When purchasing a new heating and air conditioning system, the one thing most people don’t think about is the thermostat. The thermostat is an incredibly important component to your new system. It regulates the temperature in your house and can come in many different shapes and sizes, plain and simple, and smart and wireless. With many options available today, it’s important to do some research and find a reputable company that can sell and install one for you.
How Does a Thermostat Work?
A thermostat measures the home’s ambient temperature and uses this information to activate your air conditioner or furnace, depending on the setting. Some of the first thermostats used a float that was placed inside of a mercury thermometer and would rise and fall depending on the temperature, which would then cause the heat or air conditioning to turn on or off.
There really isn’t much difference in those thermostats compared to today, at least in the basic concept. The principals are the same but the technology has improved quite a bit. They still have some that run mechanically, but the modern ones all run electronically. The “smart” thermostats are able to program themselves, and some can even heat your floors and cabinets, predict your temperature preferences, or switch between heating and cooling on their own.
Different Types of Thermostats
The basic thermostat is still pretty commonly in use. Besides you switching it “on”, “off”, or to “auto,” the change in temperature is what essentially makes it turn on or off, much like a traditional light switch. These standard or basic thermostats are trying to be phased out because of the mercury contained inside.
One favorite type is the programmable thermostat. This thermostat will regulate on its own; once you set the digital program, the thermostat will regulate the temperature without you needing to do anything manually, making it very energy efficient.
There are also ones considered “learning thermostats.” These can be programmed, but don’t actually require you to program them because the more you use them, the more they learn your habits and adjust to your preferences. These types of thermostats are usually connected with WiFi and can often be monitored on your smartphone. One unique feature of these new thermostats is what is called Geofencing. This uses your location by your smartphone’s location to determine whether your unit should turn on or off. You can set a range around your house and if you leave that range or come inside of it, then the unit will do a programmed function. For example, when you leave for work and get outside of a 5-mile range of your house, then it can turn the heat off, and then it can turn it back on when you come back inside that range on your way home from work.
Where to Learn More
Today there are many options when installing a new heating and air conditioning system, including the ever-evolving thermostat. For help in choosing the best product to meet your needs or any other heating and air conditioning questions, call the experts at Comfort Experts, Inc. We have been proudly serving our neighbors in North Texas for over 50 years, and we’d love to serve you too!
