Thermostat 101: Basic Buyer’s Guide

Every team needs a leader.

In the HVAC industry, your thermostat is the undisputed leader of the heating and cooling team. It signals your furnace and air conditioner (AC) when to turn on and off. Whenever your thermostat detects a temperature change different from the desired setting, it barks out a new directive to adjust the indoor climate.

You can trust our team at Able Heating & Air to always add value and comfort to your Culpeper home or business throughout the year. We offer practical solutions designed to extend your HVAC system’s service life and operating efficiency, including your thermostat.

What Type of Thermostat Should I Buy?

Choosing the right thermostat for your home can make a big difference in comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency. With so many options—from basic manual models to advanced smart thermostats—it’s important to understand what features best suit your lifestyle and HVAC system.

Let’s break down the different types of thermostats available and help you decide which one is the right fit for your home.

1. Standard Thermostats

The standard nonprogrammable thermostat is the most common, least expensive, and easiest to use. This is the one most people remember from their childhood homes. The round Honeywell unit, designed in 1953, has become so embedded in our American way of life that it has made its way to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. And it is still in use today.

Pros: Many people favor a simple mechanical design with physical switches. Your biggest decisions involve setting the target temperature and deciding whether to leave the fan on AUTO or switch it to ON. There isn’t much to this unit, so there isn’t much that can go wrong.

Cons: When you adjust the thermostat because of a change in the outdoor temperature, you’ll need to remember to readjust it back to your desired setting later. This model is the least energy efficient of these three options as well.

2. Programmable Thermostats

The programmable thermostat is a more energy-efficient model. You can have a home and away setting. When you are home, you have the temperature set at your ideal comfort setting. When you are away, you can raise or lower your thermostat setting to save energy.

The climate may not be as conducive, but you won’t be there anyway. The key is to remember it takes a bit of time for your home’s climate to get to your ideal setting, so be sure to allow for that in the programming.

Pros: The programmable thermostat will save energy and prolong the life of your heating and cooling system. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a programmable thermostat can lower your heating and cooling costs up to 30 percent.

Cons: The programmable thermostat is a bit more expensive upfront compared to a standard model. Some may argue that starting and stopping your system is more taxing than the energy it saves.

3. Smart Thermostats

This is the new breed of thermostats. The smart thermostat learns the behavior patterns of your home. These thermostats offer the latest advances in home automation technology—they can detect when you are home or away, weather patterns, and whether there is an issue with your HVAC system.

By using Wi-Fi, you can remotely control your smart thermostat through a computer, tablet, or smartphone. This is why they’re called smart! Once a smart thermostat has been in place for a while, it can adjust itself. It can show you energy consumption in real time.

Pros: You can control your climate remotely from within your home or away from your Culpeper home. You can monitor your home’s energy usage.

Cons: This is the most expensive option.

Learn More About Thermostats Today

Your thermostat is more than just a control panel—it’s a key player in the comfort, efficiency, and safety of your home in Culpeper. Whether you’re looking to upgrade to a smart thermostat or simply want to ensure your current system is working at its best, the experts at Able Heating & Air are here to help. Call us at 540-299-6993 or request service online to learn how a properly functioning thermostat can make a noticeable difference in your home’s climate control and energy savings.