By Anne Fonda
A thermostat is a temperature-control device, typically found on a wall inside your home. It consists of a series of sensors and relays that monitor and control the functions of your heating and cooling system. When the indoor temperature falls below or rises above your set temperature, the thermostat tells your HVAC system to turn on.
Thermostat technology has evolved over the years, much like mobile phones have. There are 3 main types today: smart thermostats, programmable thermostats, and traditional non-programmable thermostats.
Before purchasing a new thermostat, ensure that your system is compatible. For example, not all temperature control units are compatible with a heat pump system.
A smart thermostat uses the latest technology. It connects to your home’s WiFi system, so it is also known as a WiFi thermostat. You can control them at the wall unit, with an app on your phone, from your laptop, or with a voice assistant.
These thermostats are programmable, send you service reminders, can display the weather, and some smart thermostats can even learn your temperature preferences and automatically set a schedule. They are great tools to assist with energy savings.
In addition, some smart thermostats have geofencing, which uses GPS or RFID to trigger the thermostat to start heating or cooling to your preferred temperature when you’re close to home.
American Standard smart thermostats offer more than other brands. Via the Home App, you can give your American Standard dealer remote diagnostics and monitoring access to your HVAC system - much like you have a monitoring service for your home security system.
Your smart thermostat sends data to your dealer that tells them about the health of your system, your usage, and sends alerts when it’s time for maintenance or there’s a system malfunction.
If you grant one-time dealer remote access, they can run troubleshooting tests and even fix a problem remotely. If they need to schedule an on-site visit, the HVAC tech will arrive armed with the knowledge gleaned from remote access.
Other smart thermostats can’t do that.
Basic programmable thermostats are the predecessors of smart thermostats. They’re still around and are a good option if you don’t want all the bells and whistles of a smart thermostat, but want to program temperature levels.
A standard programmable thermostat allows you to set a heating and cooling schedule for your home. Common schedules are one schedule for weekdays and a separate schedule for weekends, with different settings for different times of day. Depending on the season, you can reduce energy usage and save money on your energy bills by setting a lower or higher temperature for when you’re sleeping or away at work.
These thermostats are where it all started. If you have a boiler or furnace-only system, you may have an old round one that clicks when you adjust the temperature. You may have a non-programmable thermostat by choice, or it’s what was installed with your older HVAC system.
Today’s non-programmable thermostats have digital displays, buttons, and toggle switches making them easier to read and operate than the old-style thermostats. If you’re not concerned about programming temperatures, this style is an option for you.
Before purchasing a new thermostat, consult with your American Standard dealer to discuss your best options. It’s important to know that not all thermostats are compatible with all HVAC systems. Check out our blog on choosing the right thermostat for your home for some tips.
A Content Writer with Trane Technologies, Anne Fonda researches topics and writes for Trane® and associated residential HVAC brands. She works in collaboration with Trane Technologies subject matter experts, offering easy-to-understand, informative content on complex topics. Her goal is to help consumers make informed decisions on the products and services they need.
She has written for HVAC and other service provider websites for over 16 years. Before transitioning to web content writing, Anne had a 14-year stint as an award-winning journalist. She graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. When she’s not working, Anne enjoys playing word games, reading, gardening, spending time with family, and visiting gardens and museums.
Expert review by Michael Morey, Smart Thermostat Product Manager
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