There are a few ways to save money and improve your home air conditioning system – upgrading your HVAC system is one of them. Choosing the right thermostat can be an important decision for you and your family, especially in the hot Florida climate.
There are four different types of modern thermostats you can choose from – non-programmable, programmable, Wi-Fi, and smart. All of them will have a different impact on your HVAC energy efficiency, your indoor air comfort, and your wallet. Let’s discuss the benefits of each type to help you decide which is the right thermostat for your Florida home.
Non-Programmable Thermostat
This type of thermostat is very basic, and as the name says, it can’t be pre-programmed to adjust the temperature while you’re not at home.
Pros:
- Non-programmable thermostats are usually very affordable.
- Simple to use and you can manually adjust the temperature to suit your preference.
Cons:
- You cannot pre-program the thermostat to adjust to the temperature you want when you’re away from home.
- Less energy-efficient compared to the other types of thermostats as it cannot adjust to the outside air temperatures while you’re away from home.
Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat can be pre-programmed to adjust to different temperatures to suit your air comfort needs while saving energy.
Pros:
- You can pre-program this type of thermostat to adjust the temperature to suit your weekly schedule. If no one is at home on certain days of the week then you can set the temperature accordingly so that your HVAC system doesn’t have to work so hard to keep the home cool.
- In making sure your HVAC system doesn’t need to work so hard on days that it shouldn’t, you are decreasing the wear-and-tear on the unit, which can significantly reduce your overall energy bill, repairs, and maintenance costs.
- Convenient to use as it means you don’t have to manually adjust the temperature throughout the day and night.
Cons:
- These are usually more expensive than non-programmable thermostats.
- It can be costly to replace or fix a pre-programmable thermostat.
Wi-Fi Thermostat
Wi-Fi thermostats are programmable thermostats that can connect to a wireless network. You can then access the network through an app on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Pros:
- Wi-Fi thermostats provide the ultimate convenience as you can pre-program them to adjust to certain temperatures throughout the day and night, but it also allows you to access it remotely to adjust the temperature when you need to.
- You can override a pre-programmed temperature to match your changing schedule and maximize your indoor air comfort levels.
- Incredibly energy-efficient even when you’re away from home.
Cons:
- It requires a wireless connection and a smartphone, tablet, or computer to operate remotely.
- It can be difficult and expensive to install.
- More expensive than programmable and non-programmable thermostats.
- Costly to replace or fix if damaged.
Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat is a programmable, Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat that integrates seamlessly with various home automation tools to provide optimum air comfort levels and maximize energy efficiency. If cost is not an obstacle then you should look no further than upgrading to a smart thermostat for your home to give you complete control.
Pros:
- Since smart thermostats integrate with your home, over time it will learn your comings and goings and be able to adjust to your changing schedule. As it learns your patterns, it will store this information and automatically adjust temperatures to maximize heating and cooling efficiency in your home.
- Like the Wi-Fi enabled thermostats, you can remotely adjust the temperature directly from your mobile device.
- Most smart thermostats can also be voice-controlled and are compatible with Alexa or Siri.
- Smart thermostats are ideal for tech-savvy homes that have existing home automation tools and equipment.
- Although there are higher upfront costs, you can save more money in the long term on heating and cooling expenses.
- A smart thermostat can alert you when it’s time to schedule HVAC maintenance, which can end up saving you on repair costs.
Cons:
- Smart thermostats usually come at a much higher price tag than any other thermostat on the market today.
- Higher setup and installation costs.
- Require connection to a wireless network and a smartphone or tablet to operate it remotely.
- Expensive to fix or replace.
Who Can I Call To Discuss My HVAC System Upgrade Needs?
Art Plumbing, AC & Electric has a dedicated and trustworthy team that specializes in HVAC system installation, repair, and maintenance. Contact us today at 1-800-475-1504 to learn more about the different types of thermostats that are right for your home when choosing to upgrade your HVAC system.
