Upgrading your Thermostat

The thermostat has made the leap to smart technology in the last few years, and it may be time for you to update yours. Your Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is essential to keeping your family warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  The way we communicate with our HVAC system is through the thermostat. Smart thermostats improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of your HVAC system. In today’s article, we will talk about how thermostats have changed over the years and why it’s time to update your thermostat to a smart thermostat.

Analog Thermostats

Though the first analog thermostats have been around since the early 1900s, it was not until the 1950s that they became a common home feature. The problem was: how can the temperature of a home be regulated without constantly tending the furnace? The solution was the analog thermostat.  Analog thermostats work by using thermal expansion to regulate temperature.  Within the thermostat are two temperature-sensitive metal strips. When the temperature in the room changes, these metal strips expand or contract to create or interrupt a circuit. This change sends a message to the furnace that tells it to heat up or shut off. The invention of the analog thermostat meant that the temperature in a room could be set and the furnace would work to maintain that temperature.  The analog thermostat only allowed the furnace to respond to one room’s temperature and offered no programable features.

Programable Thermostats

The improved capability that programable thermostats offered was scheduling. With a programable thermostat you were able to control the temperature at various times of the day, and in some cases, days of the week.  No more walking over to the thermostat and making an adjustment every time the home feels hot or cold.  The drawback with programmable thermostats is that people must program them, and often they do not. When the thermostat is properly programmed to create comfort while homeowners are present and reduce use when they are away, the programmable thermostat is far more efficient than the original analog thermostats.

Smart Thermostat

In 2007 a company called Ecobee launched the first smart thermostat.  The smart thermostat essentially combines the functions of a programmable thermostat with Wi-Fi connectivity, making it possible to operate from your smart phone or tablet. Smart thermostats observe your usage and offer data and insights into operating your furnace more efficiently.  Smart thermostats can predict your schedule and even adjust when they sense somebody is present in the home. Connecting with dehumidifiers and optimizing the home’s temperature based on the local weather reports are also possible with a smart thermostat. Bottom line: a smart thermostat will save you money. 

Installation of a Smart Thermostat

To optimize the connectivity between your furnace, air conditioner and other heating and cooling devices, a smart thermostat should be professionally installed.  The homeowner will need to be present at the time of installation to complete steps needed on the connecting smart device that will communicate with the thermostat remotely. The installation also must take place with working Wi-Fi in the home.

Through pattern recognition and Wi-Fi connectivity, smart thermostats have improved efficiency and decreased costs for homeowners across the county and in every climate.  Smart thermostats are the clear and obvious choice for homeowners going forward, and the time to upgrade is now.  To take advantage of the time and money-saving features that smart thermostats offer, reach out to your favorite heating and cooling company today.