Home comfort: the thermostat

Comfort and savings are at your fingertips when you choose the proper thermostat. A good thermostat is essential to obtain the maximum in comfort, convenience and economy of any heating system. A poorly functioning thermostat will reduce the performance of even the best heating system.

Choosing the right thermostat

Residential heating thermostats come in four types: line voltage, low voltage, electronic and programmable.

Line voltage

Wall mounted: Line voltage thermostats are only used with in-room electric heating systems. They are relatively low in cost and are available in a wide range of quality levels. Their heavy construction which makes them slow to respond to temperature changes. Slow response can result in noticeable temperature swings above and below the thermostat’s temperature setting. However, they provide a reasonable level of comfort for bedrooms, kitchens, and entrances.

Heater mounted: Built-in thermostats are line voltage thermostats designed for installation in one end of an electric baseboard heater.

They provide poor temperature control and are the least expensive. Because their sensing element is at floor level, they provide the least sensitive control of space temperature and are very inconvenient to adjust. Therefore, their use should be restricted to confined areas where a wall location is unavailable or accurate temperature control is not necessary.

Low voltage

Low voltage thermostats are the standard type for gas, oil, and central electric heating systems. They have built-in anticipators which allow them to sense slight changes in room temperature and maintain a comfortable level of heat. They are more expensive than Line Voltage thermostats, but in most cases are worth the extra cost.

Low voltage thermostats are recommended with electric baseboard heaters for primary living areas such as the living, dining, family rooms or wherever accurate control of temperature is desired.

Electronic

Electronic thermostats are the most accurate type available. They constantly monitor the room temperature and modulate the heater output to match the room’s heating requirements to maintain the desired temperature.

Electronic thermostat costs are comparable to low voltage and they are also recommended for living, dining, family rooms or where ever accurate control of temperature is desired.

Programmable

Programmable thermostats are available in various types for new installations or as replacements for low voltage, electronic and wall mounted line voltage thermostats.

Programmable thermostats will automatically raise or lower temperatures to preset levels based on time of day. They can reduce temperatures when you are sleeping or when the home is unoccupied. They can also warm your home before you get up in the morning or before you arrive home later in the day.

Thermostat Selection Guide Type Performance Location Cost Line Voltage Less accurate temp. Bedrooms, kitchen Low – Wall settings, less entrances, Medium Mounted sensitive; fair-poor washrooms temp. control Heater Least accurate, poor Confined areas Low Mounted temp. control. Low Voltage Accurate temp.; Living, dining room; High excellent temp. control family, rec rooms Electronic Highly sensitive; Living, dining room; High highly accurate; family, rec rooms excellent temp. control Programmable The programmable thermostat is available in all of High the above types. This feature permits automatic control of raising or lowering temperature at pre- set times of the day. It may be used on electric baseboards or any central heating system

Upgrading thermostats

If you are unhappy with the comfort level provided by your existing thermostat, you may want to have it recalibrated, upgraded to a better quality line voltage, or replaced with low voltage or electronic control where feasible. One thermostat per room or open area is recommended for best comfort.

Homeowner maintenance

To keep your heating system operating efficiently, remember to clean and service it regularly. • For an oil furnace and boiler this means a thorough cleaning and tuning each spring. • For gas furnaces and boilers, servicing should be carried out at least once every two years. • All major furnace tune-up and cleaning work should be carried out by a qualified service technician. • If you have a forced air system, keep warm air grills and vents clean and free of obstruction, and change or clean your filters once a month during the heating season. • If you have hot water radiation, bleed your radiators on a regular basis unless your system has an automatic bleeding capacity. • For baseboard electric and hot water systems, vacuum heating fins on a regular basis.

Setting the temperature

The correct temperature setting is important for comfort and for efficient operation of your heating system. Suggested settings are between 18°C and 21° C for main living areas, between 16°C and 18°C for bedrooms and 15°C for basements and unoccupied areas or rooms. It is recommended that doors to the cooler areas be kept closed.

Thermostats will automatically maintain an even level of heat in each room once the heating system has been properly balanced. To balance an electric heating system controlled with line voltage thermostats in each room may require some experimentation.

Place a thermometer near the wall mounted thermostat, or if the thermostat is built-in to the heater, then place the thermometer across the room near the light switch. Set the thermostat to the desired temperature and wait until the room temperature is stabilized. If necessary, make a slight adjustment up or down to the thermostat setting based on the thermometer reading. Once the desired temperature is maintained on the thermometer, recalibrate the thermostat or place a mark on the thermostat to indicate the correct set point.

Repeat the above procedure in each room or area until all thermostats have been recalibrated or marked to indicate the correct set point for the desired temperature.

Temperature setback

Thermostat settings 3-5°C below normal are recommended at night or when the home is unoccupied for 6 or more hours. This moderate setback saves energy, yet enables the system to respond quickly when the thermostat is reset to the normal setting. Increasing thermostat settings above the desired temperature will not speed up heat recovery.

Recommended thermostat settings Temperature Activity 21°C (70°F) sitting, reading, watching TV 20°C (68°F) working around the house 18°C (64°F) sleeping at night 15°C (61°F) house unoccupied

If you would like to receive information on other topics, or require clarification of any information in this brochure please contact us at 1-800-663-2802 or visit www.newfoundlandpower.com