For all those interested in reducing their home bills one of the most important things they can do is install a good programmable thermostat. There are lots of thermostat models to choose from. This multitude of programmable thermostats has a variety of functions. This post will look at what you should look for when buying a programmable thermostat. It will also explain some of the most important functions.
Type of Programmable Thermostat
There are 4 basic types of programmable thermostat: 1 week, 5+2, 5-1-1 and 7 day. The most basic type of programmable thermostat has 1 program to set up. This is called a 1 week thermostat. Slightly more sophisticated is a 5+2 thermostat which offers a program for weekdays and a program for the weekend. A 5-1-1 thermostat has a program for weekdays and separate programs for Saturday and Sunday. Finally, there is a 7 day thermostat that gives the user a program for every day of the week.
Your choice of thermostat will largely depend on your schedule. If you have a standard ‘9 to 5’ job you can probably manage with a 5+2 or 5-1-1 thermostat. If your daily schedule continually varies you should get a 7 day thermostat. It is by matching your schedule to the heating/cooling schedule that you save money on your bills.
Certification and Compatibility
It is important to get a device with environmental certification. This is confirmation about the thermostat’s ability to save you money. The most recognized certification is the Energy Star certification.
Just as important is to get a thermostat that is compatible with the HVAC equipment in your home. You have to know whether you have single or two stage heating or cooling; whether you have 2 or 3 wire hot water. If you have a heat pump you should be particularly cautious on this point. Generally speaking Honeywell thermostats are more compatible than Lux Products or Hunter thermostats. Heat pump efficiency depends on the temperature difference between inside and out: for this reason it is a good idea to get a thermostat with an outdoor sensor such as the Honeywell Prestige HD.
Important functions
For convenience of making quick changes temporary hold and vacation mode are useful functions. Temporary hold lets the user raise or lower the room temperature without altering the programmed settings. Vacation mode allows the user to set the thermostat on a power saving programming until he or she returns from holiday.
Swing control allows the user to choose a margin of between 1 and 5 degrees. Within this margin the thermostat does not activate the heating or cooling. This function stops the HVAC equipment frequently turning on and off. Hunter and Lux Products thermostats have swing control whereas Honeywell thermostats do not. Instead Honeywell thermostats stay within 1 degree of the set point. This can cause some people with houses with poor insulation problems.
Keyboard lockout is useful for a home where lots of people are coming and going. It stops people without the code altering the settings.
Conclusion
Whereas Honeywell thermostats are the most expensive it is not always the case that their thermostats are the best device for a particular house. It is worth reading programmable thermostat reviews and comparing specifications to get the unit that is best for you.
