Every day that goes by we see technology advancing. I’ll even guess that the cell phone you now have can do more than your very first home computer could ever do. So when it comes to your home’s heating and cooling system you can use advancing technology to your advantage. How? By installing a programmable thermostat.
The thermostat is a vital part of your HVAC system. Simply put, it turns your system on and off in order to keep the temperature in your home where you want it. If you want it a little warmer or cooler, then you adjust your thermostat and the system responds to the change. But why should you install a programmable thermostat?
A programmable thermostat goes one step further. You can set it up to automatically raise or lower the temperature based on your family’s routine. That way your system doesn’t run unnecessarily when no one is home thus saving you on energy usage and costs. Here’s an example: Let’s say everyone in your family is out of the house by 9am on weekdays, and the first one to get back arrives at 4pm. You can program these times into your thermostat so that at 9am your system will only run to keep the house from getting way too hot or cold. Then by 4pm your system is running as normal so your house is comfortable when your family starts to get back home. Why run the system as if someone were home when it is really empty?
What kind of programmable thermostat should you get? Well, to give you an idea about the variety of programmable thermostats that are available, here are three general categories for you to consider:
- Basic Programmable Thermostats – If your routine is consistent on weekdays, then you will benefit from a 5/2-day or 5/1/1-day programmable thermostat. This means that you can program what times and temperatures you want for the 5-day work week, and then separate settings for the weekend (5/2) or even separate settings for Saturday and Sunday (5/1/1).
- Touchscreen Programmable Thermostats – These typically allow you to program unique settings for each day of the week. The face of the thermostat is used, not only to display the temperature and current settings, but also to make programming adjustments. Many brands have intuitive menus so that even those of us who never could figure out how to program our VCR’s (remember those?) will have no trouble. And of course you can always override your pre-programmed settings if something unexpected comes up in your routine.
- Advanced Programmable Thermostats – These devices throw in additional features. Notifications can be programmed to remind you to replace your system’s air filter or UV lamps, or to schedule your semi-annual system tune-up. Many will also control your whole-house humidifier or dehumidifier. And there are models that display current weather conditions and forecasts for your region. Others allow you to connect to your thermostat through Wi-Fi using your computer or other portable device, even doing so securely from anywhere in the world.
So what about you? Are you ready to install a programmable thermostat in your home? Some models are sold in local home improvement stores and with a little self-education can be installed by “do-it-yourself-ers”. But it doesn’t have to be an intimidating experience. Don’t hesitate to call us for help. Trained and knowledgeable technicians at GAMA Air are ready to help you install, set-up, and understand your very own programmable thermostat. The amount you could save in energy costs can make the cost to get started well worth it. So call us at (310) 651-6936 to schedule a visit or go to our “Ask an Expert” page if you just have a question. We will be more than happy to help.