A thermostat is the command center for your heating and cooling system. It helps your system control the temperature, humidity, and energy usage in your home. Investing in a thermostat for your HVAC system can be overwhelming. There are several kinds available and different features for each kind. Depending on your system’s needs, you want to make sure you install the best thermostat for your HVAC system.
What System Do You Have?
Before you invest in a thermostat, you need to consider what type of heating and cooling system you have. Not all thermostats are compatible with every HVAC system, which can cost you money in the future on your energy bills and HVAC repairs. The best thermostat for your HVAC system depends on if you have a:
- Single-Stage: This type of system is traditional gas heat and electric air conditioning systems. Single-stage means your furnace has only one level of heat. This is the most common system in residential homes.
- Multi-Stage: Multi-stage systems mean you have more than the average one level of heating or cooling. The multi-stage system has the ability to operate at different levels to heat your home efficiently, and provides more evenly dispersed heat throughout your home.
- Heat Pump: This system is a single system that controls both your heating and cooling in your home. Traditionally a heat pump is used as the emergency heat source if you have a multi-stage system. It produces heat faster than any other system and is popular in the Northeast.
- Multi-Stage Heat Pump: Similar to a multi-stage system, but it uses a heat pump as the heat source. Your heat pump is able to operate at two performance levels to heat or cool your home most efficiently depending on conditions.
Thermostat Types:
There are three common types of thermostats that work with heating and cooling systems: smart thermostats, programmable thermostats, and manual thermostats. Below are the different types and an overview of their characteristics:
- Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat offers easy programming with three different setting options. Most homeowners have switched to programmable thermostats because of its convenient programming, user-friendly interface, and it offers energy efficiency with their HVAC system.
- Smart Thermostat: A smart thermostat learns temperature preferences of a household and makes automatic temperature adjustments for comfort and efficiency.
- Mechanical/Manual Thermostat: Users must manually set and adjust manual thermostats to change temperatures in the home.
Programmable Thermostat Options:
One of the best thermostats for HVAC systems is a programmable thermostat. It offers energy efficiency, and easy management of your heating and cooling needs based on a set program.
- 7-Day:
You can set unique settings for each day, up to 7 days. This setting offers ultimate flexibility with up to four periods per day for every day of the week. If you have a busy schedule, this setting is perfect for you and your family.
- 5-1-1 Day:
This setting allows you to program one setting through the week and then two different settings for Saturday and Sunday. You can program up to four periods per programmable session with this type of programmable thermostat.
- 5-2 Day:
This version allows programming up to four sessions with separate settings for the weekends and weekdays.
Choose the best thermostat for HVAC system efficiency, controlled humidity, and even temperatures in your home! Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating and learn more about the benefits of installing a programmable thermostat.
