Thermostat 101: Types of Thermostats

The functionality of the thermostat greatly impacts HVAC efficiency. It can also influence indoor comfort levels. If you’re thinking about switching to a different type of thermostat, it’s important to understand your options. Keep reading to learn about today’s latest thermostats. We’ll also cover who can benefit the most from each thermostat. This will help you pick the best one for your Lake Placid, Florida, home.

Basic Types of Thermostats

There are four basic types of modern thermostats: Non-programmable, programmable, Wi-Fi and smart. The further you get down the list of the thermostats discussed below, the more expensive they become. However, energy efficiency increases with each thermostat. If you’re looking for a thermostat that provides maximum energy efficiency and the best indoor comfort, skip down to the smart thermostat section.

Non-Programmable Thermostat

A non-programmable thermostat is ideal for those who are rarely away from home. It’s simple to manually adjust the temperature to your preference.

A non-programmable thermostat is very basic. Any time you want to change the temperature in your home, you’ll need to adjust the setting on the thermostat. You cannot pre-program the thermostat to change your home’s temperature while you’re away or sleeping. However, a quality non-programmable thermostat can achieve high energy efficiency by communicating with the heating system to maintain your temperature preference.

Programmable Thermostat

With a programmable thermostat, you can pre-program it to adjust the temperature during the day or nighttime. Many programmable thermostats have daily and weekly settings. For example, if you’re away from home only on Mondays and Thursdays, you can pre-program the thermostat to keep your home at a more moderate temperature on those days. In doing so, the furnace doesn’t have to work so hard to heat the home. This decreases wear and tear on the unit. As a result, it reduces energy bills and repair costs.

A programmable thermostat is especially ideal for those living in climates with drastic temperature changes. As a Florida resident, you know in winter nights can get chilly and days can feel warm. A programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature so you’re warm on chilly mornings and cool during the daytime. You get to do all of this without having to manually adjust the thermostat every morning and night.

Wi-Fi Thermostat

Wi-Fi thermostats connect to a wireless network. You can access the network via your smartphone, computer or tablet. This allows you to remotely adjust the thermostat’s temperature. A Wi-Fi thermostat is also a programmable thermostat. It provides the ultimate convenience in that you can override a preprogrammed temperature setting if you get off work early. This type of thermostat is particularly ideal for those who want full control over a home’s temperature setting even when they’re away from the house.

Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat easily integrates with various home automation tools and equipment. Over time, the thermostat learns your living habits and adjusts the temperature accordingly. It’ll learn when you arrive home each day. As it notices patterns, it stores the information to achieve maximum heating and cooling efficiency. Many smart thermostats come with voice control features and are compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

Smart thermostats are ideal for tech-savvy households that prefer optimal indoor comfort. Like a Wi-Fi thermostat, you can access a smart thermostat from any device with an internet connection that’s compatible with the thermostat’s mobile app. A smart thermostat does come with a higher price tag than other types of thermostats. However, the money you save on heating and cooling expenses will easily cover your investment within one to two years. A smart thermostat can even alert you once it’s time to schedule HVAC maintenance.

Miller’s Central Air, Inc. specializes in a variety of heating services. Contact us today at 863-699-5455 to learn more about modern thermostats and how to improve HVAC efficiency.

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