Digital Programmable Thermostats

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The primary benefit of using a digital programmable thermostat is energy savings. If you haven’t made the switch to a digital programmable thermostat yet, now’s a great time.

Customized Usage

Digital programmable thermostats are especially useful if you leave your home during the day. They save power by turning the air conditioner/heater off when you’re not using it. Let’s say that everyone is at school or work on weekdays. After being properly programmed, the thermostat will adjust itself automatically. Just before everyone comes back home, it will get your home to the desired temperature. As a result, you can potentially see significant savings on your electric bill.

On the other hand, that means that if you stay at home all day with your thermostat set to 70 degrees, you probably won’t see any savings. It becomes way more efficient if it’s programmed to run the air conditioner or heater less during the day. Ideally, 8 hours a day when most people are out is a great opportunity for increased efficiency. It wouldn’t make much of a difference if you just turned the system off for an hour.

Thermostats on the market today are even smarter than they used to be. The technology has improved so that the unit will actually anticipate the amount of time it will take to bring your home back to temperature. Older systems used to go by a predetermined time prior to everyone coming home. New systems actually learn how long it takes to get the home to the desired temperature.

Apps, Reminders, and Alerts

New digital programmable thermostats are also more accurate. There’s no mercury in them, so you don’t have to worry about toxicity from that perspective. In terms of convenience, some systems even have a smartphone app that allows you to adjust the desired temperature at all points in the house. It also allows you to see what the actual temperature is compared to what it’s set to. It’s much easier to make sure it’s set exactly how you want, even when you’re away from home.

Select models give alerts when it’s time to change the filter, based on a set timer. (The alert isn’t based on run time of the unit.) Some models even give you an alert if a component in the furnace or air conditioner has stopped operating. That way you can call a qualified service provider to check it out.

Compatibility with Existing HVAC Systems

There’s a digital programmable thermostat that’s designed to work with any type of HVAC system that’s on the market now. Before making a purchase, it’s important to make sure that the type of thermostat you’re buying is compatible with your home’s system.

Boulden Brothers can guide you through the process. We’ll install the thermostat for you and make sure it’s going to be a great value for your home. If you want to install it yourself as a project, make sure you know what you’re doing. A word of caution, though: it’s common for people trying to install a programmable thermostat to cross the wires. It risks frying the board on your furnace or air conditioner. An inexpensive home project could end up becoming an expensive HVAC system repair due to the sensitivity of the circuitry on newer equipment.

If you would like to get a digital programmable thermostat for your home, give Boulden Brothers a call or contact us online.