Every home heating and cooling system needs a reliable thermostat to control its overall operation. Older mercury-switch thermostats were effective, but they served as little more than on/off switches. Modern programmable thermostats give you a much greater range of control over your furnace or air conditioner, allowing you to choose when the unit runs, at what level and for how long.
Programmable thermostats offer pre-programmed and adjustable set points, which are temperature levels at which the system runs less and expends less fuel and electricity. You can use these set points, for example, to reduce how much the system runs when no one is home to need heating or cooling, which saves money and conserves energy. This control flexibility can save you almost a third on your annual heating costs and nearly 25 percent on your cooling expenses.
Consider the following features when buying a programmable thermostat:
- Touchscreen control: Simple touchscreen controls give you quick and efficient access to system settings.
- Backlit display: This option lights up the control screen so you can see it in low light or with no lights on in the room at all.
- Battery operation and backup: Sometimes programmable thermostats can be wired into existing electrical systems. In this case, a battery backup will keep the thermostat’s settings intact even if your home’s power goes out. If the thermostat can’t be connected to existing wiring, a battery-operated model gives you a functional thermostat with flexible options for placement.
- Remote programming: A remote-control module lets you change temperature settings or program your thermostat from your bed, couch or other locations.
- Indicator lights: Indicator lights can give warnings when, for example, filters need to be changed or when batteries are running low.
- Keyboard locks: A locked screen will keep unauthorized users from changing the thermostat settings you’ve selected.
For expert assistance with buying a programmable thermostat for the best home comfort and energy savings, contact us today! Around the Clock Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. has been a trusted source of residential and commercial HVAC service in the greater Los Angeles area since 1967.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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