Choosing the right thermostat for your home

By using a temperature-sensitive switch that turns heating systems on and off in your home, a thermostat can help keep your home comfortable and control your energy usage.
A home thermostat’s job is to tell the heating system when to turn on and off as temperatures in the house or individual rooms fluctuate. Choosing the right thermostat for your home may seem daunting but our expert thermostat guide will help you find the best type of home thermostat for your heating system in three easy steps.

Step 1: Choosing the type of thermostat

There are two types of thermostats available: manual and programmable. These both work with a variety of gas, oil, and electric heating systems. Manual thermostats are typically found in older homes, so are generally economical and have simple control settings. With a mechanical or manual thermostat, you control the temperature setting manually. These are best for people who are home often and prefer a fixed temperature. However, they do not offer the control and savings benefits of a programmable thermostat.

Programmable thermostats offer considerably more control than manual models and their electronic sensing element is usually more responsive to temperature changes. They also have an easy-to-operate digital interface allowing you to eliminate considerable wasted energy. You let the thermostat know your preferred temperature at different times of the day and night, then forget about it – the thermostat does the work. Programmable thermostats adjust the temperature automatically throughout the day, saving you as much as 33% on heating costs. Reducing daytime usage similarly can double your savings. These systems can be viewed as a good investment to help you manage your energy costs for years to come and can come with the convenience of being able to remotely operate them via a smart phone app.

Step 2: Identifying your heating system

It is important to match your thermostat to your heating equipment. Some are intended to control a furnace only, while others will control a furnace and an air conditioner, a heat pump, or equipment that operates in multiple stages that kick-in as the need for heating or cooling increases.

Product packaging makes selecting a thermostat compatible with your HVAC system simple. You will more than likely come across the terms “one stage” and two stage”:

Stage one heat and cool means you have units that work either at full capacity or not at all, it’s like an on/off switch.

Stage two (or multi-stage) means your system is capable of heating and cooling on both low and high speeds.

There are ways you can check what both the type of system you have and how many stages it is, but this usually involves taking a look inside your current thermostat. Complheat Heating & Plumbing are happy to help you identify the best thermostat for your property.

Step 3: Select the options that suit your lifestyle

Unless you have a multiple-stage heating and/or cooling system that requires a very particular type of thermostat, choosing the best thermostat for your home usually boils down to personal preference, which is generally a dynamic of features and price. You should choose a thermostat which allows you to change the settings as often as you require. This way, you can set alternate temperatures at different times of the day, providing the appropriate level of comfort while you are home and adjusting to a set-back, or energy-saving temperature, when you’re away or asleep. Many thermostats come pre-set with a schedule based on a typical household’s energy needs. For a lot of homes, a pre-programmed thermostat requires no adjustment – simply install and you’re done! There are many different types of programmable thermostats on the market to suite a range of budgets and should not be dismissed as something unaffordable until your research has been done. In the long run, they can be a money saver.

Contact  Complheat Heating & Plumbing  for all of your replacement boiler needs.