How Learning Thermostats are Different from Programmable Thermostats

December 04, 2018

Your thermostat is a big part of how much your energy bills are every month. Merely programming your thermostat for times when you’re sleeping or away can make a large impact without negatively affecting your comfort levels. Depending on which thermostat you select, you can do a whole lot more to make an even bigger impact.

At Dave's Diversified Services, we’ve got an array of programmable thermostats to meet your needs—from the most uncomplicated models to the most modern learning thermostats. How can you know what you need in your home? First, learn the difference between basic programmable thermostats and advanced learning models. Either of these can help you save energy and money, but you’ll want to determine which features are most important to your home.

All programmable thermostats will give you the chance to schedule your days to control temperatures when you’re routinely there and gone. Depending on the model you select, you could be able to record one schedule, which you may end up overriding on days you are actually home. Some models will permit you to program your weekdays on one schedule and your weekends on a separate schedule. You’ll also want to check the number of periods you can select each day. For instance, will you want the temperature in your house different when you sleep, when you wake up, when you’re at work and when you are home in the evening? Be sure the thermostat you select can accommodate your needs.

For some people, being able to establish a regular schedule (or two) and override it when needed is plenty. But if you want additional flexibility, it’s probably time to look into a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat allows you to completely customize a heating and cooling schedule for every day of the week.

Flexibility isn’t the only benefit that smart thermostats provide, but they’re also Wi-Fi enabled so you can manage your home’s temperature regardless of where you are. Some selections 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 the actual activity in your home. Some models don’t even need to be programmed—you just turn them on and let them figure everything out on their own over the span of a few days.

So, no matter what your heating and cooling needs are, Dave's Diversified Services will help you find the perfect thermostat for your home and budget. You’ll experience ultimate home comfort with potential energy savings. Give us a call at 540-636-3396 to find out more, or schedule an appointment with us online.