October 12, 2020

The thermostat of your Oklahoma City, OK, home’s heating system is its control center. This device signals when to start a heating cycle and when to end it. It also controls the system’s fan and other functions. If your current thermostat is old, malfunctioning or broken, it’s time for a new one. These are the best thermostats to use for your home’s heating system.

Check Your Owner’s Manual

Some heating systems require a specific thermostat. Not all thermostats will work for all heating systems. Before you replace your current thermostat with a new one, review your owner’s manual. If you can’t find it, look up your make and model of the heating system. The manufacturer’s website should list which thermostats are compatible with it. Contact the manufacturer’s customer care phone number, online chat or contact them by sending them an email. They may be able to tell you which makes and models of thermostats work with your heating system. Our technicians can also provide you with this information.

Programmable Thermostat

Most heating systems manufactured in the past 10 years are compatible with programmable thermostats. Keep in mind that not every programmable unit will work with your heating system. You’ll need to verify compatibility. Programmable thermostats are hardwired into your home. They have a physical connection to your heating system. They also use a battery to save the temperature settings you input. The battery powers the touchscreen interface and its backlight. Choose a programmable thermostat if you just want to set a schedule and forget about it.

Brands of Programmable Thermostats

Many manufacturers produce programmable thermostats. Some features that are consistent across all types of programmable thermostats include a backlight for the touchscreen, the ability to set different temperatures for different times of the day and days of the week and a vacation mode for when you’re away from home for several days in a row. Some manufacturers of programmable thermostats include

  • Orbit
  • Emerson
  • Honeywell
  • Aprilaire
  • Lux
  • Hunter

Smart Thermostat

Heating systems made within the last three years are usually compatible with smart thermostats. These thermostats maintain a wireless connection to your home’s router. There are also wired smart thermostats, but they’re not as easy to find. Smart thermostat sensors take your home’s temperature and use algorithms to start the process of heating your home. For example, if you’ve programmed the thermostat to warm your home to 75 degrees Fahrenheit upon your return in the evening, and you’ve kept the temperature at 68 degrees while you were away, the algorithms in the smart thermostat will direct it when to start the heating cycles to warm your home’s air to the right temperature by the time you return.

Smart thermostats also use geofencing. This allows the thermostat to communicate with the app on your phone. The proprietary app sends information about your location. If you’re running late or on your way home earlier than what you’ve programmed into the thermostat, it will update its heating functions and adjust them so that your home is at the right temperature no matter what time you return. The geofencing also allows the thermostat to recognize when you’re at home versus away. If you’re away, it won’t trigger as many heating cycles.

Brands of Smart Thermostats

Many companies manufacture smart thermostats. These systems may require a specific router. Some of their apps may only be available for certain operating systems. If you have an old smartphone, it might not support the app. Some manufacturers of smart thermostats are:

  • Honeywell
  • Google
  • Ecobee
  • Bosch
  • Emerson
  • Orbit

Zoning Thermostats

If you have a mini-split heating system or ductless mini-split heating system, you may need more than one thermostat or a thermostat that’s compatible with zoned climate control. Zoned climate control allows your heating system to heat your home to different temperatures in different areas. There are also zoned heating systems that allow you to heat part of your home without heating all of it. You’ll need a thermostat system that allows for this type of control. Some of the brands that manufacture zoning control thermostats include:

  • Honeywell
  • Emerson
  • Furrion
  • Dometic
  • Trane
  • Speakman

TS Heat & Air in Oklahoma City is the go-to source for new thermostats. We’re also prepared to provide you with dependable heating and air conditioning repair, replacement, installation and maintenance services. Our indoor air quality solutions and equipment change-outs keep your indoor environment clean, healthy and comfortable. For more details about how to choose the best thermostat for your heating system, contact us at TS Heat & Air today.

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