Talking thermostat is usual these days as winter weather has arrived and it is suggested to buy a programmable thermostat. According to the U.S. Department of Energy homeowners can save about $180 a year by using a programmable thermostat to preset heating and cooling temperatures to energy-saving levels when the house is empty or occupants are asleep.
Since they came on the market a few years ago, home thermostats with programmable features have introduced some new options, such as changeable faceplates to match a room’s décor, remote control of the thermostat settings, and easy-to-use touchscreen thermostats.
Following are some of the many programmable home thermostats available online.
Honeywell Thermostat, 7-Day Decor
If a plain, white thermostat clashes with a room’s color scheme or wall decorations, choose the 7-Day Décor Thermostat from Honeywell. It is sold at the official website of Honeywell and includes three interchangeable faceplates in designer colors: titanium, charcoal, and taupe. The thermostat’s other features include a backlit display, up to four programmed settings per day, and an indicator that tells users when to change the furnace filter.
Lux Thermostat With Remote
Tucked in bed, feeling chilly and if talking thermostat, simply grab the remote control for the Lux TX9000RF Programmable Thermostat and turn up the heat while resting in bed. It is made available at Amazon and other online stores. It comes with a remote control and uses radio frequency instead of infrared technology that is found in television remote. So users can adjust the temperature from nearly any place in the house. Other features include the ability to program different settings for each day of the week and a “vacation hold” option.
Hunter Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat
The Hunter Easy Saver Universal Touchscreen Thermostat from Lowes allows users to program a variety of features by touching the large backlit screen. Reviewers on the Lowes site say the programming can get a bit advanced, but they also praise the unit’s many features, such as air recycling or “fan only” options. The website claims free pick-up at local stores for online orders.
Venstar Wireless Thermostat
The Venstar Wireless Thermostat and Receiver package, available from Smarthome online store, includes a thermostat unit that can move around the house, helping users tailor their home’s temperature to a specific room or area. The receiver attaches to standard thermostat wires on the wall, but the actual portable temperature sensing unit travels with the user to any room in the house. The package also allows seven-day programming and a holiday mode. Users can also add up to three additional receivers.
Voice Activated Thermostat
Programming the Voice Activated Thermostat from Hammacher Schlemmer is as easy as speaking. This is something like talking thermostat. The unit uses voice recognition technology that enables users to program up to four temperature settings for every day of the week. Users turn on the programming function with two hand claps and then speak the words “raise” or “lower” to adjust the setting. Visually impaired users can check the time, temperature setting, and actual temperature with the word “thermostat” uttered within six feet of the device. Manual controls are also included with the unit.
Recommended Thermostat Settings
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting thermostats in the winter to 70 degrees Fahrenheit or lower when the house is occupied and lowering the temperature setting at least eight degrees lower when no one is home at night. In the summer, set the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher while the household is busy and at least seven degrees higher when no one is home (four degrees higher at night).
How to replace old thermostat
I had put off taking out my old dial thermostat for many months, thinking that it was a complicated job to install a new electronic one. Was I ever wrong. It was one of the easier jobs I’ve tackled, and I love the convenience of a programmable thermostat.
Now, these are just the basic instructions for installing an electronic thermostat. Your home wiring or HVAC system may be different, so be prepared to think on your feet. The overall process is the same, but the wires that you find may vary. Your new thermostat should come with a good instruction guide, which should include how to deal with a number of wiring configurations.
The first step is to remove the cover from your old thermostat. It might just pop off, or there might be screws holding it in place. Don’t remove the entire unit yet, just the front plate or cover.
Once all the wires are disconnected and labeled, then you can remove the rest of the old thermostat unit from the wall. You should now have a hole in your wall, with a number of wires sticking out.
By having your heat (and air conditioning) adjust itself automatically when you are not at home, you can save quite a bit on your utility bills. Not to mention you will be helping out the environment at the same time.
