approaching! While the fall season brings many fun activities and autumn treats to look forward to, it also means dropping temperatures and rising heating bills. We’ve gathered our best tips for preparing your home for the fall and winter seasons to help you be as energy-efficient as possible!

Electrical Safety 101: Essential Tips for Homeowners

As a homeowner, you want to feel safe and equipped to fix common, simple issues. However, when it comes to electrical, many of us don’t know much except where the breaker box is located. If you don’t know where your panel is…this is your sign to go find it! Breaker boxes are often located in

10 Indoor Air Quality Tips for the Summer

Maintaining a healthy and comfortable indoor environment is essential year-round. However, we’ve found that managing indoor air quality can be trickier in the summer when you’re less likely to bring in fresh air through open windows. Here are 10 tips that will help you optimize your HVAC system’s performance, control humidity levels, and minimize indoor

How to Program Your Thermostat for Optimal Comfort AND Efficiency

Each year, more homeowners make the switch to programmable thermostats. Why? Because these devices can make it easier to stay comfortable and use your HVAC system as efficiently as possible. Here’s how we advise our customers to strike a balance of comfort and energy efficiency: Make a Small Temperature Change The Google Nest team recommends

What’s Really Better? Central Air Conditioning or a Ductless System?

Are you building a home or adding an HVAC system to your existing home? You’ll need to choose either central air conditioning or a ductless system. While there are pros and cons to both systems, the choice depends on your needs, preferences, and budget. Cost Considerations Since ductless systems are less expensive and less complicated

Ways to Reduce Allergens and Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

Does your family struggle seasonally or year-round with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory difficulties? It may be time to think about ways to improve your indoor air quality. Deep Clean to Get Rid of Potential Allergens To help alleviate allergy symptoms, it’s best to eliminate dust mites and pet dander from your home by cleaning

5 Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Never Neglect

When life gets busy, it’s easy to forget or ignore routine home maintenance tasks. However, identifying minor problems can keep issues from turning into major, expensive repairs. Here are five home maintenance tasks you should never overlook: Fix leaky faucets: Fixing leaks is about more than just saving water and avoiding flooring or wall damage.

Introducing the 2023 W.E. Give Back Program

W.E. Brown has thrived in the Charlottesville area since 1922 and every year, we try to find ways to give back to this amazing community where our customers live. This year, we’re partnering with our friends at NBC29 to host the W.E. Give Back Program. The goal of this program is to recognize and give

3 Reasons to Consider Buying a Generator this Winter

During the cold winter months, owning a generator can bring peace of mind. Being without power in frigid weather can be inconvenient and even dangerous. Here at W.E. Brown, we believe that investing in a generator is a step you can take to ensure that your family stays safe and that you don’t have to

Troubleshoot a Tripped Circuit Breaker.

When a breaker trips in your home, it’s due to overcapacity or a short: The breaker trips, stopping the flow of electricity as a safety measure. A tripped main breaker will cut the power off to your entire house. SOME COMMON CAUSES CAN INCLUDE: too many appliances; appliances that require too much electricity; damaged breakers;

Troubleshoot uneven heating.

Routine maintenance makes sure your heat pump is working at peak performance. But if one room is typically colder than the rest of your home, here are a few DIY tips you can do to help. Test your thermostat. Affix a thermometer on your wall next to your thermostat. Place a towel behind the thermometer

Troubleshoot a clogged toilet.

To ensure that your toilet doesn’t overflow, remove the lid from the toilet tank and close the rubber flapper—unless you have a pressure-assisted tank. You may also reach behind the toilet and turn off the water supply. (Make sure you turn the supply back on when you’re ready to flush again.) PLUNGER Grab a heavy-duty

What is emergency heat?

What is emergency heat—and why do I need it? As a follow-up to our recent blog “My A/C won’t keep my house cool enough on a 95-degree day,” we’re taking a look at how heat pumps use emergency heat to perform adequately during the winter. Emergency or auxiliary heat is a supplemental heating component installed

My A/C won't keep my house cool enough on a 95-degree day.

It’s 95 degrees outside, and you can’t get your indoor temperature to go below 75 degrees—even with your thermostat set on 72 degrees. It seems as if the AC can’t keep up. First thing you might think; okay, let’s get a larger AC to keep perfectly cool when summer temperatures hit above 93 degrees. However,

After the Flood.

One year ago in May, severe rain in Charlottesville, Va. caused the banks of rivers and streams to flood; so much so that people lost their lives. I recently sat with Diana and Scott outside their home in White Hall to talk with them about the flood and how it changed their perspective on service.

How will the R22 refrigerant phase-out affect me?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, an R-22 refrigerant phase-out has been taking place in the air conditioning industry (since 2013) that will affect you—if it hasn’t already. (Some systems after 2010 were manufactured with the use of R-22. You can check the nameplate on your condenser for the refrigerant type.) The R-22

Clearing The Air.

There are many steps you can take to create a more air-friendly indoor environment. Some of the devices and claims can make the topic of air filtration confusing. Well, it doesn’t have to be. Read our blog and take a look at the simplified diagram to see if we can help clear the air on