4 Tips For Choosing The Best Thermostat

When selecting a thermostat for your home or office, there are a handful of factors you should consider before venturing into the market. This article will provide some details that you will need to research.

Choose the type of thermostat you want

There are three different types that you can choose from. These are:

1. Manual thermostats: Also known as a non-programmable or mechanical thermostat, this thermostat type will have to be manually adjusted to control the air conditioning unit.
2. Programmable thermostats: Like its name suggests, this type of thermostat is programmable. You can set up a schedule for when you want the air conditioner to turn on or shut down.
3. Smart thermostats: Although very similar to programmable thermostats, smart thermostats have the added feature of control via phones and computers. This ensures that you can set up your thermostat from anywhere.

These are the types you can choose from. These days, many people opt for either of the last two.

Compatibility with your HVAC system

This is very vital as it is entirely pointless to purchase a thermostat that doesn’t work with your HVAC system. How then can you know if a thermostat is compatible?

1. Check the voltage of your HVAC system: It is important that the thermostat you choose is compatible with the voltage requirements of your HVAC system.
2. Ascertain your HVAC system’s stages: There are three categories of these stages and your system will definitely fall into one of them. You’ll have to determine that speed category so that the thermostat wiring can be compatible with it.

You need to put these factors at the forefront of your mind before deciding to buy a thermostat online or at a commercial electrical supply store.

Look out for useful features

Admittedly, thermostats are now more advanced than ever. This means that they have innovative features which you have to consider in your search. Some of these features include:

1. App control: This feature is found in smart thermostat models and it ensures that the thermostat can be controlled from a remote location.
2. Automatic changeover: With this feature, the thermostat will be able to switch to heating from cooling depending on the temperature of your home.
3. Automatic temperature change: Smart thermostats make use of geo-fencing to learn and subsequently make adjustments to suit your behavior.
4. Reminders: Some smart thermostats will send you helpful notifications like when it’s time to replace your AC filter or furnace.

Set up a budget

This is something a lot of people fail to do. It isn’t advisable to just go into the market without a budget. If you do this, you might encounter thermostats with flashy features that catch your fancy. Even though some of these features aren’t necessary, you might end up purchasing one that is quite expensive. However, if you go in with a budget, you can streamline your search. You can also decide to window shop once you get a budget. This way, you can make a list of thermostats you like that also fall within this budget.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Home & Garden category