Thermostat technology has come lightyears over the past few decades. With so many options available, many Indianapolis area homeowners are often left confused about which one they should choose for their home. In our most recent blog, the HVAC technicians at Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning walk you through the different thermostat types available and how to select the right one for your home.
Types of Thermostats
When you’re shopping for a new thermostat, you must first know what types of thermostats are available. Below are the four most common types of thermostats we install for Indianapolis area homeowners. Contact us today, and we’ll discuss what type of thermostat is best for your home.
- Manual thermostats are the most basic thermostat option, which you likely remember from your childhood home. This thermostat must be set manually, with the user making temperature adjustments anytime more or less heating or cooling is required in the home.
- Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to adjust the temperature of their home according to a pre-set schedule. For example, you can set the temperature to 70 degrees during the day and to 66 degrees from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. while you’re asleep. During the winter, you can set the programmable thermostat to a higher setting on the weekends while you’re home.
- Wi-Fi thermostats connect to the home’s wireless internet source and allow users to control the temperature remotely. These thermostats may use an app or connect to your preferred smart home hub.
- Smart thermostats offer automated temperature adjustments and a variety of other energy-saving features, depending on the model. Some of the features include vacation hold mode, HVAC filter and maintenance alerts, connectivity with indoor and outdoor sensors, and the ability to gather data on the home’s energy consumption to further reduce energy use.
What Kind of Thermostat Do I Need?
You must first determine if a particular thermostat is appropriate for use with your home’s heating and cooling system. Thermostats come in several configurations, and they won’t work correctly if they are not matched to your home’s HVAC equipment. You need to know if you have a conventional heating and cooling system (furnace and air conditioner), a heat pump system, or electric baseboard heating.
Next, consider the functionality you desire to determine what kind of thermostat you need. When shopping for a programmable thermostat, consider your household’s schedule to determine the scheduling capabilities you’ll need for energy savings.
- A 1-week thermostat runs the same set of temperature adjustments each day of the week.
- A 5-2 thermostat uses one set of temperature adjustments during the week and a second set for weekend days.
- A 5-1-1 thermostat runs a set of temperature adjustments during the week, one set for Saturday, and one set for Sunday.
- A 7-day thermostat allows you to set your home’s temperature schedule for each individual day of the week.
Next, think about the features you’d like to have. Would it be beneficial to have the ability to access heating and cooling controls remotely? Do you want to connect outdoor temperature sensors and indoor occupancy sensors for automated temperature control? Will you make use of energy data collected by a smart thermostat to further improve energy efficiency within your household? Those are just a few of the questions to think about when determining the right thermostat for your Indianapolis home.
Thermostat Installation by Thiele
If you need more assistance choosing a thermostat for your home, contact Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning for expert advice you can trust. Our technicians help you understand the different thermostat types and features so you can best choose a new model for your home. We provide trusted installation services so your new thermostat functions properly and works correctly with your home’s HVAC system. Contact us today to request an estimate for thermostat installation.