Your thermostat is a vital piece of your home’s heating and cooling system. It regulates the temperature in your home by telling the HVAC units to turn on or off at certain times. Here’s why the location of your thermostat is just as important as what type of thermostat you buy.
How your thermostat works
Thermostats track temperature changes in the air. Basic models use two strips of metal that expand or contract with temperature changes. However, modern, smart thermostats use electronic sensors to gauge the ambient temperature.
Regardless of the type, all thermostats measure the temperature in the air in their immediate vicinity. Consequently, a thermostat in your living room can’t regulate the temperature in your bedroom. Therefore, it’s best to locate your thermostat in an area where you spend most of your time.
Locations to avoid
If your thermostat is in an unsuitable location, it won’t accurately read the temperature in the air and could make your HVAC system run too often or not enough. Consequently, some rooms may become too cold, and some too warm. Here are some tips for finding the best location for your thermostat:
Stay away from exterior walls and floors. Place your thermostat on an interior wall at least 45 centimetres from an exterior wall and at least 1.5 metres off the floor.
Locate your thermostat well away from hot water pipes, fireplaces and air vents.
Avoid locating your thermostat near windows and doors, as drafts can result in skewed readings.
Keep your thermostat out of direct sunlight. This can fool your thermostat into thinking it’s warmer than it is. Therefore, it may make your air conditioning system run more often.
Avoid placing your thermostat in drafty stairways or areas with poor air circulation.
Keep furniture, houseplants and other obstacles away from your thermostat.
Ideally, your thermostat should be placed near the centre of your home.
Upgrading your thermostat
On top of correctly placing your thermostat, you may want to consider upgrading to a smart model to improve the efficiency and comfort of your home.
Smart thermostats offer precise control over your home’s air temperature. You can program them to run less often at night or when you’re not home. You can also control your thermostat with your smartphone. For example, you can warm or cool your home while you’re commuting to and from work or school.
Moreover, modern HVAC systems often have a zoning feature, which allows you to control the temperature in different areas of your home. Fortunately, it’s easy to retrofit your existing system with this feature.
Heating and air conditioning services in Calgary
At Harmony Heating & Air Conditioning, our HVAC experts are dedicated to making your home as comfortable as possible. We carry a variety of home heating and cooling solutions and offer comprehensive repair and maintenance services. Contact us today for a free no-obligation quote.