Thermostats

A thermostat is a small device that controls the heating and air conditioning in most homes. This small device is important in keeping a home comfortable so that it is neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. Thermostats are relatively inexpensive and replacing an older one in a home is a good idea for many reasons.

Benefits of a New Thermostat

Modern thermostats are much more accurate and efficient than old thermostats. Because of this, they eliminate broad temperature swings in a home. When the temperature is kept even, the heating and air conditioning units do not have to work so hard. This conserves energy and saves on energy costs. It is estimated that replacing an old thermostat with a modern one can save 7-12% a year in energy costs.

Most modern thermostats are programmable. In the past, a thermostat had to be adjusted manually. Usually the heat needed to be turned down at night and back up in the morning or the air needed to be adjusted in the night and morning. A programmable thermostat makes the adjustments automatically, removing the chance for human forgetfulness.

Types of Thermostats

Line voltage thermostats are used to control such things as baseboard and radiant heating systems. They are installed directly into the heater at 240 volts. Low voltage thermostats are used with central heating systems. Whether it is gas, oil, or electric, low voltage thermostats operate at 24-50 volts, much lower than a line voltage thermostat. Low voltage thermostats are generally more accurate than line voltage thermostats.

Options for Controlling Thermostats

There are three basic options for controlling either line voltage or low voltage thermostats.

Mechanical: Mechanical thermostats are the older types of thermostats. They are easy to install because they do not need to be hooked into an electrical line. They can be slow to react to temperature changes causing larger than desirable temperature swings.

Electronic: Electronic thermostats are better than mechanical thermostats at sensing a temperature change. They also react more quickly than mechanical thermostats making temperature swings less frequent. However, they are more expensive than mechanical models.

Programmable: Programmable thermostats are electronic thermostats that can be programmed to automatically adjust at pre-set times. The advantage is that they can be pre-set around the daily activities of those in a home. The thermostat can be programmed to turn down the heat or air conditioning, even when no one is home for long stretches of time.

They can be programmed to turn the heat on before waking in the morning so the house is warm when everyone is getting ready, and just as easily be programmed to turn the air on before everyone gets home in the evening.

By Robin Shreeves           

Related Links:

• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - ENERGY STAR Program Requirements for Programmable Thermostats
  List of criteria for a programmable thermostat to qualify for the label of ENERGY STAR.