Looking to find the perfect thermostat? There are a wide variety of options available, including programmable, smart thermostats, digital thermostats, touch-screen thermostats and even Wi-Fi thermostats or wireless thermostats that allow you to control your temperature from a smartphone or computer. Not sure exactly what you need? Take a look below at the different types of thermostats and decide which one best fits your needs.
Types of Thermostats
Remote Energy Management: A remote thermostat allows you to set, program and monitor your heating and cooling system from a computer, smartphone or tablet. So even when you’re on vacation or away from home, you can actively manage the energy use in your home. Many remote thermostats can send customized text or email alerts.
Learning: Learning thermostats offer the same benefits of a programmable thermostat and learn over time to create a custom schedule based on your preferences. Smart heating and cooling controls can turn themselves down when you’re away, guide you to the most energy-efficient settings and even provide monthly energy reports. These can also be controlled from a computer, smartphone or tablet.
Programmable: A programmable thermostat makes efficient use of your system by automatically adjusting the temperature throughout the day. While they don’t program themselves automatically like learning thermostats, they can easily be set to any user’s schedule.
Digital Non-Programmable: A non-programmable thermostat allows you to manually adjust the temperature. With the digital readout, you can easily see the current temperature and temperature setting. These are best for people who prefer manually controlled settings on their thermostat.
Mechanical/Manual: With a mechanical or manual thermostat, you control the temperature setting manually. These are among the easiest thermostats to operate and are best for people who are home often and prefer a fixed temperature.
Top Thermostat Brands
Finding the right brand is also a big part of selecting the best thermostat for you. Some of the most popular brands include Nest thermostats, Honeywell thermostats, Lux thermostats, ecobee thermostats, White-Rodgers thermostats and Iris thermostats.
Thermostat Installation
If you’re unsure where to start or need some assistance installing your new thermostat, there are plenty of resources available to help. Check out our helpful how-to guide with step-by-step instructions for installing your new thermostat.
Types of Thermostat Programming
In addition to the wide variety of thermostat types, there are also many different programming options. To decide which option is best for you, consider your typical weekly schedule. Thermostat programming options are as follows:
- 7-Day Programming: This is one of the best options if your schedule varies from day to day. It’s also the most flexible option available, allowing you to program a different heating/cooling schedule for every day of the week.
- 5-1-1 Programming: This type of programming is called 5-1-1 because you have the same schedule set for five days during the week, then a separate schedule for both Saturday and Sunday.
- 5-2 Programming: This type of programming is similar to 5-1-1 programming with the exception of the weekend schedule. Instead of having separate schedules for Saturday and Sunday, the schedule for both weekend days is the same.
- 1-Week Programming: Essentially the opposite of 7-day programming, 1-week programming enables you to set one heating and cooling plan to be used for the entire week. It’s one of the more simple, inexpensive programming options.
As you can see there are a variety of options for you to choose from to create a more energy-efficient home. In addition to finding the right thermostat, you can also improve energy efficiency with good home winterization practices. These include using humidifiers, insulation, caulk and pipe wrap to help maintain the temperature and conserve energy in your home.
