What a thermostat does
What a thermostat does
Regardless of the type of heating system you have in your home,
the thermostat plays an important role in ensuring your home is
comfortable. Your thermostat determines when your heat comes
on and off, what temperature your home will be heated to, and
can help reduce your heating bills. Essentially, the thermostat is the
“brains” behind your heating system.
Types of thermostats
There are two basic types of thermostats line- and low-voltage with
a number of options for each type.
Line-voltage thermostats
Line-voltage thermostats are used to control unitary heating
systems, such as baseboard and radiant systems. The
thermostats are installed in-line (in series) with the heater, usually
at 240 volts. The full current going to the heater also goes through
the thermostat, causing it to heat up when the heater is on. This
may cause the thermostat to sense its own heat and shut off before
the room is comfortable.
Low-voltage thermostats
Low-voltage thermostats are used with gas, oil and electric central
heating systems, zone valves in hot water heating systems, and
electric unitary systems where better control is required.
Low-voltage thermostats operate at 24 to 50 volts, rather than
240 volts. They are more responsive than line-voltage, provide more
accurate control and are more adaptable to programmable controls.
Thermostat options
Whether your thermostat is line-voltage or low-voltage, there are
three general options to choose from.
Mechanical
Mechanical thermostats are inexpensive and easy to install.
Thermostats with mechanical operators (i.e. not electronic)
have either a bi-metallic strip or a vapor-filled bellows to react
to temperature change. Some are relatively slow to respond,
(particularly the inexpensive units with bi-metallic strips), which may
result in large temperature swings above and below the thermostat
set point.
Electronic
These thermostats use electronic
rather than mechanical components
to sense temperature and control
the heating system. They are
available in both line-voltage and
low-voltage models. They provide
accurate temperature control and
react more quickly to temperature changes.
Many electronic thermostats have added features such as automatic
setback and programmability. This makes them more expensive
than mechanical models.
thermostats for
efficiency and comfort
overview
Thermostats help you control your heating system for comfort and efficiency. Learn about different types of thermostats and tips
to help you select and operate a thermostat for your needs.
Programmable
Programmable thermostats automatically adjust the temperature at
pre-set times. When you pre-set your temperatures to correspond to
your daily activities you will save energy because the thermostat can
be pre-set to automatically turn down the heat at night or when the
home is empty and turn up the heat when you are home. Models
range from simple clock-like thermostats that provide day and night
temperature settings, to electronic models that let you set different
day-of-week and time-of-day temperatures.
If you have a unitary heating system, such as baseboard heaters,
the Canadian Electrical Code requires a thermostat be placed in
each room. A programmable thermostat in every room would be
expensive. Instead, install programmable thermostats only in large
rooms that have a great deal of activity, like a living room or family
room. This way it can be programmed to be on during active times
and turned down at times when the room is empty.
Special-purpose thermostats
Special-purpose thermostats have features designed to work with
specific types of equipment. For example, two-stage thermostats
are used for hybrid heating systems using two fuels, such as
electricity and oil, to turn on the backup heating system when the
primary system cannot cope with the demand for heat. Heat/cool
thermostats are used for homes with summer air conditioning.
Some thermostats allow you to switch on the furnace fan, from
the thermostat, to circulate the air in your home in the winter or
summer.
Selecting a thermostat
When choosing a thermostat, look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol.
ENERGY STAR qualified thermostats save energy by offering four
convenient, pre-programmed temperature settings – settings that try
to anticipate when it’s convenient for you to scale back on heating
or cooling. You can of course program the thermostat for your
particular schedule to reflect when you wake, leave and return to
your home and go to bed. At a minimum they will allow you to set
two different programs for your weekday and weekend schedules.
Others will allow you to set a different schedule for every day of
the week. Other features may include: digital, backlit displays; a
reminder when it is time to change air filters; and smart logic that
learns when to start heating so that your house is up to temperature
at the time you want it.
Thermostat location
Mount thermostats about 1.5 metres (5 feet) above the floor,
centrally located on an inside wall. Never install thermostats in areas
subject to drafts, direct sunlight or sources of heat such as warm
air registers, refrigerators, ranges or other appliances. All of these
factors can inadvertently affect the thermostat by causing it to read
the temperature incorrectly and not respond to the actual room
temperature.
Recommended thermostat settings
for heating
These are suggested thermostat settings that provide comfort and
avoid overheating. Thermostats in rarely-used rooms can be set
lower than those in major living areas.
Sitting, reading or watching TV 21° C (70° F)
Working around the house 20° C (68° F)
Sleeping 16° C (61° F)
No one is home 16° C (61° F)*
* This setting ensures the plumbing won’t freeze and provides
you with considerable savings.
Setting the thermostat back from 21° C to 16° C at night can result
in energy savings of up to ten per cent, depending on where you live.
Remember, cranking your thermostat up to 30° C, for example, will
not heat your house any faster. Your heating system will work most
efficiently if you set the temperature where you want it for long
periods of time (8 hours).
Regardless of the type of heating system you have in your home,
the thermostat plays an important role in ensuring your home is
comfortable. Your thermostat determines when your heat comes
on and off, what temperature your home will be heated to, and
can help reduce your heating bills. Essentially, the thermostat is the
“brains” behind your heating system.
Types of thermostats
There are two basic types of thermostats line- and low-voltage with
a number of options for each type.
Line-voltage thermostats
Line-voltage thermostats are used to control unitary heating
systems, such as baseboard and radiant systems. The
thermostats are installed in-line (in series) with the heater, usually
at 240 volts. The full current going to the heater also goes through
the thermostat, causing it to heat up when the heater is on. This
may cause the thermostat to sense its own heat and shut off before
the room is comfortable.
Low-voltage thermostats
Low-voltage thermostats are used with gas, oil and electric central
heating systems, zone valves in hot water heating systems, and
electric unitary systems where better control is required.
Low-voltage thermostats operate at 24 to 50 volts, rather than
240 volts. They are more responsive than line-voltage, provide more
accurate control and are more adaptable to programmable controls.
Thermostat options
Whether your thermostat is line-voltage or low-voltage, there are
three general options to choose from.
Mechanical
Mechanical thermostats are inexpensive and easy to install.
Thermostats with mechanical operators (i.e. not electronic)
have either a bi-metallic strip or a vapor-filled bellows to react
to temperature change. Some are relatively slow to respond,
(particularly the inexpensive units with bi-metallic strips), which may
result in large temperature swings above and below the thermostat
set point.
Electronic
These thermostats use electronic
rather than mechanical components
to sense temperature and control
the heating system. They are
available in both line-voltage and
low-voltage models. They provide
accurate temperature control and
react more quickly to temperature changes.
Many electronic thermostats have added features such as automatic
setback and programmability. This makes them more expensive
than mechanical models.
thermostats for
efficiency and comfort
overview
Thermostats help you control your heating system for comfort and efficiency. Learn about different types of thermostats and tips
to help you select and operate a thermostat for your needs.
Programmable
Programmable thermostats automatically adjust the temperature at
pre-set times. When you pre-set your temperatures to correspond to
your daily activities you will save energy because the thermostat can
be pre-set to automatically turn down the heat at night or when the
home is empty and turn up the heat when you are home. Models
range from simple clock-like thermostats that provide day and night
temperature settings, to electronic models that let you set different
day-of-week and time-of-day temperatures.
If you have a unitary heating system, such as baseboard heaters,
the Canadian Electrical Code requires a thermostat be placed in
each room. A programmable thermostat in every room would be
expensive. Instead, install programmable thermostats only in large
rooms that have a great deal of activity, like a living room or family
room. This way it can be programmed to be on during active times
and turned down at times when the room is empty.
Special-purpose thermostats
Special-purpose thermostats have features designed to work with
specific types of equipment. For example, two-stage thermostats
are used for hybrid heating systems using two fuels, such as
electricity and oil, to turn on the backup heating system when the
primary system cannot cope with the demand for heat. Heat/cool
thermostats are used for homes with summer air conditioning.
Some thermostats allow you to switch on the furnace fan, from
the thermostat, to circulate the air in your home in the winter or
summer.
Selecting a thermostat
When choosing a thermostat, look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol.
ENERGY STAR qualified thermostats save energy by offering four
convenient, pre-programmed temperature settings – settings that try
to anticipate when it’s convenient for you to scale back on heating
or cooling. You can of course program the thermostat for your
particular schedule to reflect when you wake, leave and return to
your home and go to bed. At a minimum they will allow you to set
two different programs for your weekday and weekend schedules.
Others will allow you to set a different schedule for every day of
the week. Other features may include: digital, backlit displays; a
reminder when it is time to change air filters; and smart logic that
learns when to start heating so that your house is up to temperature
at the time you want it.
Thermostat location
Mount thermostats about 1.5 metres (5 feet) above the floor,
centrally located on an inside wall. Never install thermostats in areas
subject to drafts, direct sunlight or sources of heat such as warm
air registers, refrigerators, ranges or other appliances. All of these
factors can inadvertently affect the thermostat by causing it to read
the temperature incorrectly and not respond to the actual room
temperature.
Recommended thermostat settings
for heating
These are suggested thermostat settings that provide comfort and
avoid overheating. Thermostats in rarely-used rooms can be set
lower than those in major living areas.
Sitting, reading or watching TV 21° C (70° F)
Working around the house 20° C (68° F)
Sleeping 16° C (61° F)
No one is home 16° C (61° F)*
* This setting ensures the plumbing won’t freeze and provides
you with considerable savings.
Setting the thermostat back from 21° C to 16° C at night can result
in energy savings of up to ten per cent, depending on where you live.
Remember, cranking your thermostat up to 30° C, for example, will
not heat your house any faster. Your heating system will work most
efficiently if you set the temperature where you want it for long
periods of time (8 hours).
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