5 Reasons to Install a Programmable Thermostat at Home

The main reason to install a programmable thermostat is that the heating adapts to your daily routine by itself: it heats only when and as much as needed, so the electricity bill can be lower. It is also more convenient, advanced models can be controlled remotely and can signal maintenance tasks, and in a larger home they can hold a different temperature in each room.

The winter season puts a strain on the household budget: anyone who wants to keep their home warm and comfortable can expect a higher electricity bill. A programmable thermostat helps with this, but its benefits go beyond the wallet. Below we go through five reasons, to make it easier to decide whether such a device is worth upgrading your heating with.

1. Cost-effective

One of the main advantages of programmable thermostats is that, with a relatively small investment, they can reduce heating costs in the long run. You do not have to worry about whether the heating stayed on too long: the thermostat stops the heating when the desired temperature is reached, and restarts it only when the room has cooled down.

It can also be set by time. If you know you leave home at a certain time in the morning, the thermostat lowers the temperature by then and heats up again before you return. The programme only needs to be set once, and after that you do not have to touch it every day.

If you want to save on your electricity bill in the coming winter, a programmable thermostat is one of the simplest steps. Choose a type that suits your heating, from a reliable supplier.

2. Easy to set

The interface of modern thermostats is simple, so after a few tries you can find the setting that every member of the family is happy with. You can set one temperature for the morning, another for the daytime and a third for the evening and night – the thermostat switches between them by itself, and the heating follows the family's routine.

This saves not only money but also time: you do not have to adjust the temperature by hand every day, as the system works according to the programme you set.

3. Remotely controllable

It is unpleasant to come home to a cold flat after a long working day. With a wifi, remotely controllable thermostat you can avoid this: on the way home you can raise the temperature that was lowered during the day from your phone, so a pleasant warmth greets you when you arrive. This is cheaper than heating an empty flat at full temperature all day – although it is not worth switching the heating off completely for a longer absence either, because cooled-down walls are harder to heat up again.

Leave the installation to a professional. Improper wiring can damage the heating system, especially with the more advanced, remotely controllable thermostats. Look for a reliable electrician: it may seem an extra expense at first, but in the long run it saves time, money and frustration.

4. Maintenance and service notifications

Some advanced thermostats – mainly those made for HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) – warn you when filters need cleaning or replacing, or when the equipment is due for service. For an air conditioner or ventilation system this is useful: air flows less easily through a clogged filter, the equipment works with lower efficiency and uses more energy.

Infrared heating film does not need this function, because it has no filter or any part that would require regular replacement. If, however, an air conditioner also operates in the same house, the maintenance reminder can come in handy there.

5. Different temperature in each room

In a larger home or a bigger family, not everyone likes the same temperature: some prefer a cooler room, others a warmer one. Keeping the whole house at the same temperature is then neither comfortable nor economical.

The solution is zoned control: one thermostat controls one heating zone, so for several zones you need a thermostat per room or a controller that manages several zones. With electric surface heating, such as heating film, this is simple, because the heating of each room can be wired separately. Before buying, it is worth thinking about how many zones you want to control separately, and choosing the thermostats accordingly.

Summary

A programmable thermostat makes heating easier in several ways: it can save money, time and energy, the temperature follows your routine, and advanced types can be operated remotely. Which type of thermostat is for what, and where it is worth installing, you can read in our guide to room thermostats; the possibilities of zone control and smart control are presented in our article on modern heating control.