Your thermostat is a marvel of HVAC technology. With a few simple settings, it can signal your system to heat or cool your whole home. How does it communicate with your HVAC, though? It depends on what kind of thermostat you have. Here’s what you need to know about thermostat communication.
Electromechanical Thermostat Communication
If you have an older thermostat, it’s probably electromechanical. This means it uses a metal coil or strip to sense the temperature. As the temperature changes, the coil moves. The coil is connected to a vial of mercury, which then also moves. If it moves one way, it means it’s getting colder, and movement the other way means it’s getting warmer. The change in the mercury’s position signals your HVAC system to send hot or cold air as needed.
Electronic Thermostat Communication
Modern thermostat communication is a bit more sophisticated. Instead of mercury, electronic sensors monitor your home’s temperature. A computer chip then signals your HVAC system to adjust the air accordingly.
Many thermostats are now programmable as well. You can set them to switch to different temperatures at different times automatically based on your family’s schedule. This allows your system to switch to energy-saving mode while you’re not at home.
Smart Thermostat Communication
Smart thermostats come equipped with Wi-Fi. That way, they can communicate not just with your HVAC system but with your smartphone, which means you can set your home’s temperature from anywhere.
Some thermostats can also learn your habits over time. This includes your schedule as well as your temperature preferences. This allows it to communicate your comfort needs to your HVAC system automatically, without your having to set the thermostat every time.
Finally, there’s geofencing, where your thermostat communicates with your phone’s GPS. If it senses that your phone has traveled a certain distance away from the house, it automatically switches the HVAC system to energy-saving mode. Then, when it senses that you’re returning, it starts heating or cooling again so your house is comfortable when you get home.
For more help with your thermostat, contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services. We provide Dayton homes with quality, comfort, and efficiency.
