A thermostat is one of those inventions that most of us take for granted. You touch a button and, just like that, you literally control the weather (inside your home, anyway). If it’s doing its job well, there’s usually no reason you need to think about how or why a thermostat does what it does. But there are a few things you may want to know in order to keep your equipment running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. (And we, at least, find the hows and whys quite interesting!)
How Thermostats Work
Your thermostat is what helps you regulate the temperature inside of your home. Depending on what kind of thermostat you have, the actual mechanics will vary a bit. But the overall gist is simple: you push the button (on the wall unit or even on your phone if you have a WiFi thermostat) to tell it what temperature you want your home to be. Using either sensors (for digital/electronic versions) or a system of metal strips or coils and a vial of mercury (typically only in older homes) your thermostat knows what temperature your home is already at and will turn on your HVAC unit accordingly. It continues to monitor the temperature and will shut the unit off once the air reaches the desired setting. When it dips below or above the desired temp, it’ll turn the unit back on, and the process repeats.
Thermostats and Energy Usage
Your HVAC system is either powered by natural gas, or it’s powered by electricity—one way or another, it uses a decent amount of energy. A thermostat helps you conserve some of that energy by turning your HVAC system off and on, so it’s not going full blast all day and night long. Thermostats are an important tool for conservation, because they help make sure we’re using only what we need. They’re good for the planet, and they’re great for the wallet!
Why Thermostat Placement Matters
Have you ever stood near a window to soak in the sun? Or stood near a door and felt a bit of a draft? Both of those moments illustrate a very important concept—the air indoors can be different temperatures, even within the same room. That’s why the placement of your thermostat is so important. For instance, you don’t want to place it in direct sunlight—your thermostat will think it’s much warmer than it really is, and you’ll end up with a very chilly house. Similarly, you don’t want to place it too high, because hot air rises. Ideally, your thermostat will be:
- About 52-60 inches off the ground.
- On an inside wall that doesn’t contain pipe or ductwork.
- Away from doors and windows and out of the sunlight.
- In a centrally located area of your home that you use regularly (like your living room).
How to Test Your Thermostat
If your thermostat is faulty, not only could it affect your comfort, it could also be wasting lots of energy (and money). When an HVAC system doesn’t seem to be keeping up with the temperature it’s set at, many homeowners tend to jump to the worst possible conclusion—that the unit is failing. But often the culprit is actually the thermostat, which is a much easier (and cheaper) fix. Checking to make sure your thermostat is up to snuff is simple process:
- Start by checking the power source. If your thermostat is battery powered, for example, make sure that the batteries haven’t died.
- Do you have a WiFi thermostat? There should be a setting that allows you to run a test. It’ll let you know if everything is running smoothly or if you need to get someone out to do a professional check.
- If you have a standard thermostat, remove the cover and make sure the inner workings are free and clear of any dust.
- If you’re still having issues, it’s usually easy to tell whether the thermostat or the HVAC unit is at fault. Grab a helper and have them stand near the HVAC unit while you’re near the thermostat. Turn the thermostat from off to heat and slowly increase the temperature. Both the unit and the thermostat should make a noise…whichever one doesn’t is the culprit.
The Benefits of Zone Control
We all love that we can change the temperature of our home at the touch of a button. But that leaves one glaring question: What if you don’t want to cool your entire home? What if you like to sleep at 65°, but your kids like to sleep at 72°? What if you want to cool your home office during the day but don’t want to pay to cool the living room while no one is using it? The answer to these questions is zone control. At Appel, we can install a state-of-the-art system that lets you customize the temperature of your home in each area of your house. Because when it comes to comfort, you shouldn’t have to compromise.
The Benefits of WiFi Thermostats
Technology just keeps advancing to make our lives easier and more comfortable, and thermostat technology is no different. If you don’t have a WiFi thermostat by now, we highly recommend you jump on the bandwagon! These devices let you control the temperature of your home using an app on your phone. People love that flexibility for many reasons—if you turned the temp down on your A/C while you were getting ready in the morning, but forgot to set it higher when you left for work, you can do so from miles away at your desk. Similarly, if you’ve decided to leave work early and want the house to be nice and cool when you get home, you can turn the temp down before you even leave the office.
And like with standard versions, you can put your WiFi thermostat on a schedule so you can set it and forget it. But unlike standard versions, a typical WiFi thermostat will let you set several different schedules—one for every day of the week, if necessary. Setting a schedule for your thermostat is a great way to save even more energy—in fact, it can reduce your energy bill by up to 30%.
Thermostats are truly the unsung heroes of your HVAC system. Making sure yours is working properly can save you lots of headaches in the long run. And if it’s time for a new one, we highly recommend switching to WiFi. If you’re having issues, are ready to make the switch, or just want to ask some questions, give us a call! We’re always happy to chat and help you find the right solution for your home comfort needs.