A question we often hear at Ultimate Comfort Heating and Cooling is, “Are programmable thermostats really worth the extra cost?” In most cases, programmable thermostats help control energy usage, reduce your carbon footprint, and lower heating and cooling costs. However, they cost more than manual thermostats and have limitations with some types of HVAC systems.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.” A programmable or smart thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature in your home automatically to preset schedules.

For example, in the winter, you can automatically lower the temperature a few degrees while you’re asleep and/or typically away from home, reducing your energy usage without compromising your family’s comfort.

Manual Thermostats vs Programmable Thermostats vs Smart Thermostats

At one time, a manual thermostat was our only choice. While inexpensive, a manual thermostat requires you to adjust the temperature manually with a dial or a switch. You can adjust the temperature for evenings or when you’re away from home, but you need to remember to do it. Furthermore, if you lower the temperature when you go to bed, you will wake up to that same temperature until you get out of bed, adjust the thermostat, and wait for the heater to reach the higher temperature.

Programmable thermostats allow you to set temperature schedules that adjust your heating and cooling system automatically. You can automatically schedule the temperature to go lower or higher based on your lifestyle and preferences, even accommodating a different weekend schedule.

Smart thermostats – a programmable thermostat that connects to Wi-Fi - are more costly, but because they connect to Wi-Fi, you can adjust the temperature from your phone when you’re away, lying in bed, etc. They often come with more bells and whistles than a regular programmable thermostat, and the more bells and whistles, the higher the cost.

Here are some features available in smart thermostats today:

• Smart scheduling that adapts to the patterns of your household.
• Smart home integration.
• Geofencing technology - GPS capabilities on your smartphone that monitor when you’re home and when you are away and adjust the temperature accordingly.
• Smart sensors monitor the conditions and occupancy of different rooms and send information to the thermostat to adjust the temperature.
• Energy and usage reports to monitor your energy usage.
• Voice control using your favorite digital assistant.

Programmable Thermostat Limitations

Programmable thermostats have limitations for homes with heat pumps, electric resistance heating, and radiant floor heating.

When a heat pump is in its heating mode, setting back its thermostat can cause the unit to operate inefficiently, thereby canceling out any savings achieved by lowering the temperature setting. Maintaining a moderate setting is the most cost-effective practice. However, manufacturers have begun selling programmable thermostats designed for heat pumps, which are worth checking into.

Electric resistance systems (i.e., baseboard heating) require line-voltage programmable thermostats capable of directly controlling 120-volt or 240-volt circuits, which are not readily available.

Radiant floor heating systems have a slow response time, which may make setbacks inappropriate for these systems.

Choosing the Right Thermostat for Your HVAC System

The right thermostat for your HVAC system is the one that works best with your system and your personal preferences.

For example, programmable thermostats may be difficult for some people to program, and adjusting the temperature with a manual thermostat is simple and more straightforward. Some people may enjoy tinkering with the features of a smart thermostat, while others may be concerned about privacy and not want their data tracked with a smart thermostat.

We Can Help

Ultimate Comfort Heating and Cooling can help you choose the right thermostat for your system and your needs. Call us today at 610-750-8314 or connect with us online.