How do Thermostats differ?

At South Nashville Heating and Cooling, we want you to make the best decision on what thermostat is right for you! We are Middle Tennessee's premiere HVAC company and we're here to help! 

So. How do electromechanical, manual, and programmable thermostats differ?

Electromechanical - or manual - thermostats are the old-fashioned mercury units that have internal coils to expand or contract in response to temperature change. This type of thermostat is steadily becoming obsolete for two reasons: digital thermostats are able to more accurately register and respond to temperature changes plus the purchase of products containing mercury has been restricted or banned in many states. Disregarding those 2 "minor" details, manual thermostats remain popular due to their low cost, the familiarity of their controls' design, and the ease of their use.

Manual digital thermostats use an electronic temperature sensor to register changes in the room temperature that then compare these changes with the settings selected by the user. If there is a difference between the room temperature and the set temperature, a command is sent to the heating or cooling system that action is needed. For this type of unit, you will still have to physically adjust the setting of your preferences whenever you would like to adjust the room temperature.

Programmable digital thermostats are an upgrade from the digital manual thermostats (that I wish I had) as they are far more convenient and can help save energy costs. Once you program the thermostat to fit your lifestyle and schedule, all you have to do is relax and let it do all the work. To stay comfortable and save energy year-round, you simply must program the temperatures into the memory of the unit, along with the times of day that you would like the changes to occur. For example, you can set a thermostat to a comfortable temperature for when you wake up in the morning, have it go into energy-conservation mode while you are away at work, and then have a temperature set to go before you return home! You only need to program your thermostat once until you decide to change it up!

For the obvious reasons, Programmable digital thermostats are most desirable. Depending on the model, a thermostat can be programmed in one of three ways:

5 - 2 programming: Maintains a set schedule for five days (weekdays), then switches to an alternate schedule for the other two days (weekends).

5 - 1 - 1 programming: Maintains a five day schedule (weekdays), then switches to first individual day (Saturday), then second individual day (Sunday).

7 day programming: Allows the maximum flexibility for those with frequently-changing schedules by allowing you to program each day individually.

Special features to look for:

Automatic switchover - This allows the thermostat to control both heating and cooling without requiring that you manually switch between the heat and cool settings. Most digital programmable thermostats have this feature.

Manual override - Lets you manually modify your settings on a programmable thermostat. Your changes will remain in effect until the next programmed setting begins.

Vacation override - This function temporarily overrides any preprogrammed settings while you are away, saving money on unnecessary temperature maintenance. When you return, you can go back to your original settings without reprogramming from scratch!

Keypad lock - This prevents any changes to your system once you have programmed the settings. Unfortunately, I learned my parents had this feature when I went home for the holidays. Who keeps their house at 65 in Nebraska?!

There are many other unique features to keep you comfortable! Call South Nashville Heating and Cooling today to learn more about how you can upgrade your thermostat! 615-834-1636. Be sure to visit us HERE for our special offers and discounts! We service all of Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Murfreesboro and Brentwood.