Have you noticed your electricity and heating bills getting higher each year? Do you feel cold or hot, but you know you set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature?
No, you’re not going crazy. To fix problems like this, all you need is a thermostat replacement!
A good rule of thumb is that any thermostat over 10 years old could use a replacement. Even if yours isn’t malfunctioning yet, chances are that it will begin to fail soon!
Both mechanical and programmable thermostats control more than your home’s temperature though! Keep reading to learn all the things thermostats control in your home and which kinds there are.
Different Types of Home Thermostats on the Market
A quick web search uncovers endless options for home thermostats. These are the main groups of thermostats you’ll find for your home.
Programmable vs. Mechanical Thermostats
If you have an older home, or the last owner wanted the cheapest option, you may have an old thermostat in your home. Mechanical thermostats indeed cost less than a programmable one. But, the investment becomes justified when you see all the benefits
For one thing, a mechanical thermostat’s temperature isn’t very accurate. They will range from 2 to 5 degrees away from your intended temperature. when your thermostat is the programmable kind, they are accurate to within half of a degree!
The only other drawback for a high tech thermostat is that they are much more difficult to install. There are more wires to connect and settings to figure out than the old models. But, that’s because they do so much more than keep your house at 1 temperature!
Kinds of Programmable Thermostats
There are 2 kinds of home thermostats (with programmable options). Both kinds offer the ability to program the thermostat for more than one temperature.
The first type of thermostat you can program is a clock thermostat. But, that kind of thermostat only switches between 2 different temperatures.
The other option is a digital thermostat, which has a digital screen on the front. It allows you to set more than 2 temperature options throughout the day as well as the option to override a temperature setting if you want to.
What Do Programmable Thermostats Control in Your Home?
Yes, with a thermostat that you can program, your thermostat keeps your house at your chosen temperature. You can go on with your day, confident that your home will stay at that temperature, no matter what the temperature is like outside. But, that’s far from the only thing your high tech thermostat controls!
Like a mechanical thermostat, a programmable one controls the temperature in your home. But, did you know that you can also set the thermostat to different temperatures at different times of the day?
Like to sleep in cooler temperatures but you would prefer a warmer daytime temperature? Program the thermostat to a comfortable daytime temperature, then set it a few degrees colder around the time you go to be. That way, the temperature changes like magic and you will no longer need to touch the thermostat every night!
If you’re looking for more intuitive technology, look for a thermostat with a PID controller. These thermostats use the outside temperature to predict how to adjust the temperature inside your home. They figure out how long it will take to get the house to the right temperature at the right time.
As an added benefit, using a high tech thermostat saves you money! They control the climate in your house in a more efficient way than the mechanical alternative, which uses less electricity.
There Are Thermostats in Your Household Appliances Too
One of the biggest appliances with a thermostat is your refrigerator. Without it, your fridge would not cool your food to within safe storage temperatures, leading to spoiled food and/or food poisoning!
If you think your refrigerator needs repairs, contact your local appliance repair company to have it repaired. They will repair your refrigerator thermostat for much cheaper than what it would cost to buy a new fridge!
There are tons of small appliances and household tools that use thermostats as well! Clothing irons, toaster ovens, crock pots, pressure cookers, coffee makers, hairdryers, space heaters, and hotplates all have internal thermostats to control how hot they get! If a device uses electricity and it gets hot, chances are that it will have a thermostat inside it.
Manufacturers put pressure thermostats (or bellows) into large appliances like refrigerators, chest/deep freezers, air conditioners, any kind of oven and even clothing dryers. This type of thermostat uses a long flexible tube filled with a liquid or gas that changes its volume in direct reaction to the temperature. The trapped substance expands or contracts in a way that moves the bellows and opens or closes the electrical contacts.
After Finishing Your Thermostat Replacement Project, Don’t Sit Back and Chill
Newer thermostats have more benefits (for your home and your wallet) than the old-fashioned mechanical ones. If your old thermostat is on the fritz, try replacing it with a high-tech programmable one instead and find out what you’ve been missing out on!
Once you get the thermostat under control and you can better keep your cool, it’s time to plan your next home improvement project! That’s where we come in and give you all the home DIY projects and inspiration you need.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned a thing or two about what programmable thermostats can control in your home. If you need more information about interior decorating, landscaping, and interior design, check out the rest of our blogs today!