The thermostat is a small but essential appliance in your home. It’s easy to overlook, but think about the job it does: it controls the comfort levels in your house and the fans circulating the air. (If you have a humidistat as part of the thermostat, it also controls humidity levels.) Unfortunately, people often have misunderstandings about thermostats, and this can end up raising their comfort costs.
We don’t want you to have lesser comfort and higher utility bills because of thermostat myths. We’ll lay out some important truths about your household thermostat to help.
#1. Thermostat location is essential
Location, location, location. You might think it doesn’t matter where a thermostat is located as long as it connects to the HVAC system. But the proper location makes an enormous difference because the thermostat is supposed to register the average temperature of a house. It can’t do that if it’s 1) located too far from the actual center of the house, or 2) positioned where it will pick up “ghost readings” from direct sunlight or drafts. A thermostat should also be away from vents, appliances, and drapes. If your current thermostat isn’t in a good spot, have HVAC technicians move it.
#2. A thermostat is a switch, not a throttle
We want you to know this because it explains why adjusting the thermostat to extremely high or low temperatures doesn’t mean faster heating or cooling. It just tells the heater or AC when to shut on or shut off. Pushing the thermostat to its extremes only keeps the HVAC system running longer. It’s better to keep the temperature set to what’s comfortable, not what you think we’ll get faster results. If your home isn’t getting cooled down or warmed up fast enough, the HVAC system may need repairs.
#3. Digital thermostats do make a difference
If you still have a dial-and-slider manual thermostat, changing to even a basic digital model will improve comfort and energy savings with more precision settings. The programmable models and Wi-Fi/smart thermostats can make an even greater difference. But only have professionals put in new thermostats, since a mismatch with the HVAC system can end up causing problems.
#4. Using the energy-saving mode is beneficial
Energy saving mode is a “setback” mode where the thermostat changes the temperature to lower energy use. You may have heard this isn’t actually a way of saving energy because it makes the AC or heater work harder at temperature changes and put more stress on it. Studies have shown this isn’t true—those setback temperatures make a comfort system work less hard.
#5. Multiple thermostats can work for a home
You don’t need only one thermostat for a home. For larger homes, multiple thermostats reading average temperatures are helpful. A home that has a zone control system dividing it into separate cooling and heating zones also needs multiple thermostats. Ask your HVAC technician about when zone control and multiple thermostats are good ideas.
For any help you need with your air conditioning in Stonewall, LA this season—from a thermostat re-locating to a complete new system installation with zone control—you can put your trust in us.
Call the Doctor of Home Comfort: Hall’s Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration!
