The Ultimate Thermostat Buying Guide 2023
Whether your home uses a heat pump, furnace, boiler, or central air conditioning for heating and cooling, a thermostat is its brain. A responsive thermostat is crucial to maintaining a pleasant environment in your house since it regulates and monitors the temperature in each area.
Some thermostats might even help you save money. A smart thermostat installed by a residential electrician Vancouver can effectively reduce your home's heating and cooling costs by roughly 8%, saving you an average of $50 a year. According to some thermostat makers, these savings might total $100 or more. Of course, programmable thermostats that are not connected to the internet are installed in around 42% of American homes, significantly resulting in energy savings.
However, the issue has long been that many users find them too challenging to program. Research published in the Energy Research & Social Science journal found that 40% of people who purchase programmable thermostats don't use the scheduling feature. This is problematic since a thermostat only reduces energy costs when it is set to do so. Every time you leave the house or go to bed, you can manually do that or set your thermostat to do it for you.
So, here lies the question regarding which thermostat you should buy, which programming options it should have, and what benefits it can provide you. To answer all these crucial questions, here is the ultimate guide regarding what you should consider when buying the ultimate thermostat for yourself in 2023.
1. Determine The Kind Of Thermostat You Need
Knowing what you have to deal with will help you narrow your options when buying a thermostat. Knowing what type of heating and cooling system you have now in your house is crucial so that your new thermostat will work with it. Although central heating and air conditioning systems are the most popular, people also utilize heat pumps, electric baseboards, and furnaces. You can select a Honeywell thermostat entirely based on your tastes from various types. Here are the types of thermostats:
Manual Thermostat: It works without an LCD but with the same manual controls as the digital-non-programmable thermostat.
Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat can be configured to adjust the temperature up or down during the day so you won't have to.
Digital Thermostat: This thermostat demands you to manually adjust the thermostat as the temperature changes throughout the day.
Remote Thermostat: A remote thermostat can be operated remotely from a phone, tablet, or laptop because it is linked to your home's internet service through a hub.
Learning or Smart Thermostat: The thermostat in question is the latest and most energy-efficient in its generation. The Honeywell thermostat is similar to a programmable thermostat, although it does not require manual programming. It picks up on your habits and preferences as you use it. Additionally, they perform cool tasks like declining when you're not around and giving energy updates. These can also be WiFi connected and controlled from a distance. As these smart thermostats are also highly in demand these days, you can contact a skilled tradesman to buy one.
2. Determine Your Programming Options
One more choice can be made if you purchase a programmed thermostat from a skilled tradesperson. With a variety of programming choices, your thermostat can be further personalized. For instance, you can program a programmable thermostat to change the temperature every day using the 7-day programming option. Additionally, the 5-1-1 programming option in most programmable thermostats enables two distinct programs for Saturdays and Sundays in addition to one program for something like the weekdays.
There are also the 5-2 and the 1 Week options available in a Nest thermostat, which let you set your thermostat for a week at a time, respectively. The 5-2 programming option allows you to select a program for weekdays and weekends. You can set the temperature at different times of the day, for example, morning, afternoon, evening, etc., using any of these options because they each have different periods.
3. Check Your Wiring
Additionally, by opening it up, you should consider the kind of wiring in the thermostat you are currently using. The reason is that older heating systems, non-connected, programmable thermostats, and contemporary thermostats mostly use two-voltage wires. However, the newer thermostat models frequently need a common wire, sometimes known as a C-wire to function better. For features like WiFi and screens, the C-wire delivers continuous power. You must speak with an electrician if you are unsure whether you have a C-wire or not.
However, you can try a few options if you want a smart thermostat but lack a C-wire. For this, you can contact a skilled tradesman and purchase a Nest thermostat model with a power adapter to add a C-wire to your system. Then you can purchase an add-a-wire adaptor. Now go for a model of thermostat that doesn't require a C-wire and contact a professional thermostat specialist to install your C-wire skillfully.
4. Consider The Aesthetics of Your Home
You'll probably want it to look good if you're replacing something that will remain on the wall of your house for the next ten years. Modern thermostats, especially smart versions, are available in a wide range of sizes, forms, and designs if you reach out to a skilled tradesman. You can choose a traditional, rounded design, cutting-edge, all-glass, or a rounded-square design.
Most thermostats have a more traditional aesthetic than you can expect from programmable thermostats. However, you can also opt for a more contemporary one with a boxy appearance and large displays. Of course, the choice is yours in terms of appearance. Choose a design from a Nest thermostat that adds aesthetic beauty to your home because you'll live with it and get it installed by a skilled electrician to avoid damage.
5. Consider The Features You Want in Thermostat
One of the most crucial characteristics is that a thermostat should work for your heating and cooling system. Always confirm the appropriateness of the heating system with the manufacturer, as a thermostat without a heating option is useless. A smart WiFi thermostat is the best option if you are constantly on the go and want to be able to adjust your heating settings from anywhere. A smart thermostat allows you to control and keep tabs on your heater preferences and energy usage from any location with an internet connection. A smart thermostat is a fantastic choice if the weather and traffic are also crucial considerations for you. You can always know whether it will rain or shine by watching your smart thermostat's weather and traffic reports.
A programmable thermostat is by far the best option if you need a room with varying temperature and time requirements, such as a bathroom, living room, or bedroom. It will enable you to set various room temperatures at various times. This will prevent you from spending energy heating a room through a heater that isn't occupied and provide you fine-grained control over your heating settings. Utilizing the thermostat is made simpler even in low light thanks to the high-quality backlit display in most thermostats of this kind. For ease of use, a large display and large text size should be taken into account. The screen's resolution is crucial because low-resolution panels are harder to use and don't look as well mounted on a wall.
You can better manage your heating system by knowing where and when you utilize energy. A thermostat that automatically manages your heater by observing your routines and habits can help you use the least amount of energy while guaranteeing that you never come home to a cold house. A thermostat offers a variety of special features, including the option to create your backdrop image, provide information on lower energy prices, and provide travel updates. Whether you need them depends on how you plan to use the thermostat. You are more likely to check your Honeywell thermostat if you want to set different settings for different times of day if you want to save money.Pick a thermostat that lets you change the heating controls to fit your preferences. This could be the capacity to save money by selecting a thermostat that would lower heating costs or the frequency of temperature changes.
6. Hire A Professional For Installation
When upgrading an existing thermostat, seasoned DIYers will likely have the requisite abilities to install non-programmable, programmable, and smart home thermostats. At the same time, installations of thermostats in new buildings are more difficult. Since the voltage is normally modest, there is no significant risk of shock or electrocution. Still, it's crucial to follow the directions carefully and completely, regardless of your experience level.
However, the best option still is to hire a professional residential electrician in Vancouver, as they know exactly what to do and how to do the job skillfully. Because a professional electrician has expertise in installing all kinds of thermostats to all kinds of HVAC systems, there is little to no risk of any inconvenience or damage to your HVAC system or home aesthetics.
Conclusion
A thermostat is crucial to maintain your heating and cooling system efficiently as they provide the much-needed monitoring of your HVAC programming. Having the kinds and features that thermostats provide these days, it is important to consider all important factors when buying a thermostat for your house. Hire a professional residential electrician Vancouver to experience the best services for your thermostat.