Do You Have the Right Thermostat?

What Is a Thermostat?

The thermostat is the brain of your cooling and heating system.

Despite being the feature we use most often, it’s perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of a HVAC system. Today, there are various types of thermostats on the market, ranging from basic manual models to smart systems that you can control with your smartphone. The question is: do you have the right thermostat for your home comfort needs?

Read on to find out more about this essential feature, as well as what each type of thermostat could offer you and your home.

The thermostat controls the temperature of your property on your behalf to reach your ideal comfort level. After achieving your preferred temperature, your thermostat maintains it by triggering your furnace or air conditioner when required.

There are many different types of thermostats available, and though they all function according to the same principles, each offers different levels of convenience and simplicity. To help you select the thermostat that’s most appealing to your needs, we’re going to look at the three most popular options:

• Manual thermostats
• Programmable thermostats
• Smart thermostats

Manual Thermostats

Manual thermostats are the most basic solution for regulating your indoor heating. They feature either a mechanical or digital dial that you can adjust to your desired temperature. These systems are often found in older homes with more dated HVAC solutions. If you prefer simpler options for home comfort, however, you might want to choose manual thermostats over more complex technical options.

While manual thermostats are cheap and easy to use, they also offer the fewest convenience features of the three main options, and may not be as energy efficient. Some manual thermostats will have a programmable LED display so you can see the temperature you’ve chosen, and there will be an up-and-down button to pinpoint your ideal temperature.

Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats are the next step up from manual systems when it comes to technical convenience. These solutions give you more control over your temperature preferences, and feature a digital display, or a touchscreen in some cases.

The most significant difference between manual and programmable thermostats is that programmable models regulate home temperature automatically according to pre-set targets. Your programmable thermostat will allow you to select a heating or cooling schedule that automatically adjusts the temperature of the house without the need for constant input. This way, you can save energy by having the indoor temperature hotter or colder than you’d usually like when you’re at work, but have your HVAC unit turn on before you get home to reach your preferred temperature.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats are by far the most exciting option when it comes to temperature regulation. Often connected to the internet, smart models allow you to program your own custom climate schedules for each day. Depending on your chosen model, you can adjust the temperature in real-time via your smartphone or tablet, even when you’re away from the building. You could even be on the other side of the world and still be able to control your thermostat, provided you have an internet connection.

As consumers consistently demand more control over their home comfort, smart thermostat devices continue to evolve with new features. For instance, some of the latest models offer seven-day programming, as well as weather forecasts, analytics that show your energy usage, indoor air quality monitoring, and even automatic reminders to replace your filter. Depending on your HVAC system, you can manage up to eight different zones within your home simultaneously, which can save you as much as 12% on your heating bill, and 15% on cooling costs.

Do You Have the Right Thermostat?

Ultimately, choosing the right thermostat for your home will be a process that requires you to consider the existing setup you have and your future needs. You will either need to choose a thermostat that’s compatible with your current HVAC system, or replace the model in favor of something newer.

With decades of experience, the knowledgeable team at Bob Jenson can help you install the thermostat and HVAC system that’s right for you. Contact us today and speak to one of our experts to learn more about the kind of thermostat you should have in your home.