What Is a Thermostat and How Does It Affect Comfort?

We have all heard about thermostats and seen them come with various devices like air conditioners, water heaters, HVAC systems, central heating, building heating, kitchen equipment including refrigerators and ovens, and scientific incubators. 

Before we go into the details of how a thermostat functions and how it impacts the comfort level of a place, you must know what is a thermostat, in the first place. A regulating device component, a thermostat helps in sensing the temperature of a physical system and works towards maintaining the system’s temperature near a desired point. 

Thermostats are available in different varieties depending on the specific requirements of the users. Though programmable thermostats have been a favourite with many for a long time, new smart thermostats have drawn eyeballs for their improved and upgraded features. 

Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi-enabled and are often used with home automation. These thermostats play an active role in controlling the air conditioning, ventilation, and heating of a home effectively. You do not need to control smart thermostats manually, instead, you can control them via a tablet, smartphone, smart speaker, or other internet-connected devices. 

In this article, we will discuss everything about smart thermostats and hopefully, this will act as your guide when you purchase a smart thermostat for your home or commercial space.

How does a smart thermostat work?

If you are planning to upgrade your home thermostat to a smart thermostat, you must know the functioning of a smart thermostat. These thermostats connect to the HVAC system in your home via the Internet. You can thus control your room temperature remotely from your smartphone. 

Smart thermostats function by sensing the ambient temperature of your home. It then sends a signal to the HVAC system for making the changes accordingly as per the pre-set schedule. If there is a rise in temperature above the set limit, there will be an alert to lower the temperature and vice versa. The result is a comfortable home ambience with perfect temperatures without the need for continuous manual intervention. 

If you want to change any settings of your smart thermostat, you can do that from your smartphone as well. You can define your schedule, set preferred humidity levels as well as temperatures, and also check the usage history – all from your smartphone. A setting on the mobile app gets transmitted to the thermostat via the Wi-Fi network and the signal is sent to the HVAC system for operating likewise. 

Technologically advanced smart thermostats have learning abilities and they can devise heating and cooling schedules tailored to your exact requirements. These devices are equipped with a powerful processor for handling input commands too. They also have memory boards for information storage. Presently, many high-end smart thermostat models come with a lithium-ion battery which keeps the thermostat operative even during a prolonged power outage. 

How does a smart home thermostat save energy and money?

We know that for effective heating and cooling of any space, abundant energy is needed. The amount of energy depends upon the extent and the time for which the heating or cooling is intended. But fuel prices are on fire now, leading to an increased energy bill. 

Smart thermostats play a crucial role in reducing energy usage significantly, thereby reducing energy bills, without compromising the functioning, efficiency, and performance of the HVAC system. 

Smart thermostats maintain a particular temperature and shut off once the heating or cooling is achieved. Thus, it helps in saving on energy considerably. It ensures that the room temperature is at comfort level. Lesser energy consumption means you save more on energy utility bills. 

Another scenario is, it might happen that you forgot to switch off your air conditioner while leaving home. With a smart air conditioner thermostat, you can shut down the AC remotely from any place. This not only helps in preventing energy wastage but also helps save your money. A smart thermostat also uses lesser energy, thereby saving it, when people are asleep in a home or the home is unoccupied. 

Installing a smart thermostat might seem to be an expensive investment initially. But in the long run, it is an excellent economic and cost-effective solution for your home’s heating and cooling system. 

Read More: Things You Need To Know About Smart Home Automation Systems

Choosing the right thermostat for your home: Buying guide

Purchasing the right thermostat for your home is essential for the proper functioning of the HVAC system. Moreover, installing the right thermostat will help in reducing energy utility bills to quite an extent. The efficiency of the HVAC system also gets better while offering higher comfort and greater savings at the same time. 

So, here are some essential tips for choosing the right thermostat for your home or commercial space:

• Choose the type of thermostat wisely

Different kinds of thermostats are available in the market. Common varieties include manual thermostats, programmable thermostats, smart thermostats, digital non-programmable thermostats, etc. Study each thermostat variety in detail and choose the one which syncs best with your requirements. 

• Check the compatibility of the thermostat with your HVAC and air system type

Before you think of finalising purchasing a thermostat, check whether it is compatible with your air system type or the HVAC system you are presently using. Does the thermostat affect the AC? How to work central air thermostats? Make sure that you get proper answers to these questions for understanding the compatibility of the thermostat with your existing systems. Along with the HVAC system, thermostats can also be used for electric baseboards, heat pumps, and furnaces. 

• Check the ease of use and maintenance of the thermostat

While purchasing a thermostat, do not forget to check the user-friendliness of the device. Technologically advanced thermostats like smart thermostats are extremely easy and convenient to install and operate. You can operate them remotely from any place via your tablet, smartphone, or other internet-connected devices. Another thing that you must check is the maintenance of the thermostat. Choose devices that are low on maintenance and high on performance. 

• Price of the thermostat and your budget

You simply cannot ignore this particular point when it comes to purchasing the right thermostat for your home or office. Decide a budget and explore the available options within that price range. However, don’t just concentrate on the price alone, instead, make sure that you purchase a product that is from a reliable brand and comes with a proper warranty and other coverages. 

How is a smart thermostat different from a programmable thermostat?

People are often confused between smart thermostats and programmable thermostats and many think that they are the same. But it is not correct. Though the function of both kinds of thermostats is to maintain a comfortable temperature and ambience in your home, there are certain differences between the thermostats. 

• Smart thermostats are more technologically advanced than programmable thermostats

If you love technology and like using updated versions in every aspect of your life, smart thermostats are going to be your preferred choice for sure. Smart thermostats are futuristic with advanced features like smart monitoring and energy reports. You can even control these thermostats via your smartphones or tablets. Programmable thermostats don’t have all the technologically advanced features that are common in their smart counterparts. 

• Levels of customisation

Programmable thermostats offer different degrees of customization, depending on the kind of model you choose. There can be a routine schedule for the whole week and different schedules for the weekend. Smart thermostats offer the same benefits along with the flexibility of making adjustments on the go. Smart thermostats are self-learning as well, and they perform by making adjustments automatically so that the home remains comfortable.

• Expenses of the thermostats

There is a considerable price difference between smart thermostats and programmable thermostats. Smart thermostats are almost double the price of programmable thermostats. The upfront cost of installing smart thermostats is higher than that of programmable thermostats as well, but they prove to be more cost-efficient in the long run. Smart thermostats help save energy and money in the long term.

The most important point to remember is that the thermostat you purchase should depend first on your requirements and your budget, not on the features it offers. 

Looking for a reliable place to buy thermostats? Visit Schneider Electric eShop!

Whether you want to purchase programmable thermostats or smart thermostats, make sure you buy the best product, as the functioning of your HVAC system and other equipment will depend on it.

You can buy thermostats online as well as offline, from general electrical stores. However, one of the best destinations for buying thermostats online is the Schneider Electric eShop. You have the option of browsing through a wide variety of thermostats manufactured by the best brands that come with a range of features and prices.

Choose the thermostat that syncs best with your specific requirements and also fits well within your budget. Enhance the efficiency and performance of your HVAC system with a quality thermostat and save on your energy utility bills.