How Learning Thermostats are Different from Programmable Thermostats

December 04, 2018

Your thermostat is a big part of how much your energy bills are every month. Just programming your thermostat for times when you’re sleeping or not at home can make a big impact without negatively affecting your comfort levels. Depending on which thermostat you select, you can do a whole lot more to make an even bigger impact.

At Phelps Heating & Cooling, we’ve got several programmable thermostats to meet your needs—from the most basic models to the most modern learning thermostats. How can you know what is best for your space? First, learn the difference between basic programmable thermostats and advanced learning models. Both can help you save energy and money, but you’ll want to determine which features are most important to you.

Most 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 pick, you may be able to enter one schedule, which you may end up overriding on days you are actually 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 review the number of periods during each day you can set up. For instance, will you want the temps 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 homeowners, being able to establish a regular schedule (or two) and override it when needed is plenty. But if you want more flexibility, it’s probably time to consider a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat will let you completely customize a heating and cooling schedule for every day of the week.

Flexibility isn’t the only benefit that smart thermostats provide, but they’re also Wi-Fi enabled so you can control your home’s temperature no matter where you are. Some models 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 monitor your heating and cooling schedules based on the actual activity in your home. Some models don’t even need to be programmed—you just turn them on and they will figure everything out on their own over the span of a few days.

So, no matter what your heating and cooling desires are, Phelps Heating & Cooling will help you find the most appropriate thermostat for your home and budget. You’ll end up with ultimate home comfort with potential energy savings. Call us at 270-358-3167 to hear more, or book an appointment with us online.