In recent years there has been a lot of progress made in the way of making in-home AC and heating cost effective and easier to modify to your comfort and needs. One of the biggest improvements has come in the form of programmable thermostats. So what exactly is a programmable thermostat and why is it important? In today’s blog post, we’ll take a look at this handy device and how it can make your home a more inviting place while saving you money.
What is it?
A programmable thermostat is a device that automatically adjusts the temperature of your home based on your predetermined specifications. You can also set a schedule for your AC or heating so that it only runs when you need it to. This will ensure that you never waste energy on any unneeded cooling or heating of your home.
Which one to choose
If you’ve decided to commit to installing a programmable thermostat, you’re going to need to know which one is best for you. You should first ask yourself these questions: how often are you out of your home? Does your schedule change daily, or are you usually gone at the same time each week?
Depending on how you answered these questions, you could require a different programmable thermostat to suit your needs. Below are the different types you can find:
- 7-day model: this model will allow you to set different heating and cooling cycles for every day of the week. This type is great for people who are gone often and need to have flexible heating and cooling cycles.
- 5+2 day model: This model allows for one schedule for weekdays and another for weekends.
- 5-1-1 day model: This model allows for one schedule for weekdays and two for the weekend (one for each day).
We’ve determined that programmable thermostats are great for people who are gone often, but what else can they do? Below are some typical features you can expect to find in programmable thermostats:
Adaptive recovery: This feature starts your heating or cooling cycle early to ensure that your home is at the correct temperature by the time you scheduled it.
Wi-Fi Capabilities: This is a great feature but not for everyone! Some programmable thermostats are equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities that can communicate with your phone or computer, meaning you can change your heating or cooling cycles on the fly.
Hold Features: The hold feature allows you to eliminate all heating or cooling services while you are away for vacation. You can set it to immediately resume once you return.
System alert: This feature will alert you when there is something wrong with your HVAC system’s air filter.
Auto-changeover: The auto-changeover feature will automatically switch to heating and AC depending on the temperature.
These are just some of the features you can expect to see in modern programmable thermostats. Consider all the features available in each thermostat to determine which one works best for you.
Whether you need heating or air conditioning repair or installation, Buckhorn Heating and Air is here for you! Give us a call or visit our products page to learn more about what we offer!