If you’re still using a basic dial or digital thermostat, upgrading to more advanced technology can give you greater control of your household energy consumption, boost your comfort and cut your heating and cooling costs by up to 20 percent. The two most popular types available today are programmable and smart thermostats, but which kind should you choose? Learning how each type works and the key differences between the two can help you decide.
Programmable Thermostats
A programmable thermostat allows you schedule energy-saving temperature adjustments based on your daily and weekly routines. There are different types available so you can pick a model that best matches your particular schedule. For example, you can choose a 7-day model that can be programmed differently each day of the week, a 5+2-day model that’s programmed for a 5-day work week and a different 2-day weekend, or a 5+1+1-day model if you have a typical work week schedule, but different routines on weekend days.
In order to save energy with a programmable thermostat, it’s essential to take the time to learn how to program it and remember to make adjustments if your schedule changes. To see the greatest savings, you also need to program in daily temperature setbacks for eight hours or more, such as when the house isn’t occupied during the day, or overnight when everyone is sleeping.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats like the Nest take the control provided by programmable models to the next level. These units connect to the Internet through your home’s Wi-Fi network, which gives you remote access from anywhere via a computer, mobile device or smartphone app. Instead of programming in your daily and weekly schedules, you simply answer basic questions about your comfort preferences during setup. Then, the thermostat monitors and “learns” your routine to optimize comfort and energy consumption.
The latest smart models make adjustments intuitively by sensing motion inside your home, and monitoring indoor humidity levels and outdoor weather conditions. Some models like the Nest even alert you to any developing issues with your HVAC equipment to help prevent costly and inconvenient breakdowns.
If you’re ready to upgrade the thermostat in your Northwest Arkansas home and need expert help comparing the benefits of programmable versus smart thermostats, contact us today at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal.
Our goal is to help our Springdale-area customers learn more about HVAC-related issues that affect their comfort and energy usage.
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