How Learning Thermostats are Different from Programmable Thermostats

December 04, 2018

Your thermostat is key to how much your energy bills are every month. Simply programming your thermostat for periods when you’re sleeping or gone can make a large impact without harming your comfort levels. Depending on the type of programmable thermostat you purchase, you can do a whole lot more to make an even bigger impact.

At 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we’ve got a selection of programmable thermostats to meet your needs—from the most basic models to the state-of-the-art learning thermostats. How will you know what is best for your space? First, take the time to understand the difference between basic programmable thermostats and advanced learning models. Both can help you save energy and money, but you’ll need to decide which features are most important to your home comfort.

All programmable thermostats will allow you to schedule your days to control temperatures when you’re routinely there and away. Depending on the model you choose, you may be able to input one schedule, which you may end up overriding on weekends or other days you’re home. Some models will permit you to program your weekdays on one schedule and your weekends on another. You’ll also want to check the number of periods during each day you can set up. For instance, will you want the temperature in your house different when you sleep, when you wake up, when you’re at work and when you are home in the evening? Be sure the thermostat you select can adapt to your needs.

For some individuals, being able to establish a regular schedule (or two) and override it when needed is enough. But if you want added flexibility, it’s probably time to consider a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat lets you completely customize a heating and cooling schedule for every day of the week.

Not only are smart thermostats more flexible, but they’re also Wi-Fi enabled so you can control your home’s temperature from anywhere. Some models of smart thermostats take innovation even further—these are called “learning thermostats.” Learning thermostats do everything a regular smart thermostat can do, but they can also learn from your behaviors and monitor your heating and cooling schedules based on your actual daily activity. Some models don’t even need to be programmed—you just turn them on and give them time to figure everything out on their own after a short amount of time.

So, no matter what your heating and cooling wants are, 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. will help you find the most appropriate thermostat for your home and budget. You’ll get to enjoy ultimate home comfort with potential energy savings. Call us at 949-204-0859 to hear more, or arrange an appointment with us online.