A programmable thermostat is the perfect control option for your HVAC system or cooling system. They can help you achieve consistent and comfortable temperature settings in your home and save you energy by only turning on your HVAC system when heating or cooling is needed. Greater energy savings will translate into lower utility costs throughout the year.
Programmable thermostats are the perfect option for almost any home heating or cooling system and are easy to install and operate. Read on to learn more about how programmable thermostats work to determine if they are the right option for your home, or contact Superior Home Supplies today to check out their available models.
What are the differences between a wifi smart thermostat and a traditional programmable thermostat?
When looking for a thermostat option that can improve the energy efficiency in your home and improve comfort, you will likely be deciding between a programmable thermostat and a smart thermostat. While both options can improve the energy use in your home, the longevity of your HVAC or cooling system, and help provide you with a consistent, comfortable temperature in your hone, they primarily differ in their features, operation, and cost.
Smart thermostats are designed to control your heating schedule by allowing you to set different programs for every day of the week through the app. This can help you save money on your energy bills and keep track of your home’s energy use.
Some smart thermostats will also come with a wide range of features, such as learning capability and maintenance reminders. These maintenance reminders can notify you when your air filter will need to be changed or when your system may require a check or repairs. Most models feature a color touchscreen and are compatible with smart home devices such as Google Assistant and Alexa.
While smart thermostats can improve energy use, they are often more expensive, can be more challenging to install, and require a good wifi connection to avoid problems. For some homeowners, the operation may be more difficult and time-consuming.
Programmable thermostats are an excellent option for homeowners who want to set their HVAC system to different temperatures based on their work, school, sleep, or weekend schedule. When paired with a forced air or heat pump system, programmable thermostats can also create consistency in your home’s temperature and save you money, the same as smart thermostats.
The number of programmable options varies by model, but some programmable thermostats will allow you to program for up to seven days. Others follow a 5-2 day schedule which provides for a weekday/weekend schedule. Programmable thermostats are less expensive than smart thermostats and are easy to install when upgrading from a non-programmable thermostat. They also can be easier to operate than smart thermostats, especially once the program is set.
How does a programmable thermostat work?
Programmable thermostats are designed to trigger your HVAC or cooling system to turn on and off as needed to get your home to the desired temperature at the designated time. You can create heating and cooling schedules for daytime and nighttime as well as weekdays and weekends.
A programmable thermostat uses a microcontroller to measure electrical resistance, creating a temperature reading of the air in your home. Through this controller, your programmable digital thermostat will sense the temperature and signal your system to turn on or off as needed. By setting your programmable thermostat 5 to 7 degrees lower or higher when you are away from home, depending on the season, can translate into significant energy cost savings.
When does a programmable thermostat save you money?
Programmable thermostats can help you save energy by only using your HVAC system when needed. You can set your weekday program to account for times when the household is away at work or school and even change the temperature when you are asleep so that your HVAC system will not need to work as hard, and you will enjoy greater energy efficiency. Better efficiency translates to lower energy hills and more significant savings.
When a programmable thermostat is the better choice
Programmable thermostats are a perfect option for those looking for improved temperature control of their home without having to constantly manipulate their cooling system or HVAC system. Once you have set your program, the thermostat will make minor adjustments throughout the day to ensure the home is at the desired temperature at the programmed times.
While smart thermostats can also improve home comfort and reduce energy use, there are some cases where a programmable thermostat would be the better thermostat option. If your home is equipped with a radiant system, a smart thermostat will not have as much energy savings as it would with a forced heating or cooling system. Radiant systems heat up and cool down slowly, meaning the minor incremental changes that a smart thermostat would make would be ineffective.
Wifi Thermostat Problems
While wifi thermostats are growing in popularity, they encounter problems that programmable thermostats will not experience. Some of the problems with wifi thermostats that homeowners face include connectivity issues. If you are having problems with your wifi service, it can affect the connectivity of your thermostat.
Other issues that can arise are having the right Gigahertz to connect your thermostat to and having to install a consistent power source, such as a “C’ wire or adaptor, to provide the thermostat with a constant flow of electricity.
What is the best thermostat around $100?
Whether you are looking for a programmable thermostat for your cooling system or for your entire HVAC system, finding the right one is critical. What is the best programmable thermostat under $100? We recommend the Prostat 6320 Programmable Thermostat.
The Prostat 6320 is a 5-2 day programmable thermostat that features a bright blue backlight and a 5-inch digital display, making it easy to read and set. Other features include indoor and outdoor remote sensing, which allows you to set it and forget it or change it quickly when needed.
The thermostat works with 2-stage cooling or 3-stage heating, making it ideal for a single-stage or 2-stage furnace, a single-stage or 2-stage heat pump, or a single-stage or 2-stage AC unit.
Installing your Programmable Thermostat
Understanding how to install thermostat will help you turn the task into a simple DIY project. If you have some basic electric knowledge and knowledge of your HVAC system, installing your programmable thermostat only involves a few simple steps.
1. Power Off Your HVAC System
To ensure safety, it is best to shut the power off to your HVAC or cooling system at the main panel.
2. Remove Your Previous Thermostat
If you are replacing your current HVAC system thermostat, you will need to remove the old one. Start by removing the cover by sliding it off. You will then need to unscrew and remove the rest of the mount.
3. Take Note of the Wires
It is essential to keep track of your wires so that you can reconnect them to the new thermostat correctly. You can label them with masking tape as you disconnect them or take a picture of the wire configuration before disconnecting. After removing them, you will want to secure them to the wall to prevent them from falling back into the wall cavity.
4. Connect the Wiring to Your New Thermostat
Now it is time to reconnect the wires to your new programmable thermostat. If the thermostat is for a complete HVAC system, you will have at least a heating or cooling wire. If the thermostat is just from a cooling system, you may only have the cooling wire. Follow the diagram that comes with the new thermostat and tighten terminals that are no longer used.
5. Secure the Mount and Replace the Cover
Once you have completed the requirements, you will need to finish securing the thermostat mount and replace the cover.
6. Set your Program
Once you have secured the thermostat to the wall, you can turn the power to your HVAC or cooling system back on. You can find out how to set programmable thermostat by following the instructions that came with the thermostat. Understanding how to use a programmable thermostat is vital to achieving the best energy efficiency.
Can I install a home thermostat myself?
Yes, if you have basic home heating and electric knowledge, you should be able to install most home thermostats yourself by following a few steps.
Do I need special wiring for my home thermostat?
In most cases, you will already have the wiring you need to install your home thermostat. Yet, if you plan to install a smart thermostat, a “C” or common wire will be required. While the black and red wire will bring in the electric supply and connect the thermostat to your HVAC system, the C wire will provide continuous power to the thermostat, even when the HVAC system or cooling system it is connected to is shut off.
The constant power through the C wire is needed with most smart thermostats as it will allow your phone to communicate with and control it through the wifi connection. Thermostats such as the Nest Learning Thermostat may be able to run without a common wire, while other options like the Ecobee Smart Thermostat will have a specific adaptor instead of a common wire.
If your smart thermostat does require a common wire and you currently don’t have one, it may be able to be installed DIY. If not, it can be installed by a professional.
How long does it take to install a standard thermostat?
The time it takes to install your thermostat will depend on the type of thermostat you have chosen and whether or not you will need more wiring to be installed. In most cases, you can expect the job to take between 45 minutes and an hour from disassembly to testing.
Takeaways
- Programmable thermostats can help reduce energy use by allowing you to schedule when your HVAC system delivers heating and cooling.
- They are inexpensive and easy to install, even for DIYers.
- Programmable thermostats help to keep your home at a comfortable temperature by slowly increasing or decreasing the temperature based on your schedule so it will be at your desired comfort level when you are home.
- They do not require special wiring or adaptors for installation and can typically attach to your current manual thermostat wiring.
Find the Right Programmable Thermostat for Your Home at Superior Home Supplies
At Superior Home Supplies, we know that finding the right thermostat for your heating system is vital to your comfort and energy costs. We have a wide range of programmable thermostats designed to work with any cooling or heating system. We also offer a variety of Energy Star-rated HVAC systems and other home improvement products. Contact us today at 855-578-7374 to talk with one of our HVAC specialists to find the perfect programmable thermostat model for your home, or check out our current inventory.