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Programmable thermostats can be a game changer when it comes to home comfort. Especially in upstate New York where we deal with rowdy temperature fluctuations that have caused many a resident to say, “Go home, Rochester, you’re drunk.” It could be 4°F below zero one day and 45°F the next.
But are you using your programmable thermostat to the best of its ability? With heating and cooling technology getting smarter by the minute, we now can control our programmable thermostat from anywhere. But there are several mistakes homeowners are making when it comes to their programmable thermostats. Avoid these mistakes to get the most out of your heating system this winter:
Setting A Higher Temp to Warm House Quicker
Brr. It’s cold out there. And when you came home from work, it’s cold in here too. But stay away from the thermostat, she knows what she’s doing. Setting the temperature higher than normal will definitely make you feel warmer, but it will not happen faster. The thermostat does not have control over the speed at which your house heats up – that has everything to do with how well-insulated your home is and how efficiently your ducts are working. What it will do is make you increasingly warm and cause your furnace to spend excess energy warming your house. If you need to warm up quickly, your best bet is to throw the kettle on, wrap yourself in an extra layer and wait for the temperature to increase as scheduled with a cup of tea in hand. To allow enough time for your house to warm up from your programmed setback temperature, program the temperature change for an hour before you arrive home from work.
Keeping Heat at a Constant Temperature
Oh, no, no, no. The biggest energy waster. A programmable thermostat allows you to adjust your home’s temperature according to when you are home. You can and should set the temperature for what works best for your family’s comfort and financial situation. Your home temperature should be set cooler during sleeping hours and when household members are at work or school. Comfort is relative, but it’s generally agreed that 68°F to 70°F is a comfortable temperature for awake hours, while 64°F is preferable for sleeping and while away from the home. A programmable thermometer allows you to set these temperatures for the times you prefer and saves you money on your energy bill to boot.
Turning Off The Heat Entirely
A rookie homeowner’s mistake. Thinking they’ll save money by turning off the furnace when traveling during February break, only to discover the delights of a burst pipe upon their return. Big Oops. The beauty of a programmable thermostat is that you can set the temperature much lower than usual – without turning it off entirely – when you leave for extended periods. Use a setback temperature of about 60°F or slightly lower while away.
Installing Thermostats In Bad Locations
Your thermostat should be installed on interior walls away from direct sunlight, windows, and heat sources to allow for accurate readings. Thermostats also need to receive sufficient airflow – so avoid placement of bulky furniture directly in front of or below. This ensures that your furnace is getting accurate readings so that it can function properly.
At Potter, we know the value of efficient heating and cooling. If your furnace is struggling to keep pace with the heating demands of your house, or you are unconvinced your thermostat is giving accurate readings, we have several options that can help. From radiant in-floor heating to zoned and ductless mini-split units, there are many ways we can improve your home’s comfort.
Buffalo, NY gets its fair share of extreme winter weather every year, but the catastrophic, unrelenting nature of a late December storm knocked the region to its knees as the Christmas weekend kicked off. Rochester’s location further out from Lake Erie spared us from massive snow accumulations, but not from high winds, deep chill, and power outages. But who’s to say we will be spared by the next one? Now that we’ve seen the devastating impact of a Bomb Cyclone, what can we learn from Buffalo’s experience so that we can be better prepared?
No stranger to severe winter weather, even Buffalo couldn’t weather this storm. According to the Washington Post, several factors came into account making the storm deadlier than most:
Residents of Buffalo are desensitized to extreme weather, but the storm was a once-in-a-lifetime, uncharacteristically intense Bomb Cyclone.
The storm occurred on the last payday before Christmas, a day many were counting on to shop for the holiday.
A travel ban in Erie County was not announced until just before 9 am, after the morning rush. Many did not heed the advisory already in effect. The storm picked up rapidly only 40 minutes after the ban was issued leaving many stranded.
Roads became impassable and emergency services could not reach people who needed help.
Preparing for winter involves some levels of emergency preparedness – we know to keep our ice scrapers accessible in our cars, the gas tank always filled above the halfway mark, we keep baskets of hats and gloves by the door, and a bucket of rock salt at the ready. Many of the steps you may have already taken – improving insulation, sealing windows, and annual HVAC maintenance – will help keep the heat in should temperatures drop and/or the power goes out. But there are further steps we can take to ensure the safety of ourselves and our families in the event of a true winter weather emergency. Looking at Buffalo, we not only must be prepared for extended power outages but should also have a plan for handling insufficient emergency response resources, travel bans, and impassable roads – for cars and pedestrians.
One Major Takeaway
We saw in real-time just how imperative it is to heed travel advisories ahead of a storm. Advisories are precursors to an all-out ban that allows emergency personnel, hospital workers, and other frontline workers to get to their jobs safely. We want these folks to safely get to their places of employment so that the people we know and love can be tended to if they require emergency assistance. There is also the matter of chronic patients needing care, babies to be born, nursing home residents to care for, and so many others. Avoiding travel during an advisory allows frontline workers to get to their stations and workers coming off a long shift to get home safely.
Heed the advisories. They are not merely suggestive. Don’t wait for a ban.
Knowledge is Power – Weather Terms to Know
The Red Cross instructs us to pay attention to the advice and information provided by local media and governance. It’s important to know the difference between a “warning” and a “watch.” According to the Red Cross:
A WATCH meansBe Prepared.
A WARNING meansTake Action.
Winter Storm WARNING: Life-threatening, severe winter conditions have begun or will begin within 24 hours.
Blizzard WARNING: Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or greater, plus considerable falling or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile, expected to prevail for three hours or longer.
WIND CHILL Temperature: How cold people and animals feel when outside. As wind increases, heat is carried away from your body at a faster rate, driving down your body temperature and making you feel much colder. The wind chill temperature is not the actual temperature but rather how wind and cold feel on exposed skin.
Winter Storm OUTLOOK: Winter storm conditions possible in the next two to five days. Stay tuned to local media for updates.
Winter Storm WATCH: Winter storm conditions possible within the next 36 to 48 hours. Review your winter storm plans and stay informed about weather conditions.
Winter Weather ADVISORY: Winter weather conditions expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous but not life-threatening if you are cautious.
Advanced technology means we can get information as it develops right to our phones. Sign up with New York Alert to receive emergency alerts and stay in the know.
Prepare Ahead of a Storm
Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and keep backup batteries in an easy-to-access location.
Have a plan and instruct your family about alternate warming locations, safety procedures, and where to find emergency supplies.
Obtain food, water, and medicine well before a winter storm outlook turns into a watch or advisory. Be sure to have nutrient-dense food on hand that does not require a heat source for cooking.
Prepare a Go-Kit: three+ days of supplies for each member of your household that can be carried if your home is no longer safe. Keep blankets, boots, extra warm clothes, and first aid supplies in your vehicle.
Prepare a Stay-at-Home Kit: For each household member, have on hand two+ weeks of warm clothing, blankets, outerwear, one gallon of bottled drinking water per person per day, first aid supplies, medicines, shelf-stable food, extra batteries, and flashlights.
Check air intake and furnace venting systems and have a plan for removing snow and ice obstructions if necessary.
Safe Heating During Winter Emergencies
It’s best not to wait for an emergency to make sure your heating system is working efficiently, especially when the outdoor temperature and wind chill reach record lows. If you haven’t yet, schedule your yearly furnace and HVAC maintenance so that your furnace is functioning optimally.
In the event of a power outage during extreme cold, the rule of thumb is to keep warm air in and cold air out as much as possible. Fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are both significant dangers during winter storms and power outages, especially if emergency services are unable to reach your home. Call 9-1-1 and evacuate at the first sign of light-headedness.
Stay inside and heed any advisories or warnings that go into effect.
Avoid wasting heat by closing off rooms that are not being used.
Place towels and blankets in cracks beneath doors.
Close all window curtains, shades, and blinds for added insulation.
Eat and drink non-caffeinated, hydrating beverages to fuel your body and keep it warm.
Layer loose-fitting clothing and avoid perspiring and overheating.
Follow safeguards when heating your home with a wood stove or fireplace and make sure proper ventilation is occurring.
Do not attempt to heat your home with an oven or stove used for cooking due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Likewise, generators, grills, and camp stoves should only be used outdoors.
Avoid using candles as they increase the risk of fire.
Gas furnace vents should not be blocked by a snowdrift or any other obstructions. At least one death during the storm in Buffalo has been attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning due to this.
Follow all safety instructions when space heaters are in use.
Keep flammable materials at least 3 feet away from any heat source.
Our best advice for managing extreme cold is to ensure your furnace is in top working order and that your insulation and ductwork can efficiently support your furnace’s extra effort during the cold snap. Then if your power goes out, your home will retain heat longer and keep cold air from sneaking in. From all of us at Potter Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, stay warm and safe this winter. We will be here when you need us.
