The Benefits of a Programmable Thermostat

If your home is using an old-school mercury thermostat, then it’s way behind the times. These very basic models usually only offer control in turning the heat or air conditioning on or off and basic temperature adjustment. It might be perfect if you don’t have to change the temperature very often, but in some places, like the desert, you want that kind of control. You may even want that kind of control to be able to program your thermostat to come on or turn off or stay at a certain temperature at certain times.

“There are many reasons someone would want to upgrade their heating and air system to include a more modern thermostat,” says Steve Lewis, president, and CEO of Ambient Edge, “Here are just a few of the best reasons to switch to a programmable thermostat.”

One of the biggest advantages to a programmable thermostat is that unlike its predecessors, it has fewer moving parts. This means less to maintain and no technician visits to calibrate. Not having to have regular maintenance and calibrations performed also leads to money saved on maintenance costs.

Most of the energy usage in a home is consumed by heating and cooling needs, totaling up to $1000 annually. Another huge advantage of switching from a manual to a programmable thermostat is monetary savings, as they are more energy-efficient. These savings can amount to up to a savings of $180 per year.

Not only that, but many programmable thermostats look akin to a tablet computer these days. These models are not only interactive, but many can be accessed from smartphones, which can allow you to temperature control from afar.

A programmable thermostat also allows the option of being able to program your air conditioning or heating to come on or turn off at certain times of the day. This can be invaluable when you’re away from your home at work and don’t need the air conditioning or heating to be used. You can set it to come on before you come home, that way your home is at your preferred temperature when you arrive. Another benefit is that some models allow for long-term programming, making it easy to remember to turn your thermostat to the proper temperature each season for money and energy savings.

Another benefit to those living in areas where the weather can be hot during the day, but cold at night is that you can program the thermostat to take these temperature changes into consideration. Instead of having to get up and manually change the thermostat as temperatures outside rise or fall, you can stay comfortable and the thermostat will do the work.

There are many advantages to upgrading to a programmable thermostat. The latest versions, so-called smart thermostats, lets you use your smartphone to control them wherever you have a signal. Depending on your current thermostat, you may need to talk to a licensed, reputable heating and air company to ensure it gets installed correctly and that your current HVAC system can support your desired thermostat.