Winter is almost here, and that means that you’ll probably be cranking up your thermostat to heat your Portland-area home as the temperatures drop. Did you know that switching to a programmable thermostat can enable you to control your home’s temperature and lead to energy savings?
Here are a few tips that can help you choose a programmable thermostat that will work best for you:
- Choose a model that’s compatible with your home: Before choosing a thermostat, make sure that the model you’re considering will work with your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system. If you have a furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner, then your system is compatible with electronic low-voltage thermostats, such as a programmable thermostat. However, if your home has baseboard heat, ceiling cable heat, or wall-mounted heat, then only a mechanical line-voltage thermostat or an electronic line-voltage thermostat will work for you. A professional HVAC technician can help you choose the type that’s best for your situation.
- Look for programming options that work with your schedule: There are different programming options available for different thermostats, and they can include:
- The 7-day model, which allows you to set different temperatures on different days, and allows four temperature periods in a single day.
- The 5 + 2-day model, which is perfect if your weekly schedule is relatively consistent. You can program the same temperature schedule during the week, and allow for a different temperature schedule during the weekend.
- The 5-5-1-day model, which enables you to accommodate your weekend schedule if it’s a little less consistent. With this model, you can set different temperature periods on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Check out additional features: Programmable thermostats can come with additional features such as a touch-pad screen, back-lit displays, voice and phone programming, adaptive recovery, and hold and vacation settings. These can be useful, depending on the schedule of you and your loved ones.
Additionally, avoid buying thermostats that contain mercury. Once you have chosen a new thermostat, safely dispose of your old thermostat by taking it to a hazardous waste facility. When installing your new thermostat, be sure not to place them near heat sources, as this could cause faulty temperature readings and cause it to operate inefficiently.
For more information on purchasing and installing a new programmable thermostat, contact Roth Heating & Cooling. We have provided the Portland, Oregon area with excellent service for more than 35 years, and can help you with all of your home-comfort needs.
