Your thermostat is an integral aspect of your home’s heating and cooling system. You will likely interact with it daily to ensure your family’s comfort. Your thermostat will also play a key role in energy efficiency, heating and cooling costs, and system wear and tear. Let’s explore everything you should know before choosing your new thermostat.
Installation Footprint
Measure the available space at your current installation site and target models that fit. Unless you have remote sensors, the current location is essential for accurate temperature readings. Even if you can move it, doing so requires new wiring, which makes this a much bigger project.
Wiring Compatibility
All thermostats require wiring to communicate with the HVAC system. There’s a wire to control the blower, one or more wires to control the cooling and heating, and so on. Many modern thermostats require a common wire or C-wire. If you live in an older home, you may not have one.
If you lack a C-wire, there are several alternatives. You can do without it, but that will limit you to the most basic thermostats on the market. Many advanced thermostats won’t operate without it, or you won’t have access to most of their features. An HVAC technician can install a C-wire at an additional cost when installing your new thermostat.
Alternatively, you can install a C-wire adapter. The adapter will provide the necessary power from one of the other available wires. The adapter will also be an additional cost, but the installation will be less expensive and complex than the C-wire installation.
Voltage Compatibility
HVAC configurations are either low-voltage, millivolt, or high-voltage systems. Most American homes have a low-voltage system. Likewise, most thermostats support low voltage and will state so on the package. We recommend consulting with an HVAC professional regardless, but it’s even more important if you need a thermostat for a millivolt or high-voltage system.
HVAC System Compatibility
Not all thermostats work with all HVAC systems. The terminal nomenclature is often completely different, for instance, between a boiler and a furnace. It has become increasingly common for leading brands, such as Nest and Ecobee, to support both with their models. Still, it’s important to ensure the model you choose works with hydronic heating systems. Additionally, if you have radiant floor heat, you’ll need a model that supports them. Not all boiler thermostats do.
Most available thermostats will support a traditional furnace and air conditioner pairing. A zoned system, on the other hand, will likely need a thermostat that supports zoning. Similarly, if you have a multi-stage furnace or variable-speed air handler, the unit must support those features as well.
Many thermostats for central HVAC systems don’t support heat pumps. A thermostat must have a terminal for the reversing valve and programming to control the system in heat mode. Otherwise, it could reduce rather than improve energy efficiency. For hybrid heating, which combines a heat pump and furnace, you may need a unit that handles the changeover.
Choose a Thermostat Type
The industry organizes HVAC thermostats into four broad categories: manual, digital, programmable, and smart. Which is better for you depends on the interface and features you want. Note that mechanical thermostats are not common due to low demand and because many states have laws forbidding mercury-based thermostats. Nearly all thermostats now use a thermocouple and are similarly accurate.
Manual
Manual thermostats have a fixed interface and either a dial that you rotate or a lever you move up and down. These are less accurate than other models due to the manual interface, but some homeowners prefer the simplicity.
Digital
Digital thermostats are far more prevalent than manual thermostats. These units have an electronic display that indicates the current temperature and the setting. They’ll also have at least two buttons: one to raise the temperature setting and another to lower it.
Programmable
Programmable thermostats are digital thermostats with more sophisticated onboard processing power and memory. A key capability is support for schedules that let the thermostat automatically adjust the temperature. The Department of Energy recommends programmable thermostats over the more basic alternatives because they help lower heating and cooling costs significantly.
Smart
A smart or Wi-Fi thermostat is a programmable thermostat that can connect to other smart devices, your local network, and the internet. Smart thermostats will often have many advanced features as well. Some notable examples include:
- Geofencing
- Voice control
- Adaptive learning
- Energy monitoring
ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a program supported jointly by the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency. The program sets energy efficiency standards and recognizes those appliances and devices that achieve them. The EPA awards this certification to programmable and smart thermostats that achieve its standards through independent lab testing. Choosing an ENERGY STAR thermostat gives you peace of mind that it will help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
Rebates
Choosing an ENERGY STAR thermostat may also let you claim one or more rebates and other energy incentives. These rebates can make a thermostat significantly less expensive or even cover its cost entirely. You can look for rebates by zip code through the ENERGY STAR website. You should also contact your utility company for more details about local opportunities.
Utility Company Opt-In Programs
Home cooling systems put a great deal of strain on the grid. To alleviate this high demand, many utility companies offer programs that require you to have a smart thermostat. If you participate, the utility company can control your thermostat during peak demand by up to several degrees. In return, they may provide you with energy credits or other benefits. If you’re interested, check the smart thermostat compatibility list provided by your utility company.
Scheduling vs. Geofencing
Scheduling is the best reason to choose a programmable over a basic thermostat. Used correctly, the feature will easily pay for itself over the life of the unit. Still, scheduling doesn’t work perfectly for every household. If you have a work schedule that’s constantly changing, for instance, thermostat scheduling may be a hassle.
Geofencing can serve as either an alternative or complement to scheduling. These systems work by establishing a virtual perimeter around the home and tracking household members via the GPS on their phones. You can have an economy setting and a comfort setting. When someone is in the perimeter, the system will set the home for comfort. When not, it’ll set it for efficiency.
Energy Monitoring
Many smart thermostats can track your energy consumption and provide you with that data on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. This data can help you spot inefficiencies that you can then correct to save even more.
Do You Need Help Choosing a Thermostat?
George’s Air Conditioning has served homeowners and businesses in Galveston, TX and beyond since 1999. Our company offers a broad selection of top-rated programmable and smart thermostats, and we can install, program, calibrate, and clean them. Our technicians install, maintain, and repair furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners, and ductless mini-splits. Our team also cleans ductwork and installs and services whole-house fans. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call George’s Air Conditioning today, or contact us online.
