Programmable thermostat recommendation ?

[Lee]

Never had one before, so I have no idea what to look for. Usually I just keep the house coldish in the winter and warmish in the summer rather than running a bill up, but I may now be ready to move forward . I spend most of my free time in one room watching tv etc, using a Delonghi type radiator, so it's not like I'm stoic.

I work M-F so I think it might be nice to wake up to a warm house for a change, and one day a week I have to get up several hr early for a meeting, so some flexibility would be nice, but not mandatory, for that day. Ease of use is not mandatory, although it would be nice. I can generally figure out dvr's, vcr's etc w/o instructions.

I'll be having someone else install it since I don't "do" electric! I'd like to spend in the $50-70 range, but like I said I don't know anything about them, so if there is a compelling reason to pay more for a particular model, I'd be interested in that recommendation as well. Any particular features I should look for, or are they all pretty much the same? This will be replacing a Honeywell digital (but not programmable) unit if that makes any difference. Oh, and it's for an oil furnace, forced hot air. Also have A/C.

[Eric in North TX]

If all you want is set back, you should be able to find a few in that price range that break the day into 4 segments, wake, day, evening and sleep. Past that it is down to ease of programing & a display that doesn't require reading glasses. One feature to hold out for is; "copy previous day". that lets you set one day to your liking, the copy it across the week. I'm holding out for dehumidify, so far only available on higher end models, it won't save any money, but it sure feels good. I have it on my main unit, but have yet to get it on my zoned ones. That feature pretty much doubles your top figure. Since you are planning to have the work done, I hope you were quoting the $50-70 for the unit.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Honeywell Vision Pro line according to your need. The best in the market as far as I am concerned. I installed Vsion Pro 8000 at my cabin, Honeywell wireless thermostat at home. Totally satisfied.

[Joe]

I vote with everybody else that Honeywell has excellent thermostats. Best in my experience are mid- to upscale units, say $55 and up, best balance of needed features.

Joe

[RBM]

Honeywell thermostats are fine, but in my opinion overpriced. Anything a Honeywell can do, a White Rogers can do cheaper. I've never had problems with them, which I can't say for Honeywell, and I find them easier to program and operate in general. Here is one that will work for your needs:

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Either Honeywell or White Rogers.

Most will do a 5/2 program and if you work Mon-Fri that is all you need. Others have more options as to the individual days so if you have odd days off, that is best for you. I like having the heat come on 15 minutes before I get out of bed.

[jimmyDahGeek]

Well the cm24 is more expensive but a has a feature you might want to consider. It allows you to call and adjust the temperature. Say you are at work and didn't leave the air on but it got really hot. You can call before you leave and turn it on.

Good Luck, Jim

[Bob M.]

With only two or three wires to install, and it's only 24vac, you can probably handle it.

If you're one that stays up past midnight as I am, note that some mfgr's offerings don't allow you to program past midnight. I had a Lux? unit that acted that way. My Honeywells allow programming past midnight, i.e. if my "return" part of the program (normally for when you get home around dinner time) starts at 4:30pm, on the Honeywell it can end past midnight. Not so on the Lux, it had to end at 11:45pm since it only worked in 15-minute increments.

There are a few different kinds: those that allow a different program for all 7 days (called 7-day programmable), those that have one program for all weekdays and one for each weekend day, and those that do one program for all weekdays and one program for both weekend days.

[terry]

Bob. The two programmable thermostats I have encountered were not low voltage (e.g. 24 volts AC) they were 'line voltage' at 230 volts AC. Also as previously discussed on this news group there is a not only a maximum wattage they can handle but also a minimum. In other words they only work if there is a working heater/s connected.

The OP must take care to have the right type of thermostat; although that should not be a problem if a proper electrical person does the work. Was there not an instance here or somewhere when a person tried using a low voltage thermostat, although not a programmable one, in place of a 'line voltage' one? Thereby causing a small fire with minor smoke damage?

[CJT]

I like my Honeywell. I've got it set up to let the house warm up during the summer/cool off in the winter while we're at work. If I'm home on a weekday, I just push the override. I think it has saved me a bundle in energy costs.

[Wayne Boatwright]

On Tue 09 Sep 2008 09:47:52p, CJT told us...

The Honeywell we have can be programmed by the day. We have it set essentially the way you do, but I work at home on Fridays, so our Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are programmed alike. We're generally home on the weekend, but if not, the override to a manual setting works a treat.

[Tony Hwang]

Hmmm, Programming is so awful? It's so called armchair programming with copy feature. You take the 'stat off the wall, program it sitting at the kitchen chair or at the desk in your den and when it's done put it back on the wall. I can put in vacantion mode with deisred temp. I can hold at certain for couple hours, a day or two as I wish. When batteries need replacing after about 1.5 year, just replace them. All the program is still there w/o being lost. Setting back/raising temp. defnitely saves energy.

[SteveB]

You want two high quality ones the power company came and installed in my house?

Unless you have an absolutely predictable life, your unit will always run unnecessarily, or you will have to put it on manual sometime to adjust the temp.

Programming them is next to learning html on the learning scale. And if anyone messes with it, you will be a while before you notice anything awry, and in the process lose a lot of energy. Translation: cash.

I replaced them with two twenty dollar units. On - Off - Cool - Heat - Fan - Auto.

So simple I can work it.

And if I go away for a few days, it isn't cooling or heating the whole place with no one home. Or, I don't have to program and then reprogram them.

At first, they sounded like a good thing, but I'd never ever own another.

Steve

[Wayne Boatwright]

On Tue 09 Sep 2008 11:03:21p, Tony Hwang told us...

What brand/model do you have, Tony?

[SteveB]

Our schedule was erratic, and our units ran a lot when they did not need to. It all depends on the person. I personally don't like heating and cooling the house for hours or days on end when I am not there. It doesn't really take that long to kick it into gear and have the house warm or cool, and I'd just as soon pocket that cash. While the thermostats were in use, the highest monthly bill was $600. After that, the highest was $350.

Steve

[Lee]

With my current thermostat, I just leave it cool in the winter and tepid in the summer. I occasionally change it manually, but am always worried I'll forget to reset it, so mostly leave it alone. I'm the kind that also uses countdown timers on heaters and fans, so that's why I'm interested in this.

Thanks everyone for their input; I have a much better idea of what to look for now. Fortunately we're getting into the season here where I won't need heat or AC for a little while, so I have time to shop around.