HVAC pros: recommend a programmable thermostat

[rivan]

I've got a new (installed 2012) 2-stage heat pump controlled by a non-programmable thermostat and want a programmable one that's smart enough to deal with 2 stages efficiently.

Current wiring suggests a Nest may not work (their compatibility checker had me email support) and it also seems like they might still be ironing out heat pump software.

My current thermostat is an American Standard ACONT402* which I can't seem to find much about online. There are two connections that I'm also having a hard time finding out what they do, and don't seem to match up to most thermostats out there - they're labeled OT1 and OT2 and I suspect they're outside temp monitors, though the thermostat doesn't display outside temps.

 

[RearAdmiral]

I just bought this. Specs say it has multi stage heating / cooling, and heat pump compatibility. I'm not sure if they are exclusive. So I'm not sure if it would totally work for you.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_171234-7449...rrentURL=?Ntt=honeywell+thermostat&facetInfo=

Otherwise it is a delight to program and use. Busting out your phone to change the schedule or temp is great. I got it on sale for $99 a week ago, looks like it went up though.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Stay away from Nest.....

Costco has Honeywells for 20-30 bucks? Assuming you even need a programmable one.

We have been using our regular one for years and can't even justify programmable.

 

[nickbits]

I have my eyes on this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-RET9...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Basically wi-fi controlled + color version of the one I have now.

 

[rivan]

Stay away from Nest.....

Costco has Honeywells for 20-30 bucks? Assuming you even need a programmable one.

We have been using our regular one for years and can't even justify programmable.

I picked up a Honeywell from Costco over the weekend and was surprised by the "OT1" and "OT2" wires, which the install manual had no idea how to deal with.

I want programmable because I'm gone 9-10 hours in the middle of the day and am too much of a space case to remember to set it on the way out the door.

 

[EliteRetard]

I picked up a Honeywell from Costco over the weekend and was surprised by the "OT1" and "OT2" wires, which the install manual had no idea how to deal with.

I want programmable because I'm gone 9-10 hours in the middle of the day and am too much of a space case to remember to set it on the way out the door.

You have a heat-pump though, they only operate efficiently in a small range of temperatures...letting your house get hot/cold all day and then forcing the heat-pump to try to bring it back to normal will be less efficient than keeping the house at a steady temp.

 

[Wyndru]

Stay away from Nest.....

How come? I don't have one, but everyone I know that does love them.

And now that google owns them, they are a must have (kidding)

But seriously, is their build quality or reliability bad? I didn't think there was much that could go wrong with a thermostat, it basically just turns a device on and off.

 

[Mxylplyx]

All the people I know who have NEST love it, almost more than anyone should reasonably love a thermostat.

 

[Nintendesert]

When you spend that much money on something like that you have to convince yourself and others it was a good buy.

A $20 Honeywell with 2 minutes of programming will work just as well.

 

[Mixolydian]

I love my Nest.

But if you hate Google, look elsewhere.

 

[Rubycon]

Inncom.

 

[herm0016]

i am super happy with my wifi honeywll. it will do 2 stage heat pump and it can learn how long it takes to change the temp, and use that in its program, may be quite usefull for a heat pump.