Or it could be off. I honestly don’t keep track like I used to. Since we installed a new programmable thermostat, I hardly think about heating and cooling anymore. It’s also another small step toward making our home greener and trimming our energy bills.
Here’s the bottom line: the average household can save about $180 a year by installing a programmable thermostat. These devices automatically regulate your home’s temperature based on time of day—reducing heating or cooling when you’re at work or asleep, and warming or cooling the house shortly before you wake or return. That means less wasted energy, lower bills, and a smaller environmental footprint. It’s a straightforward win for both your wallet and the planet.
For us, this was the perfect excuse to replace the old clunky unit that came with the house:
After turning off the power, we carefully removed the existing thermostat. That left a neat hole in the wall—and a small moment of caution to make sure the wires didn’t slip back inside.
Next came the straightforward installation of our new Hunter 5+2 Programmable Thermostat. It lets us set two different schedules: one for weekdays and one for weekends. We found it on sale for $25 at Lowe’s (down from $29), though there are models that let you customize settings for each individual day if that’s what you prefer. Whichever model you choose, make sure it’s Energy Star certified and compatible with your existing system.
Hooking up the wires felt oddly satisfying—blue wire here, red wire there—then we snapped on the cover and popped in a couple of batteries. No fireworks, just a quiet victory and a small cheer from Sherry when everything worked on the first try. Our new thermostat looks neat and functions smoothly.
This little upgrade helps us save energy and money, and it gives the impression of a more modern HVAC system—even though we only spent about $25. If you’re preparing a house for sale, swapping an old thermostat for a clean, programmable model is an easy, cost-effective improvement that can make a good impression on buyers. We’re not selling ours, of course, but if we were, which photo below would convince you?
