Selecting the Right Thermostat for Your Home

Before choosing a thermostat, you’ll need to make sure it’s compatible with your heating and cooling system. The most common system types are central heat and air or just central heat systems. These systems can be installed with 24-volt (V), gas, oil or electric. Other system types include heat pump, electric baseboard, fireplace and floor/wall furnace systems.

Learning/Smart

Learning or smart thermostats offer the same benefits as the best programmable thermostats do without requiring any programming. Instead, they continually learn and adjust themselves the more you use them, creating a schedule based on your preferences. They can turn themselves down when you’re away, guide you to energy-efficient settings and provide monthly energy reports.

The best smart thermostats connect to your home Wi-Fi network and can be monitored, set and managed from a computer, smartphone or tablet. Sensors can work with a smart thermostat to identify which rooms are cooler or warmer and adjust the settings to regulate these rooms’ temperatures for you.

Remote Energy Management

A remote-energy-management thermostat allows you to set, program and monitor your heating and cooling system from a computer, smartphone or tablet. The thermostat connects through a hub (sold separately) to your home broadband network, which allows you to access your thermostat settings over Wi-Fi. Even if you’re away from home, you can control its temperature settings from your smartphone.

Programmable

A programmable thermostat makes the most efficient use of your system by automatically adjusting the set temperature throughout the day. You let the thermostat know your preferred temperature at different times of the day and night, then forget about it — the thermostat does the work.

Digital Nonprogrammable

A nonprogrammable thermostat with a digital read-out is the best choice for people who prefer types of thermostats with manually controlled settings. These thermostats also come with easy-to-read LCD displays, making them more convenient choices for some homeowners.

Mechanical/Manual

With a mechanical or manual thermostat, you control the temperature setting manually. These are best for people who are home often and prefer a fixed temperature.

Most smart thermostats will require a continuous flow of electricity, which comes directly from your furnace’s transformer. Some older homes might not have the particular wire that connects the thermostat to the furnace, called the C-wire. To determine whether or not you have a C-wire, detach your thermostat from the wall, find the terminal labeled “C” and see if there’s a wire attached to it. If there is, you’re good to go with a smart thermostat installation. If not, contact an electrician to determine the best path forward.