What is the purpose of the Thermostat in an HVAC System?
A thermostat in an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system maintains the desired temperature in a room or building. The thermostat acts as a control device that measures the current temperature and compares it to the desired temperature set by the user. If the temperature is below the desired setting in the case of heating or above the desired setting in the case of cooling, the thermostat signals the HVAC system to turn on and heat or cool the space. Once the desired temperature is reached, the thermostat signals the HVAC system to turn off. This cycle continues, as necessary, to maintain the desired temperature and keep the room or building comfortable. Some thermostats also have advanced features like scheduling, zoning, and remote access to help homeowners save energy and money.
Whether you heat your home with propane, fuel oil, or natural gas, there is a direct connection between the higher cost of oil and the overall cost to warm your residence or business, regardless of fuel type. Whether your system is hot air, hot water, or radiant heat doesn’t matter. As heating fuel prices rise, homeowners and business owners look at energy efficiencies. These include replacing old windows, installing insulation in attics, and putting foam inserts behind light switch plates. With the return of NJ subsidies for solar energy, high heating costs drive some to consider rooftop solar power as an alternative fuel source. The most popular is a thermal blanket around the hot water tank.
How Does an HVAC Thermostat Work
Thermostats work by sensing the temperature in the room or building and then activating the HVAC system to maintain the desired temperature. The specific workings of a thermostat can vary depending on the type of thermostat and HVAC system.
A thermostat generally consists of a temperature sensor, a control circuit, and an output switch. The temperature sensor is typically a bimetallic strip or thermistor that expands or contracts based on temperature changes. The control circuit processes the temperature data from the sensor and determines whether the HVAC system needs to be activated. The output switch then signals the HVAC system to turn on or off.
For example, in a heating system, when the temperature in the room drops below the desired temperature set by the user, the bimetallic strip or thermistor in the thermostat detects the temperature change. It sends a signal to the control circuit. The control circuit then sends a signal to the heating system to turn on, and the heating system starts to warm the room until the desired temperature is reached. Once the desired temperature is reached, the thermostat sends a signal to the control circuit, which turns off the heating system.
In a cooling system, the thermostat works similarly but in reverse. When the temperature in the room rises above the desired temperature set by the user, the thermostat sends a signal to the control circuit to activate the cooling system. The cooling system then lowers the temperature in the room until the desired temperature is reached, at which point the thermostat sends a signal to the control circuit to turn off the cooling system.
The thermostat is a control device that regulates a room’s temperature, helping maintain a comfortable and energy-efficient environment.
Thermostat – Sometimes, we miss the easy ones.
Ironically, the least expensive and often most efficient is the most obvious – replacing old manual thermostats with modern versions. These clever devices can raise and lower temps when no one is home and during sleeping hours.
Consider it – let’s say you keep your home at a comfortable 72 degrees. While you or your family are home, that’s a reasonable temperature to ensure comfort without putting on two or three sweaters.
But if you and your spouse both leave for work, and the children head to school before 8 AM, you could lower the temperature to 62 (or less). At 4 PM, before everyone gets homes, it begins restoring it to a comfortable 72 degrees. Once everyone has retired to bed for the evening at 10 PM, the thermostat reduces the heat to 62. Remember that even on the coldest nights, if you have hot water heat, the heated pipes will take time to lose their heat, so you enjoy the warmer temperature for free.
Hi-Tech meets Home Comfort.
In recent years, several hi-tech, WiFi-connected thermostats like Nest can adjust the temperature from anywhere. If conditions change, i.e., school closes early, a meeting ends ahead of schedule, or any good reasons to turn up the heat before the family returns home. Using nothing more than a smartphone, a user can make a change to raise temps on-demand from anywhere they can connect to the internet.
A trip to visit relatives for Christmas doesn’t mean the house has to run as if people were home to keep warm. Instead, connect to the Wi-Fi-connected thermostat and keep the home at a lower temperature that won’t risk a frozen pipe. In essence, it gives you, whether a homeowner or business owner, complete control over when warmer temps are called for and when not to enjoy the savings of a lower fuel cost.
Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC – Your Trusted Advisor
Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC has been installing various smartphone-accessible thermostats for years. They genuinely pay for themselves, especially if you have multi-zone heating, i.e., a basement and bedrooms separate from other living or working spaces. If Wi-Fi-connected thermostats seem too sci-fi for you – worry not. A professional quality programmable thermostat can do almost the same function when set up correctly and tuned to your unique at home or at business hours. Therefore, consider the thermostat before buying all the other means to lower costs. It, among all the other expensive choices, can reduce your heating costs this season.
NJ Energy Audits
Most NJ Public Service Utilities offer Energy Audits. Utility companies usually provide these for no or low cost and can find areas of poor insulation or downright holes where heat is escaping. They may be overly aggressive in their suggestions – change windows, wrap pipes with insulation, add door sweeps to minimize drafts – all good ideas, but not immediately necessary.
Next Steps
Before replacing your thermostat, contact Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC and Heating to learn about our latest announcement. The new Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC PRIME heating system inspection is designed to do more than you’ll get with a $79 service call. Our combined new technologies and equipment go further than ever before to prevent problems before they begin. Our latest slogan says it all “We Care About Your Heat, Your Health, and Your Happiness” For 40 years, that’s precisely what Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC has done for thousands of customers throughout Bergen County. While your Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC tech is there, ask him about your current thermostat and the best choice for your home and life.
Call Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC and Heating today. We promise. You’ll enjoy a toasty winter!
About Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC
Exclusively Serving Bergen County, New Jersey
Michael Muccia is a Master Plumber and the owner and operator of Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC is a full-service Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) service company based in and serving Bergen County, NJ, since 1978. The Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC team of trained and certified service technicians offers various services, including general plumbing and heating maintenance, for residential and commercial clients.
Whatever your plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or ventilation needs are, it’s easier with Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. We treat our customers, large and small, with the best service in the industry. We know you have a choice when considering an HVAC company, and no matter what we do for you, we treat it as the most crucial job in our history. Our experience proves that we know how to work efficiently, which keeps costs low, uses only the best components within budget, and stands behind the work we do.
Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC has locations in the following areas:
Hackensack | Hillside | Ramsey | Waldwick | Maywood | Tenafly
