The Wide World of Home Thermostats—and Customized Home Comfort!

You know the one we’re talking about­. It’s an absolute classic, and a staple of many homes for decades. In fact, you may still have one or two on your walls to this very day…and there’s nothing wrong with that! Basic “bubble” thermostats operated by a simple dial are a great way to regulate your home’s temperature. Turning the dial to the left makes the house cooler and to the right, warmer. It doesn’t get simpler than that.

But modern home comfort technology has brought lots of great things to the table. Just like the many different ways you can keep your cool air in check with AC repair for your Land O’ Lakes home, there are so many options in the world of thermostats. Cornerstone can help you explore, select and install a new thermostat with lots of exciting features­, including full programmability or independent zone control. Those may sound confusing, but they’re the keys to really customizing your home comfort.

Here are just a few reasons why upgrading your thermostat can have some big benefits for your home, depending on the model you choose:

• Set your schedule so the house is the right temperature for you as soon as you arrive home from work or a day out.
• If compatible, control the temperature of each zone or room in your house independently. That means several rooms can have different temps.
• Upgrade from a dial or buttons to a touchscreen­. No more wondering if your inputs actually worked.
• Control the temperature from anywhere with an internet-enabled device or get a detailed diagnostic report on your HVAC system.
• More control over your home’s comfort means better efficiency! Your system won’t have to work as hard while you’re away, which can extend system performance and lower energy bills.
• Your thermostat is yours. So, unlike the thermostat you had growing up, your parents can’t yell at you for touching this one!

So Many Choices—So Much Comfort!

Not every modern thermostat is created equal. Let’s break down the different types of upgrades from your old, manual unit.

• Smart
  If you’re looking for all the bells and whistles, a smart option is what you’re looking for. These devices bring together everything you need for total control over your home comfort. You can set the temperature manually, but this thermostat can also connect to your home’s “smart” eco-system to learn your patterns and routines over time to essentially operate itself. This results in optimized usage, lower energy bills and greater control over your home temperatures. Keep in mind there may be a bit of a learning curve involved, and a higher cost for the unit itself.
• Wi-Fi Enabled
  Not interested in having your thermostat learn your schedule, but still want more control over your home comfort? There’s an option for that. Wi-Fi enabled thermostats have many of the same physical features that smart options have—typically touch screens, full digital displays and customization options. But, most importantly, these versions allow you to access, set and review your home’s temperature from anywhere with a Wi-Fi enabled device.
• Programmable
  Forget the touchscreens and internet access. The next option, the programmable thermostat, gives you the freedom to manually set your own home comfort schedule. This is a great cost-effective upgrade that provides the same chances at energy efficiency and is especially helpful if you know your schedule doesn’t change all that often.

Don’t Forget to Check Compatibility!

If you’ve done your research, explored your options and honed in on the perfect thermostat for your needs, the final step is to make sure it will actually work!

It would be nice to just choose a new and improved thermostat, place it on the wall and go about your day. But just like choosing the right cables for your TV or gasoline for your car, it has to be compatible with your home’s HVAC system.

Also, keep in mind that thermostats are categorized by the type of voltage they provide. Line-voltage thermostats are mostly used for equipment such as in-wall heaters, radiant heaters and mini-splits. Low-voltage thermostats are used for forced-air systems. We’ll help you make sure you’re getting the right type for your needs.

We’ll Help You Make the Upgrade

At the end of the day, your home’s thermostat is a personal choice. If you prefer the classic option, they’re still in production and make a great, no-frills choice. But if you’re in the market for something a little fancier, you have plenty of options at your disposal.

Give us a call at 813.993.7995 to schedule a consultation about your thermostat, heating and air or a reliable plumber for your Homosassa, FL home. No matter what you need, we’ve got you covered!

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