How Learning Thermostats are Different from Programmable Thermostats

December 04, 2018

Your thermostat is a huge factor in how much you are spending on energy costs. Just programming your thermostat for stretches when you’re sleeping or not at home can make a great impact without negatively affecting your comfort levels. Depending on which thermostat you select, you may be able to do even more.

At H&C Heating and Cooling, we’ve got an array of programmable thermostats to meet your needs—from the most basic models to the newest learning thermostats. How can you know what is best for your space? First, research the difference between basic programmable thermostats and advanced learning models. Either of these can help you save energy and money, but you’ll want to determine which features are most important to your home comfort.

All programmable thermostats will give you the chance to schedule your days to control temperatures when you’re routinely there and not at home. Depending on the model you choose, you may be able to enter one schedule, which you may end up overriding on the days you are home. Some models will allow you to program your weekdays on one schedule and your weekends on a separate schedule. You’ll also want to check the number of periods you can set up during the day. For instance, will you want the temperature setting different when you sleep, when you wake up, when you’re at work and when you are home in the evening? Confirm that the thermostat you pick can meet your needs.

For some people, being able to establish a regular schedule (or two) and override it when needed is enough. But if you want additional flexibility, it’s probably time to buy a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat lets you completely customize a heating and cooling schedule for each individual day of the week.

Not only are smart thermostats more flexible, but they’re also Wi-Fi enabled so you can manage your home’s temperature no matter where you are. Some selections of smart thermostats take innovation even further—these are called “learning thermostats.” Learning thermostats do everything a regular smart thermostat can do, but they can also learn from your behaviors and adjust your heating and cooling schedules based on your actual daily activity. Some models don’t even need to be programmed—you just turn them on and give them time to figure everything out on their own after a short amount of time.

So, no matter what your heating and cooling needs are, H&C Heating and Cooling will help you find the best thermostat for your home and budget. You’ll experience ultimate home comfort with potential energy savings. Give us a call at 301-960-3247 to hear more, or schedule an appointment with us online.