programible thermastats

1. `One of the most common myths in energy efficiency is that it costs more to heat your house with
a “smart” thermostat — one that allows you to program in different temperature settings for
different times of the day — than if you just leave the temperature the same 24 hours a day. To the
contrary, installing a smart thermostat can easily save hundreds of dollars per year on your utility
bills, while reducing wear and tear on your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. In Pennsylvania,
you can save 11 percent on your heating/cooling bills by programming your thermostat to
automatically turn itself back 10 degrees while you are away at work and then warm up again right
before you get home. The highest-quality smart models also will improve your comfort, since they
can hold a room’s temperature to within one degree of the setting. (Most conventional
thermostats let the temperature fluctuate by three degrees or more.) And best of all, you do not
have to be an electrician to install a smart thermostat — you just need a screwdriver. Most
standard designs are wired just like your old thermostat and come with several colorcoded
terminals to guide your way. Of course, while thermostats operate on a safe, low 24 volts, it is
always a good idea to switch off the power to your heating and cooling system during installation
.
`Easy To Install,Use
Do not be intimidated by the name “programmable.” Even if your VCR still flashes “12:00”
because you can’t figure out how to set the clock, you will have no problem setting daily
heating/cooling schedules with a smart thermostat — simply buy one that comes with an
autoprogram button. Push the button once and the thermostat sets itself to the preprogrammed
schedule of a typical family. Later, you can adjust the hours after you have had time to monitor
your family’s routine and read the instruction booklet. For convenient programming from your
easy chair, select one with a snap-offthe- wall feature. If your kids are always changing the
temperature setting when you are not looking, select a model with an electronic lock. Although
most smart thermostats look similar, do not buy the cheapest brand — especially if you have a
heat pump coupled with a supplemental heating source. Various models provide significant
differences in savings and comfort levels. For example, units with “smart recovery” remember
previous run times and know when to start the furnace and how to cycle it. Before buying a
thermostat, first consider the number of time/temperature periods your family will need. I
recommend a minimum of four periods per day — typically called wake, day, evening and sleep
— for the greatest flexibility and savings. Even if you do not need four periods, purchase this
feature anyway and just set two consecutive periods to the same temperature. If your family’s
schedule varies, select one with temporary (several hour) and vacation (long-term) override
options. Next, determine if you want to program a different schedule (program cycle option) for
each day of the week (called seven-day). Most models have a rapid
programming “repeat” key to duplicate the schedule for several days. Less expensive “5-2” smart
thermostats provide for one weekday time/temperature schedule and one weekend schedule. A “5-
1-1” thermostat provides a single weekday schedule and a different one for each weekend day.
One of newest designs is called a thermidistat. It controls the furnace, air conditioner, blower and
humidifier independently for total comfort. In the winter, thermidistats use an outdoor temperature
sensor to automatically adjust indoor humidity levels, eliminating window condensation during
very cold weather.