Regarding not reaching 70, I assume that the average temperature dropped in the house due to in=and-out activity that might also tend to distribute the mass of cold air from our less insulated rear porch. The next scheduled event is back down to 62 at 8:00 a.m. I couldn't find the American Standard install manual online, but the same thermostat is available from Trane. I have excerpted what I think are the relevant controls to play with. I did look at these once, but was frankly too put off by all the double negatives such as, "disables the 10 minute inhibit" and "Heating Aggressive Recovery can only be enabled if Aggressive Recovery is disabled." I'll be back home in two weeks and I can try to adjust these. Naturally, I will ask for advice here on anything I'm unsure of. Aggressive Recovery: This option disables the 10 minute inhibit anytime the thermostat sees more than a 2° change (such as moving from one program time frame to another). This applies to heating & cooling modes. Heating Aggressive Recovery: This option disables the 10 minute inhibit based on outdoor temperature in heating mode only. The value for outdoor temperature can be set from 0°��"70°. Heating Aggressive Recovery can only be enabled if Aggressive Recovery is disabled.There is a 10 minute “inhibit” period between first and second stage compressor as well as compressor heating & supplemental strip heat. This 10 minute inhibit period minimizes the cycling of higher capacity request due to drafts around the thermostat or marginal load conditions. Cycle Rate The cycle rate affects the cycle time of the system. With a 50% load value, a cycle rate of 3 will allow the system to run for 10 minutes and be off for 10 minutes; completing 3 cycles in one hour. A cycle rate of 5 would allow the system to cycle on and off at 6 minute intervals. The higher the cycle rate, the more often the system turns on and off. The actual amount of time the system will be “on” or “off” will be reflective in the load value of the home. Higher load value demands will increase system run time and decrease system off time. Lower load value demands will decrease system run time and increase system off time.Emergency HeatThe heat pump will be disabled and the furnace / heat strips are enabled any time the thermostat is set to Emergency Heat. Lockouts System lockouts will disable a certain function of the system under specific outdoor temperatures:Compressor Heating Lockout • ��" will lockout all compressor operation below a set outdoor temperature (from 5°��"70°). This value must be set lower than the auxiliary heat lockout. Auxiliary Heating Lockout • ��" will lock out auxiliary heat stages above a set outdoor temperature (from 40°��"70°). This value must be set higher than the compressor heating lockout. Defrost Heater Balance Point • for W1, W2 & W3 ��" will lock out specific auxiliary heat stages when above a set outdoor temperature. (W1 setpoint is from 40°��"55°, W2 & W3 setpoints are from 5°��"55°). This feature does not apply to dual fuel systems. Compressor Cooling First Stage Lockout • ��" will lock out the first stage compressor above a set outdoor temperature. (from 80°��"120°) Compressor Heating First Stage Lockout • ��" will lock out the first stage compressor below a set outdoor temperature. (from 0°��"50°) Furnace First Stage Heating Lockout • ��" will lock out first stage furnace operation below a set outdoor temperature. (from 15°��"50°) First stage lockouts are not available with zoning. Setpoint Dead Band This sets the temperature band between heating and cooling setpoints while in the auto mode. Here is a link that might be useful: Trane Comfortlink II Installation Manual

Set them at the same temperature. Nothing at all is gained with any other plan. If hot water uasge in a household is moderate, the top element could fail and no one would ever know. The bottom element will heat all the water in the tank. The top element heats only about the top 1/3 of the water in the tank when the top thermostat is chilled, such as from cold starts or when the stored hot water is being used rapidly.

Thanks for the comments! Well, the model that I have is programmable. It has one setting for days Monday-Friday and one for the weekends. You can set a certain temp for "wake", "away", "home", and "sleep" for the weekdays and "wake" and "sleep" during the weekends. You can easily override the temp at any time if your schedule changes. I have no problems with the features of the thermostat, I just want to know if it's efficient. In our house, every penny counts! We live on my husband's income while I go to school and stay at home with my daughter. So money is tight and if we can save more money by spending $50-$150 on another thermostat, so be it. But if it's unnecessary, I'd like to know that as well. I'd ask a professional, but I don't personally know anyone so I feel like I can't really trust their opinion. Even clerks at hardware stores are trying to make a sale so it's hard for me to decide if it's necessary or not.

Agreed, no harm will come to the system by shutting it off. The only harm may be to the utility company as your bill will be lower denying them some of your money. When ever the weather is nice and I can open windows and doors I put mine in the off position as well.