Using a smart thermostat could help you reduce your monthly utility bills. However, if you happen to live in a multi-story home, setting it up might be a little tricky. Warm air rises, and cool air falls. As such, you’ve got to set up your thermostats correctly. Otherwise, you’ll waste a lot of electricity trying to keep your home’s temperature steady. By setting them up properly, your home will feel better year-round. And, you’ll even reduce your monthly expenses.
How Does Your Home’s Design Impact the Way You Set the Thermostat
Most of the time, if you live in a multi-level home, there will be more than one HVAC system. One will work to regulate the temperature upstairs, and the other will do the same for downstairs. While this makes sense intuitively, setting them up properly is crucial. If you don’t, then you’ll end up costing yourself a lot more than is necessary.
Imagine your home during the summertime. If you have the upstairs thermostat set to cool, then it’ll try to keep the whole house cold. However, as it’s blowing out cold air, the air falls downstairs. This results in the upstairs remaining warm. Your HVAC system will work extra hard to keep the house cool. In the end, this wears down your HVAC system faster than usual, and it costs you more money.
How to Properly Set Your Thermostats in a Multi-Level Home
Let’s assume you live in a 3-story house. Each of the levels has its own thermostat. In the summer, set the thermostat on the lowest level to the coldest temperature. That way, the cold air won’t be tempted to fall from the upper levels.
If you’d like the temperature to remain near 72 degrees F, set the downstairs thermostat to 71 degrees F. Then, set the thermostat on the second level to 72 degrees F. Finally, set the thermostat on the uppermost level to 73 degrees F.
During the winter, you can use a similar method. Set the uppermost thermostat to the highest temperature. That’s because warm air tends to rise. By doing this, your thermostats won’t be competing with each other. That way, you’ll save money and prolong your HVAC system‘s lifespan.
Use a Smart Thermostat to Automate the Whole Process
You can simplify this whole process by installing a smart thermostat. Then, you can set each of them from your phone. Not only that, but you can also automate the process. By automating it, the thermostats will readjust whenever the seasons change. So, you won’t have to remember to do it yourself.
Most smart thermostats even let you set up a zoning system. That way, if you’d like some of the house to remain at a different temperature, you can do that.
Call Us Today
Are you interested in getting a new smart thermostat system for your multi-level home? Give us a call at 4Front Energy. We’d love to lend a hand to your Minnesota home.
