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How Does a Thermostat Work in Your Home?

How Does a Thermostat Work in Your Home?

For many people the thermostat in their house is a device that is set to one temperature and is rarely touched again, once a comfortable room temperature setting has been found that suits all the occupants of the home. However, because a thermostat is a relatively simple device that once set doesn’t necessarily need to be altered that often, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t understand what it does, how it works and how by changing the settings slightly and making temperature changes can make a big energy savings and in turn a big difference to your home heating bills.

 

What is a thermostat?

A thermostat is a device in the home that is connected to the central heating system and is used to control the overall temperature of the system by monitoring the ambient temperature in the home. This temperature control device can then switch on or off the central heating system depending on the temperature in the home and the setting of the thermostat. Home thermostats can be broken down into two distinct types, analogue, mechanical thermostats (with a dial) and the more modern equivalent, digital thermostats. In addition to this some older thermostats may be electromechanical thermostats which means they combine both electronic operation with some mechanical mechanism to operate. Disposal of some of these older thermostats may be a little problematic since they sometimes contain mercury. One of the most common manufacturers of thermostat you my find in your home is Honeywell.

 

How to operate the thermostat?

When it comes to the older, analogue design the device itself is usually marked in degrees, and the operation is simple; just twist the temperature dial until the desired temperature is reached. Digital thermostats are normally a little more complex to operate, but generally the operation is similar in that there will be buttons to press that can increase or decrease the temperature until the correct setting has been found. Ultimately the temperature sensor on an electronic thermostat works in the same way as a analogue device. Once it detects the correct temperature level the thermostat switches the heating off. Generally the goal of the thermostat is to maintain a constant temperature in the home. 

Very modern thermostats may even be what is called a ‘smart thermostat’ such as the Nest Learning Thermostat, which can, as the name suggests ‘learn’ what settings are commonly used in the home and turn the home heating on and off accordingly to these patterns. These thermostats can even be connected to the home internet network via WIFI and be controlled via a smartphone app, tablet or computer depending on the individual system. For those who prefer to be in total control of their home's temperature then these modern systems are hard to beat.

 

What temperature should I select?

When we talk about the ‘correct setting’, this can mean different things to different people since we all feel comfortable at a different temperature. Some of us like a very hot home, whereas others are happy to sit in a cooler environment. Most people set the central heating system between 18 and 21 degrees. Especially in the winter elderly people may wish to have the heating set a little higher than this. For most people the recommendation is to start at the lower range and work up from there. The reason for this is the saving in the energy cost by having your system set lower. Even a one-degree change in the heating can save a lot of money over the year, so it is definitely advantageous to have it set a bit lower. For those who want to have a little more control over the heating at a room level then adding thermostatic radiator valves can also help. 

 

Common mistakes when setting a thermostat

One of the biggest mistakes people make with their thermostat is turning the heating up when it is cold outside or in the winter. The central heating thermostat is designed to maintain a standard temperature all year round, what ever the weather. So, setting the temperature higher when it is colder will make for a warmer house, but is ultimately unnecessary if you have already found the correct and comfortable temperature range. In addition, turning the heating down in the summer is also unnecessary since the central heating system can accommodate for the warmer ambient temperature and act accordingly Another mistake that people make is by altering the controls too often, such as putting the system on low when they are out (wasting money on heating a home that nobody is in) and also cranking up the thermostat to warm the house faster, which doesn’t work since the thermostat only controls the overall temperature and not the speed of which the central heating will output the heat and warm up the home.

Generally, for those with programmable thermostats it can be best to create a range of settings that accommodate your normal daily routine and only adjust if this routine alters significant. For example, when you go on holiday. However if you do spend the majority of your day out of the home then it can save money to ensure that the thermostat is programmed to only come on at certain times of the day. Setting a range of different times for the week and weekend can also save energy use. By understanding how your thermostat works you can save money on your heating bills so it is a good idea to ensure you know exactly how your own individual system operates.

View the range of room thermostats we carry at https://www.mrcentralheating.co.uk/heating-control/controls-by-type/room-thermostats And view heating control packs and more from brands such as Nest at https://www.mrcentralheating.co.uk/heating-control