Most homeowners forget about their thermostat. It’s just a device to control the HVAC system, after all. Isn’t it? In truth, your thermostat has more to do with the proper functioning of your home than you might think. An old thermostat will read temperatures incorrectly, forcing your HVAC system to run too much or too little. At best, it means your home will always be an uncomfortable temperature. At worst, the thermostat forces your HVAC system to run for longer than necessary, increasing wear and energy consumption, while decreasing its lifespan. When it comes time to replace your thermostat, make sure you get one that suits your needs.
Know your HVAC System
Before you go shopping for a thermostat in Jacksonville, FL, you need to know a few things about your current HVAC system. You don’t need a furnace controller if you don’t have a furnace, for example. Knowing your HVAC system will also help narrow down the range of available thermostats, so you don’t have to sort through hundreds of products to find the one you’re looking for. Thankfully, if you’ve been performing regular inspections, you should know about your HVAC system already.
- Do you have one single HVAC unit, or separate heating and cooling units?
- Does your HVAC system run at one constant speed at all times, or does it have variable speed settings?
- Does your HVAC system heat or cool the whole house at once, or can you control which rooms it affects, other than closing off vents?
- Is your heat provided by a fireplace or a furnace? If a furnace, is it a wall or a floor unit?
- What kind of electrical current does your HVAC system use?
Each of these considerations will narrow down the appropriate thermostat for your home. You will want to pick up a thermostat capable of controlling individual rooms and fan speeds, if your HVAC system is capable of those fine changes. If not, you don’t need such an advanced thermostat for your Jacksonville, FL home.
Learn the Features of a New Thermostat
New, modern thermostats have a range of features. If you’re replacing an old digital or an even older mechanical thermostat, you may be confused as to which features are worth having. You may be able to install your own thermostat, but if you are at all uncomfortable with electrical work, contact a professional.
- Most digital thermostats will have a backlit digital display, usually in green or blue. This helps you see and adjust the temperature in the dark.
- Some digital thermostats will use a touchscreen interface for programming and adjusting settings. Others will use simple buttons.
- Some advanced digital thermostats allow you to program them using voice commands.
- If you often go on vacation for a few days or weeks at a time, consider a thermostat with vacation settings.
- If you tend to forget regular maintenance, consider finding a thermostat that includes an indicator of when you should change your air filter.
- Some thermostats will include monitors that warn you if part of your HVAC system is malfunctioning.
Consider Programming Schedules
Digital thermostats in Jacksonville, FL come with three different program schedules. These are the basic 7-day, 5+2 day, and 5+1+1 day models. What do these mean?
A 7-day schedule allows you to set each day of the week individually. If your schedule varies from day to day, this model is ideal for you. Most such thermostats will allow you to set general temperatures for four periods each day.This allows you to adjust the temperature to comfortable levels while you’re home and active, and raise or lower the temperature while you’re asleep or out of the house.
5+2 models work best for more consistent schedules. You set one temperature schedule for weekdays, and a different schedule for weekends. As you likely can guess, a 5+1+1 model works similarly, with one schedule for weekdays and a separate schedule each for Saturday and Sunday.
Smart Learning Thermostats
A new trend in technology has brought a new type of thermostat to Jacksonville, FL homeowners. These are the so-called “smart thermostats.” These devices have detailed connectivity to your smartphone via a dedicated app. This allows you to adjust temperatures even when you’re not home. You can keep the temperature high while you’re at work and then, before you leave, send a signal to cool down your home before you arrive.
The other important aspect of a smart thermostat is its learning capability. A smart thermostat will monitor your temperature habits and learn to adjust to comfortable levels on its own. The drawback to this kind of thermostat, of course, is the higher initial expense.
No matter what thermostat you choose, make sure you choose one that fits your budget and lifestyle.
