PITTSBURGH -- It pays to fiddle with your thermostat throughout the day to save money, a home energy expert said.
By turning your thermostat down 1 degree, you can save 1 percent. If you're leaving the house for at least four hours, it pays to drop it down to 62 degrees or lower, but anything below 55 could freeze your pipes.
WTAE Channel 4 Action News reporter Shannon Perrine spoke with home energy consultant Gregory Wozniak who said it's not true that it costs just as much to bring your house back up to a warmer temperature after you lowered it.
"All those hours that it sits at that lower set point, that's all savings," Wozniak said.
When everyone's in bed at night, drop the thermostat again; Wozniak keeps his at 55 degrees overnight or lower.
"If you have small children, or maybe even pets, you may want to take into consideration that small children may kick off the blankets in the middle of the night and my not be able to put them back on," Wozniak said.
If you don't have one, buy a programmable thermostat, which can cost about $50. You can set it so you don't have to think about raising and lowering the temperature at what time.
Beyond that, a blower door test done during a professional home energy audit can find all the cracks and holes in your house. Plug the holes with foam and electricity bills can decrease.
"Insulation doesn't stop air movement. So, you need either a foam or a caulking to stop air movement," Wozniak said.
From Pennsylvania Home Energy Find a professional home energy consultant Get a low-interest loan to weatherize your houseFrom the Internal Revenue Service Find out about tax credits for weatherizing your homeAlso: Contact your local natural gas or electric company See if you qualify for free home energy audit See if you qualify for free home weatherization, including insulation and air sealing
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Lowering Thermostat Can Help Save Money Over Time
