A programmable thermostat is an advanced thermostat model that allows you to set specific temperatures for various times and events. Today's programmable thermostats are also "smart" which means they offer a variety of additional features to help you control temperatures and understand how your house uses energy. If it's been a while since you updated your thermostat, you should look into installing a new model. Here are some of the benefits you should know about.

Analyze and Save Energy

Smart thermostats are excellent at tracking just how much energy your HVAC units are using (when correctly programmed, of course). They provide you with reports on how much energy you are using with your HVAC settings, and how this compares to past months, so you can easily chart your energy needs throughout the seasons. This also helps you make important changes or note trends that will help you save more energy with the right decision making. How much energy you save varies, but a new programmable thermostat is bound to decrease energy use.

Save Time with Learning Functions

Smart thermostats can also come with learning functions. These functions use sensors to detect activity in the house (nothing too invasive, just general movement and walking around). Over time, the thermostat will start changing to your preferred temperature settings when it notices activity in the house, such as in the morning, when people come home from work, and so on. Basically, the thermostat starts scheduling itself, which is handy for saving time and can also help you save energy!

Control the Thermostat Remotely

Modern thermostats have wireless connections built into them. That means you can use an app on a mobile device to control them from anywhere you have an internet connection. This is incredibly useful if your day plans suddenly change, or if you are away from the house for an extended period and want to make temperature changes you may have forgotten about.

Set Up the Thermostat for Vacations

Modern thermostats also make it easy to program your schedule for an upcoming vacation. Some even have a vacation mode that you can set up and then switch to whenever you will be gone for a week or more, so you don't have to worry about making a complicated schedule every time.

Get Ideas About How to Save Money

Smart thermostats also come with information and advice on how to lower your energy use and save money on monthly bills. Their reports include tips on how you can bring energy use down even when the weather is hot or cold. Some also include indications on the thermostat itself that show how you can save energy by raising or lowering your thermostat by just a couple degrees, which is handy if you like playing with the temperature more often.

Do you want to learn more about programmable thermostats? Contact us at Action Heating and Air, Inc. to get started.