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How Does a Thermostat Work? A Simple Explanation for Homeowners
Thermostats are at the heart of controlling your home’s comfort. It’s common for homeowners to understand the basics of thermostats, but this system is much more than that. So, how does a thermostat work? Home Comfort Experts is here to extend our knowledge on the ins and outs of thermostats so as a homeowner, you have the information you need to obtain efficient heating and cooling.
What is a Thermostat?
A thermostat is a system tasked to maintain temperature within a home or space. A thermostat will keep the heat around the same level when temperatures are cold and switch off the heat when it’s no longer needed.
The thermostat got its name from the combination of two Greek words: thermo and statos. Thermo means heat and statos means staying the same. A thermostat can commonly be mistaken for a thermometer which strictly measures the temperature.
Thermostat Types
Thermostats are offered in a couple of different types. The types of thermostats differentiate themselves by their form of operation. Let’s look at the main two types of thermostats and how they vary in operation.
Digital Thermostats
Digital thermostats contain internal components responsible for diagnosing an accurate reading of the room’s temperature and providing a swift response to temperature adjustment.
How Does a Digital Thermostat Work?
The digital thermostat’s electronic sensors start by reading a home’s internal temperature. Once an accurate reading has been established, the system will fine-tune the heating as it’s needed. As its operation continues, the digital thermostat keeps the targeted temperature setting within a single-degree range.
Mechanical Thermostats
Instead of the inner components of a digital system, mechanical thermostats utilize two pieces of metal. The two pieces of metal are laminated together within the thermostat’s sensor where it can carry out the same end goal.
How Does a Mechanical Thermostat Work?
The inner metals of the mechanical thermostat expand and contract when temperature changes occur. At this point, the connected electrical circuit is switched on and off accordingly to adjust to the heating needs of the home.
Compared to the digital variety, mechanical thermostats aren’t as accurate at staying close to the targeted temperature. Temperatures can often be as much as five degrees different than the set point.
How Thermostats Work and Regulate Your Home’s Climate
We’ve covered how digital and mechanical thermostats work and regulate home temperature. Let’s delve deeper into the function of a thermostat and break down its other key pieces of important information.
Understanding Bimetallic Strips and Mercury Switches
Two components of importance are bimetallic strips and mercury switches. Bimetallic strips are the piece of metal made up of two laminated metals. This strip expands and contracts when they’re heated or cooled. When the coil component is heated, the coil expands and the strip often unwinds.
Mercury switches relay to the thermostat’s circuit card to control its mode of heating or cooling. The mercury switch is mounted at the end of the coil so once it winds or unwinds, the switch can function accordingly.
Inner Workings: Thermostat Wiring and Relays
As the mercury switch tips to the left or right, a relay is made to start the heater or air conditioner. Other inner workings to consider are the heat anticipator and the resistive loop of wiring. The heat anticipator can shut off the heater to prevent the air inside the thermostat from reaching the set temperature—acting as another cooling device.
Then there’s the resistive loop of wiring. As the current is being passed through, the resistor wiring generates heat. The generated heat warms the coil, allowing it to unwind and communicate with the mercury switch to shut the heater off.
Whether your home uses a furnace or heat pump, Home Comfort Experts has the services you may need when the time comes. Our services include:
System Zoning: Enhancing Efficiency and Comfort
To battle the common inconvenience of inconsistent indoor temperatures from room to room, multiple thermostats can be utilized and wired to one control panel. This is called system zoning.
The thermostats read the temperature of a specific zone and work with the dampers of the home’s ductwork. Dampers are either opened or closed depending on the desired temperature of the room, yielding enhanced efficiency and comfort.
Thermostat Placement and Best Practices
For the efficient function of a thermostat, placement is an important consideration. The most optimal placement for a thermostat in the home is where most people spend their time. Measurement-wise, the thermostat should be 5 feet off the ground and 18 inches away from an outside wall.
Other best practices to follow include:
- The thermostat should not be exposed to other sources of heat other than the air. Examples: Hot-water pipes, sunlight, heated appliances, windows, or heater vents.
- Avoid placement near stairways or in corners. Placement in these areas can affect air circulation.
How to Set Your Thermostat
Once the above factors have been taken into account, you can set the thermostat. Start by setting the thermostat to the lowest temperature you find comfortable.
Generally, this temperature ranges from 64 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermostat then senses colder weather to control the heat accordingly and regulate the set ambient temperature.
Need Help With Your Thermostat? Let Us Help
For assistance with your home’s thermostat, turn to Home Comfort Experts. Our team specializes in providing high-quality residential services to drive efficiency, functionality, and comfort. Making sure our Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan customers are satisfied is our biggest priority—even when it comes to assisting with thermostats. We even offer emergency heating services.
Contact us and leave your home’s comfort in the hands of the experts.
FAQs
1) How Does a Radiator Thermostat Work?
Radiator thermostats involve a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) which sits on one side of the radiator. The TRV comes with a control to adjust the temperature set point and even have the unit off entirely.
2) How Does a Programmable Thermostat Work?
Programmable thermostats work by being set on a certain schedule. Once the schedule has been put into the system, the thermostat will follow it to provide heating or turn the heating off.
3) How Does a Wi-Fi Thermostat Work?
Wi-Fi thermostats allow for remote control from a mobile phone or computer. Homeowners can make temperature adjustments on the fly and on the go because of its connection to the internet.
4) How Does a Programmable Thermostat Help with Energy Efficiency?
Since programmable thermostats follow a set schedule, no energy is being wasted during certain times of the day or week. This flexibility allows for heightened energy efficiency.
5) How Does a Thermostat Regulate Heating Systems?
The thermostat includes components responsible for detecting temperature levels and can make adjustments accordingly for heating or cooling.
