A programmable thermostat basically offers you diverse temperature settings at different times of a day, seven days a week. These thermostats are generally available in either 7 day model, 5+2 day model, or a 5+1+1 day model.

To program these thermostats, you need to feed in the start and end times of the day for a particular temperature. The thermostat sustains the preset temperature for a given time period and initiates change in temperature when the period changes. Up to 4 periods in a day can generally be configured.

Buying a Programmable Thermostat

• Study your own requirements and energy usage pattern and buy a thermostat which suits you the most. Consult your Houston air conditioning repair contractor for more help.
• Some thermostats also allow you to lock them so that the settings once saved cannot be changed by an unauthorized person.
• A few models may even provide you the luxury of a remote control.
• While you may choose any possible temperature, the temperatures commonly used range from 70oF to 78oF – comfortable enough for most people.
• You may use the ‘vacation’ functionality in case you are going to be away from the house for more than a day. This feature will enable the thermostat to retain a constant temperature throughout the day without any unwanted variations.
• You may also program your thermostat, if it is a thermostat with adaptive recovery, to reach a preset temperature by a given time on a particular day.

Programmable thermostats can be either electro-mechanical or electronic. It is suggested that a programmable thermostat be kept away from places likely to trigger a false operation – that is away from skylights and strong sunlight, high-wattage lamps, sources of heat like fireplaces, chimneys, doors and windows, sources of cool air like doors, windows and refrigerators, etc.