A thermostat is not the HVAC system itself but rather what operates the brain of the system. Essentially, we use thermostats to turn the system on, off, and to maintain a desired temperature at a constant rate. Using the law of thermal expansion and contraction, a thermostat’s metal strip either expands as a room gets warmer or contracts as a room gets colder. Thermostats help an HVAC system regulate a room’s temperature quicker than opposed to just having the system itself. These devices were quickly accepted into society as nearly every homeowner in America has one.
There have been a variety of thermostats created throughout history. The origin of the thermostat is credited to Cornelius Drebbel in the 1620s; his idea to incubate eggs by temperature maintained with a mercury thermostat birthed the home-styled thermostat. From Drebbel’s science of egg incubation, Andrew Ure brought to life the very first thermostat in the 1830s which was mechanical; this type has sensors that switch the unit on or off for the homeowner’s desired temperature. Jumping to more recent times, the first programmable thermostat was introduced in the early 1900s by Mark Honeywell. This style can set various temperatures for various times throughout the day. Digital thermostats first came about in the 1980s which brought the display of the temperature on the thermometer’s screen.
It would be important to talk about the different types and also ones that have been antiquated that are analog with mercury bulbs inside them. All of the modern ones are digital that usually take batteries but can also be powered from the circuit board on the furnace or air handler. Programmable thermostats used to be the most advanced in the 1980’s and 1990’s that allowed a user to program the set point temperature and the times to turn on and off for comfort and efficiency. Now since Wi-Fi and home automation have come out the latest and greatest high-tech thermostats are smart home automation compatible with Geo fencing zones and features that include outdoor weather stations for predictive indoor temperatures. Many new high efficiency communicating air conditioning systems require the use of a proprietary thermostat to control the staging and speed. Some thermostats even have sensors for indoor air quality and measure VOCs in the air.
Not all thermostats are built the same. Some or more on the plain side, even if they are smart Wi-Fi thermostats because some air-conditioning systems may require functionality for a heat pump, reversing valves or multistage, cooling and heating systems. There’s lots to learn about them and a lot of good brands. The Honeywell T10 Pro is a popular one. The style is a smart thermostat that allows homeowners to adjust the temperature through their mobile devices. Another favorite is the Sensi Touch 2, a smart thermostat that possesses room sensors and scheduling remotely. And lastly, the Ecobee is highly recommended because of its features that effectively save energy. But these are not the least of brands available for customers. There will always be a thermostat that is just right for your home, and we specialize in providing our customers with recommendations that align with their personal preferences.
~Nevaonna Alfred