How Learning Thermostats are Different from Programmable Thermostats

December 04, 2018

Your thermostat is a huge factor in how much you’re paying on your utility bills. Simply programming your thermostat for stretches when you’re sleeping or gone can make a large impact without having a negative affect on your comfort levels. Depending on the model of your thermostat, you might benefit from a lot of additional features.

At Patterson & Stirling Inc, we’ve got a selection of programmable thermostats to meet your needs—from the most simple models to the most modern learning thermostats. How will you know what you need in your home? First, learn the difference between basic programmable thermostats and advanced learning models. Both can help you save energy and money, but you’ll need to decide which features are most important to your home.

Most programmable thermostats will let you schedule your days to control temperatures when you’re routinely there and gone. Depending on the model you select, you may be able to record 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 different one. You’ll also want to look at the number of periods during each day you can set up. 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 select can accommodate your needs.

For some individuals, being able to arrange a regular schedule (or two) and override it when needed is enough. But if you want added 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.

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 regardless of where you are. Some types 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 over the span of a few days.

So, no matter what your heating and cooling wants are, Patterson & Stirling Inc will help you find the most appropriate thermostat for your home and budget. You’ll get to enjoy ultimate home comfort with potential energy savings. Contact us at 814-308-0416 to learn more, or schedule an appointment with us online.