Your thermostat has a huge impact on your HVAC system. It’s one of the most critical components – and it’s literally in your control.
Since you will be the one operating the thermostat, it’s important to understand the different types that are available on the market today.
There are four basic variations of thermostats – and we will cover the benefits of each one and whose homes might benefit the most from each one.
Types of Thermostats
The four kinds of thermostats are non-programmable, programmable, wi-fi, and smart thermostats. They go in order from most basic to having the most features – including efficiency capabilities and comfort settings.
Non-Programmable or Basic Thermostats
A non-programmable thermostat is not only the easiest to operate and control, it is also the it is also the least expensive. These kinds of thermostats are simple and require manual adjustment of the temperature. For someone who is looking for simplicity and getting back to basics, a non-programmable thermostat serves that purpose. A non-programmable thermostat is ideal for a homeowner who is home often and does not travel much because of its limited capabilities.
Programmable Thermostats
With a programmable thermostat, you are able to program temperature settings. This means you can schedule temperature adjustments for times that you will be away from home or even in bed. Essentially, if the home will be empty for amounts of time, it is more efficient to lower the temperature so that your HVAC system doesn’t have to work more than necessary.
A programmable thermostat is good for people who want to have some control over their efficiency and comfort. You have more of a say in settings like temps and humidity, but need to adjust from home. However if you are seeking more control over humidity, climate, maintenance, a wi-fi or smart thermostat might be for you. Wi-fi Thermostat
This is essentially a programmable thermostat with a few more perks. You can co ect to your thermostat settings wirelessly – from your phone, computer, or tablet. A wi-fi thermostat allows you to control the temperature settings remotely while you are away from home.
Most wi-fi thermostats even have the capability to control your humidity settings remotely as well. The key feature of a wi-fi thermostat is for you to have control over your settings while you are away from home.
Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat has all the bells and whistles. It integrates with other smart home tools and can even learn your habits so that it requires minimal supervision from you! A smart thermostat can learn the times you typically are not home and adjust the temperatures accordingly. As the thermostat learns your patterns it is able to use those settings to maximize your efficiency.
Most of the smart thermostats available now are able to integrate with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and more. That way you can control your settings with your voice.
A smart thermostat, such as the Bryant Evolution Co ex, can work together with your HVAC system to even send you reminders when you need to change your filter, or notify your HVAC company that your system is experiencing issues or requires maintenance.
These kinds of thermostats are ideal for homes that are tech-savvy, however anyone can be trained to use the features of one.
Once your HVAC tech sets up the system, they can teach you how to use it so that you can experience maximum efficiency.
Typically a homeowner can expect to see the return on their investment in 1-2 years after installing a smart thermostat and seeing the monthly savings on their energy costs.
Rebates On New Thermostats
Most new thermostats have rebates available. Bryant offers rebates on most new installed thermostats, and others rebates may be available as well depending upon what services and installations you have done at your home. If you have questions on upgrading your HVAC equipment, let us know and we’d be happy to help!
Updated October 2020