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Home Monitoring

thermostats

Thermostats

By Commercial, Cooling, Heating, Home Monitoring, Residential, Thermostats

In 2018 the Miami Valley probably used their heating and cooling systems a lot. According to Wunderground, we had 178 days with temperature highs below 60° Fahrenheit, and 108 days with temperature highs over 80° F. That means that for most people they could have their HVAC systems on over 75% of the time. It could be argued that the single, most important part, of any heating and cooling system is the control that operates the system. A low voltage thermostat is the main control for your building that determines how much heating or cooling will be delivered to satisfy the temperature set on the thermostat. Thermostats have advanced a long way in the past 10-20 years as much technology has. The focus for updating thermostats has been on energy savings, cleaner air, comfort, simplicity, quality, accessibility, and easy to understand information among other issues all related to customer satisfaction. Modern thermostats have a lot of features to appeal to everyone, from simple to read displays to utility savings a modern thermostat is an easy upgrade to add to your system to start saving money for years to come. According to First Energy, based on typical energy costs, a smart thermostat can save up to $145 a year. Models rated for Energy Star compliance offer rebates from utility companies as well.

How it Works

Whether a low voltage thermostat is old or new, the way it works is pretty similar even if the parts inside are not. A part of the thermostat is a way to measure the current temperature in the area it is installed, older models had bimetallic strips, while modern models use electronic controls to sense temperature changes. When the strip or thermistor registers a temperature below or above the set temperature it triggers the heating or cooling unit to turn on to maintain the temperature set. Programmable thermostats allow the user to preset temperatures, allowing them to change according to the owner’s programmed settings. Some of those programmed settings examples could be temperature set points at night, work, and vacations. Wi-Fi enabled thermostats allow the owner to check on their system wherever and whenever they like, assuming they have Wi-Fi and/or cellular service. Other features such as maintenance reminders, humidity level display, weather forecasts, energy reporting, zoning compatible, wireless room sensors, smart recovery, AC overcool to dehumidify, service alerts, and more can be found on certain thermostats.

Types

  • Non-Programmable – Non-Programmable thermostats can be mechanical or digital. To adjust the temperature or change from heating to cooling the owner would walk directly to the thermostat to make changes.
  • Programmable – Programmable thermostat come in a variety of programming options, some models makes changes for a week, some for weekdays and weekends, and some models offer more in-depth programmable options including each individual day. Once the thermostat is programmed the idea is that the owner would set up the thermostat according to their own comfort level and the thermostat would adjust on its own as needed, to the schedule you have programmed.
  • Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi thermostats or smart thermostats give the owner the option to not only program the thermostat but to have it adjust to you as well. With features like room sensors, occupancy sensor, and learning technology. These thermostats can adjust to your schedule inside the building. Some models can even change from heating to cooling or vice versa when needed to maintain the set temperature on the thermostat. These models can give even more features to the owner such as enhanced fan control, IAQ integration, weather forecasts, maintenance reminders, smart home/away, and more. A few of these models qualify for utility company rebates.
  • Communicating Controller – Available with variable speed equipment, communicating controllers allow the owner to be the most comfortable. With longer heating and cooling cycles at lower fan speeds, the air is better treated to ensure the best air quality and comfort possible. Other features include energy tracking and reporting, better humidity control, better dehumidification control, and multi-zone compatibility. These models can even alert Hauck Bros. of a major service issue as it happens so we can assist you as quickly as possible.

Comfort

Comfort starts with the thermostat and is backed up by the equipment and Indoor air quality products that maintain your personal comfort level. The thermostat is the control of comfort for your home or business. Depending on the model, the thermostat can save money via programming, provide ease of access with Wi-Fi, send reminders for maintenance alerts, learn to adjust to your comfort level on your schedule, manage humidity levels, and much more.

Features

  • AC Overcool, uses the condensing unit to reduce humidity by cooling your building beyond the desired temperature until the desired humidity level is reached in your home or business.
  • Auto change, also called Auto Mode, Allows the thermostat to switch from Heat to Cool or Cool to Heat automatically.
  • C-Wire, “Common” wire, enables 24 VAC power to the thermostat continuously.
  • Dual Fuel Capable, when a gas furnace and Heat Pump are used in a building. Allows the furnace to take over heating when the heat pump is inefficient.
  • Energy Star Qualified, required to work as a basic thermostat if on-line service is lost, provide information about HVAC energy usage, give residents feedback about energy consequences of changing settings, and provide the owner the ability to schedule or program. By adjusting the temperature down or up by 7-10 degrees from the normal setting owners can save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs.
  • Enhanced Fan Control, with a communicating controller, allows the user to adjust the continuous fan speed to low, medium, high, or off.
  • Thermostat Occupancy Sensor, indoor motion detecting sensor that can detect the presence of a person to automatically control the thermostat to adjust to a temperature preset setting.
  • Outdoor Air temperature Sensor, on select models of thermostats and zoning systems, provides outdoor air temperature information for the control system and the owner as well.
  • Thermostat Maintenance Reminder, certain models will remind owners to change the filter, ultraviolet light bulb, humidifier pad, and even the ventilator pre-filter
  • Thermostat Password Protection, certain models allow the owner to lockout the control by programming a password to prevent changes.
  • Programmable Thermostat, allows the user to schedule the thermostat to maximize home comfort and save money on utilities.
  • Self-Programming Thermostat, certain models learn what temperature you like and adjusts the schedule automatically
  • Service Safety Alerts, depending on the model some thermostats have the ability to notify you via your smart device, e-mail, and even send out an alert to your HVAC service provider when your HVAC system might be having an issue. Some examples of alerts are too high of humidity in the building, HVAC system not operational, and too high or too low of a temperature
  • Smart Home / Away, some models of thermostats have an occupancy sensor that detects when someone is home or not. These models have the ability to go into energy saving mode when you are away or to override the energy saving mode to ensure your comfort is met when you are home, regardless of the programming.
  • Smart Recovery, depending on the thermostat, some models have the ability to start cooling or heating your building so that at the time set for a certain temperature set point the temperature will already be at the set point.
  • Smart Speaker Compatible Thermostat, certain models of thermostats have the ability to be connected to your home automation provider. This allows the owner with proper registration to control the thermostat by voice or within that providers app.
  • Staging Settings, with multi speed HVAC equipment, having the proper thermostat to control the which stage the equipment is necessary. This allows the equipment to run in the lower stage or stages before going into higher stages.
  • Touchscreen, with technology improvements in thermostats, most modern digital thermostats come with a touchscreen, similar to that of a smart device.
  • Wi-Fi, A lot of modern thermostats have Wi-Fi capability. Wi-Fi allows the owner to control the thermostat from their smart device or within an app, keep the thermostat updated and secure, and help on energy savings.

 

Efficiency

Using a programmable thermostat in your building will let you run a scheduled heating and cooling program without having to manually adjust the settings throughout the day. Depending on the thermostat setting up a program can be done on the thermostat and if the thermostat is connected to an app or a smart device, it can be done on the computer or smart device. Adjusting the program to lower or allowing the temperature to rise by 7-10 degrees can save up to 10% in utility costs.

DIY

Make sure to check your thermostat once a year to ensure (depending on the model) that it is level, batteries are replaced (if applicable), and clear of dust and debris. It’s always a good idea to test the heating and cooling equipment before their season to ensure the thermostat is operational and the equipment responds as well. Some models with automatic reminders set up will need the reminders reset ex. change air filter or humidifier pad.

Service or Replace

The thermostat should be maintained and checked once a year, if it has no power, doesn’t respond to settings changes, heating or cooling won’t turn on, or loses its programming it might be time to consider a replacement. If your system is being replaced and it was over 15 years old and you would like to take advantage of the energy efficiency of a modern thermostat, replacement should be considered. Even if you have a programmable thermostat but you want the benefits of the features modern thermostats offer, consider replacement.

Accessories

  • Backplate, in some cases new thermostats are smaller than old thermostats, these backplates are needed to cover the space used by the old thermostat for cosmetic appeal.
  • Thermostat Cover, in some buildings commercial and residential, the thermostat needs to be protected and secured to limit access. A cover goes over the thermostat while providing airflow to the unit to ensure proper temperature control.
  • Room Sensor, some models of thermostats have the ability to have a wired or wireless room sensors connected to it. This allows for the user to adjust temperature based not only on the main thermostat but with input from the sensor as well. The most common options for sensors within the thermostat are to average the two or more temperature readings, use the sensor as the main temperature set point, and to follow the sensor wherever it is moved in the house to maintain the set point.
home monitoring

Home Protection & Monitoring

By Home Monitoring, Residential

In the Miami Valley, most homes and businesses have both heating and cooling systems installed to keep the occupants comfortable year-round.  There are many risks out there that can threaten the safety of your family or business; fire, flooding, carbon monoxide, debris, animals, freezing temperatures, intruders, brownouts, and surges are just some of the risks of owning a home or business. There are many products out there that are designed to keep everyone protected and safe. There are other products that will keep the HVAC equipment safe, in better working order, and hopefully maximize the life of that equipment.  Products that offer monitoring, are designed to alert the owner of problems around the clock, even if you are not home, all through a common smart device like a tablet or cell phone. Smart security measures are vital to guarding your home or business and keeping all the occupants safe and comfortable.  Here are some of the products we offer and what they protect:

Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

Fact: About 3,400 Americans die each year in fires and about 17,500 are injured.

Fact: A fifty percent reduction in fire fatalities since the introduction of smoke alarms into the home

Offered as stand-alone units or combination units, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are critical equipment for any home or business.  Ohio guidelines for residential smoke detectors is that for new construction of homes every level of the house needs a smoke detector and all occupied sleep areas need one as well. Ohio guidelines for commercial smoke detectors is that for most systems in a commercial setting with a design capacity greater than 2,000 cfm return air, they are required to be installed. For commercial purposes, duct mounted smoke detectors are common.

Fact:  replace smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors every 7-10 years.

Fact: In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.

Fact:  Each year, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.

Combination alarms save space, money, and time. You’ll only have to change the batteries once a year for one device and replace that device every 7-10 years, depending on manufacture guidelines. Some models of smart detectors have voice warnings that tell the owner where and what the problem is. Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are available as well. They can even alert your smart device of a problem, protecting even while you are away.  There are other features that matter and help, some models test themselves, have night lights built in, can tell the difference between steam and smoke, and can be quieted by a smart device.

Water and Freeze Sensor

Leaks and frozen pipes can cause serious damage to your home or business. Water and freeze sensors can be used to get an early alert of an issue before it turns into a disaster. Placed around water sources inside the house, they will alert you to a problem as it occurs.  Smart water and freeze sensors can be connected to your smart device that monitor and inform you of problems even if you are not there. Multiple sensors can be installed to the network to pinpoint problems as well.

Surge Protector

Make sure your furnace, air handler, air conditioner, heat pump, boiler, and ductless mini split system are protected from damage due to surges. There are two main ways surges occur in your system, lightning and switching surges. Lightning surges are random events, but switching surges can occur every day from normal use of common appliance to normal operations of the power company. Both types of surges are able to be protected against. We recommend all appliances and electronics in your home or business be protected from surges. Your heating and cooling system can be protected by an additional add on surge protector. Some models offer connected equipment warranties as well to cover losses from surges.

Wi-Fi Thermostat

A thermostat’s basic function is to regulate the heating and cooling system by sensing the temperature and performing a heating or cooling action to maintain that set temperature. Wi-Fi connected thermostats offer additional features to monitor and protect your home or business. When properly set up, some smart wi-fi thermostats can monitor and inform the owner of issues such as indoor freezing temperatures, filter replacement needed, service reminders, and even equipment failure.

Additional Protection Accessories

Hauck Bros., Inc. offers other accessories that can be used in conjunction with your heating and cooling system to protect and monitor your home or business. Line set covers, air conditioner covers, air filtration systems, home automation products, wind baffles, hard start kits, and condensate pumps are a few of the accessories that can be added to protect your equipment. Need some more recommendations from our professionals?  Schedule a consultation today!