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Programmable thermostat

meltdown75

meltdown75

Lifer
Well I'm going to try to pick one of these up today. We currently have the old-fashioned kind, ie. non-programmable.

Apparently this will save us anywhere from $100-$200 anually on our heating costs. Our natural gas provider is even going to give us a $15 credit on our next bill if we install it before December 1st.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience installing one. As of now I know nothing about it, but I'm hoping it is fairly easy.

TIA

- Melty :beer:
 
It's very easy - been years since I installed mine so I can't give you anything more specific, but it was dead easy.
 
They are very easy to install. When you go buy one, stick with a major brand. Honeywell is the best one available. Try to find a Honeywell Vision Pro 8000 series. Stay away from Hunter, Magic Stat, Lux, Maple Chase and any other oddball named thermostat.
 
Very easy. Mines programmed to 72F during hours we are home and 62F when we are not. Our gas bill shows last year vs. this year and we definitely saved. I recommend the Honeywell 7 day programmable model CT3600A.




 
Honeywell is the exact brand I wanted to buy when our equipment was installed. After all, I'd been using a Honeywell thermostat without a hitch for decades, and it is/was the de facto standard forever. Well, our installer said absolutely do NOT buy the Honeywell programmables, because he'd had so much bad luck with them in the past. Customers paid good money for them, only to have to spend more good money to replace them.
 
Keep in mind that the bigger temperature difference will not save as much gas. You should set the temps within 5º. I run mine at 70º and 65º. Do the same for air conditioning. 😉
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
Honeywell is the exact brand I wanted to buy when our equipment was installed. After all, I'd been using a Honeywell thermostat without a hitch for decades, and it is/was the de facto standard forever. Well, our installer said absolutely do NOT buy the Honeywell programmables, because he'd had so much bad luck with them in the past. Customers paid good money for them, only to have to spend more good money to replace them.
Click to expand...

Your installer is wrong. I have been an HVAC tech for 15 years (NATE certified and EPA certified), Honeywell is the best thermostat available.

 

  1. Which model?

    • Honeywell: Largest manufacturer of thermostats and controls. Most of their stuff is excellent quality some is junk.

    Honeywell thermostat (CT3600)

    • Recently, the thermostat began going through batteries on a weekly basis. The replace battery light would flash and then the thermostat would shut off. This would be followed by complaints of ?it?s freezing in this house!? After the second package of batteries was drained I called the company that services our furnace...
 
Mine is a Honeywell - can't see a model name/number on the outside, but it has had no problems at all in the 6 or 7 years I've had it.
 
Originally posted by: NascarFool
Keep in mind that the bigger temperature difference will not save as much gas. You should set the temps within 5º. I run mine at 70º and 65º. Do the same for air conditioning. 😉
Click to expand...

Eh? Reasoning/references?
 
I've replaced my honeywell (5/2 CT3600A?)one with a temprite (the home depot's own brand), it's only $39, and my gas company is giving out a rebate for $25, so its cheap, and I am happy with it. its a 5/1/1, a samiliar one from honeywell will cost at least twin as much. The relay click sound of the new thermostat is much much quieter than the honeywell.
 
Originally posted by: Armitage
Originally posted by: NascarFool
Keep in mind that the bigger temperature difference will not save as much gas. You should set the temps within 5º. I run mine at 70º and 65º. Do the same for air conditioning. 😉
Click to expand...
Eh? Reasoning/references?
Click to expand...
It takes a lot of energy to bring the temperature back up from a lower temperature. You have to balance that against what you're saving by not having it on all the time.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Armitage
Originally posted by: NascarFool
Keep in mind that the bigger temperature difference will not save as much gas. You should set the temps within 5º. I run mine at 70º and 65º. Do the same for air conditioning. 😉
Click to expand...

Eh? Reasoning/references?
Click to expand...

The furthur the set points are spread, the longer the equipment has to run to catch back up. Another thing to think about is the furniture in the house only gets heated on the surface and eventually will get completely warmed (or cooled), therefore it takes longer for things to reach temperature and cause the equipment to run more.
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Armitage
Originally posted by: NascarFool
Keep in mind that the bigger temperature difference will not save as much gas. You should set the temps within 5º. I run mine at 70º and 65º. Do the same for air conditioning. 😉
Click to expand...
Eh? Reasoning/references?
Click to expand...
It takes a lot of energy to bring the temperature back up from a lower temperature. You have to balance that against what you're saving by not having it on all the time.

ZV
Click to expand...

Your only adding back energy that you would have lost anyway. Just adding it back all at once in a longer, more efficient burn rather then piecemeal burns to maintain a higher temp.
 
Just put in 2 Hunter 5/2 ones at my girls place. They were on sale at Lowes for only $19.99 each and work great. Just follow the directions and you will be set. I think it took longer to get them FULLY programmed then it did for me to install them. 🙂
 
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