The thermostat is the tool that activates the boiler or air conditioning system at set times or when changes in temperature occur, both in the home and in the office. Energy experts agree that proper programming of the thermostat, which regulates the temperature according to the times you are at home, saves money on your bills. By setting this device according to your needs, you can save and not waste energy.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Direct Setup
Step 1. Learn the differences between the settings
If your home has a central heating and air conditioning system, then there may be a central thermostat that manages it. Whether programmable or not, thermostats all have similar settings, including those for air circulation, heating and cooling.
Step 2. Turn on the fan
Usually this function has an "on" or "auto" key. By choosing "on", the air circulation will be started throughout the house without changing the temperature. The system fan will remain functional as long as the button is activated. By choosing "auto", the system fan is controlled by the system, depending on the setting - the fan will start when heating or air conditioning are to be circulated.
- The "on" function is considered a waste of energy, because it uses a lot of energy to keep the air moving. For this reason, only the "auto" function is often left active.
- Many use the "on" setting only when it is necessary to ventilate the house - for example, when you burn a dish in the kitchen and need to disperse the bad smell.
Step 3. Set the air conditioning
Depending on the model, the thermostat may have a small switch on the front plate or a button that allows you to switch between heating and cooling settings and to turn them off. You can program the system to cool the house by flipping the switch or pressing a button until the word "climate" or the snowflake symbol appears. You will notice a number on the thermostat monitor. This corresponds to the ambient temperature of the house. Use the up and down arrows on the device to set the temperature you want in the house. A new number will appear on the monitor corresponding to the chosen temperature.
- You will most likely hear a "click" from the thermostat, and the air conditioning system will turn on to lower the house temperature down to the value you set.
- The system will continue to operate until the temperature in the whole house is equal to the one you have chosen; once the set value is reached it will switch off. When the thermometer inside the device registers a new temperature rise, the cooling system will turn on automatically.
- You can use the same switch or button to turn off the system at any time.
Step 4. Set the heating
The process is very similar to that for cooling. Use the same switch or button to switch to the "heating" setting. Then press the same keys with the up or down arrows to program the temperature. Also in this case, the system will only activate when the room temperature is lower than the set one.
You may also notice an "antifreeze" or "emergency heating" function. This is a very useful feature, especially in very cold regions where outside temperatures drop abundantly below freezing. When you choose this function, the boiler is constantly in action to keep the system water above the freezing point, thus avoiding blocked pipes and costly interventions by the plumber. This function should only be activated when you are away from home for a long time in winter
Method 2 of 2: Program the Thermostat
Step 1. Read the manual
Although programmable thermostats have roughly the same functions, they are not necessarily all used in the same way. If you have your model manual, keep it handy in case there are any special features.
Step 2. Determine your schedule
Take note of the times you leave the house for at least 4 consecutive hours. Schedule all week, taking into account the 24 hours each day.
Step 3. Enter date and time
First you need to enter the current time and date for the thermostat to properly respect your schedule. Virtually all models have a "set" or "date / time" button. Press this button and a clock should appear on the display where you can enter the time and date. Use the directional arrows to set the information and then press the "set" or "date / time" button again to confirm it before moving on to the next steps.
- Guided instructions will be shown to enter the time in 12 or 24 hour format;
- You may need to indicate the day of the week as well - this will probably ask you once you have set the date and time.
Step 4. Press the "set" or "program" button
Once the day, date and time have been entered, the thermostat is ready to be programmed according to your needs. Some manufacturers provide a "program" key, while others insert a single "set" key that you must press several times until you see the setting you want. At this point, a message will appear on the display inviting you to set the morning "wake-up time" for the days of the week. It is advisable to enter a time slightly earlier than when you actually wake up, so that the system is already in operation when you get up.
- Most models allow you to set an independent time for the weekend, while others have the ability to schedule each day separately.
- Again use the directional arrows to set the time.
Step 5. Press the "set" or "program" button again to set the temperature
Once you have set the "alarm", you need to determine what temperature you want in the morning. Press the button for this function according to your device, until you notice that the temperature value starts flashing. Enter the number you want with the directional arrows.
Some models allow you to program a temperature range so that you don't need to reprogram your thermostat for each season. For example, you could schedule the morning temperature for summer and winter. In this way the system heats or cools when the room temperature is lower or higher than the one set as reference
Step 6. Set the time you leave the house and the temperature to be maintained in your absence
Once the "alarm" has been set, you must indicate the time when you usually leave the house during the week. Most people set a very high temperature in the summer and very low in the winter to save electricity while no one is home. Use the same procedure as explained above and press the "set" or "program" key followed by the directional arrows to enter the necessary information.
If you don't want the system to work when you are away, you can simply set a temperature that is impossible for your home to reach
Step 7. Set the time you come home
At this point, program the time you plan to return during the week and the temperature you want to maintain. Just like you did with the "wake up" time, set it a little in advance so that the room has already reached a pleasant temperature by the time you plan to arrive.
Step 8. Set the schedule for the night
The fourth and final step for weekday settings is to enter the time you go to sleep and the temperature you want to keep at night. Since many people sleep with their windows open in the summer and under a mountain of blankets in the winter, you can save money and energy by raising and lowering (respectively) the settings for the night temperature.
Whichever value you choose, this will be maintained until the "wake up call" you have scheduled for the next morning
Step 9. Repeat the process for the weekend
When you have finished programming the working days, the thermostat offers you the programming for the weekend (alarm clock, exit time, return time and night). Just like you did before, use the "set" or "program" button to move around the device menu and use the directional arrows to adjust the time and temperature.
Step 10. Press the "ok" button to activate the set schedule
Depending on your model, once you have entered all the data for the weekend, you will be redirected to the screen with the current time, date and temperature and the device will go into operation. Other models instead require you to press the "ok" button to activate the program.
Advice
- To set a certain temperature, you can use the up and down arrows to disable the programmed setting; then press the "ok" or "manual" key to keep the chosen value. When you want the thermostat to return to the settings you set earlier, press "auto".
- You can temporarily disable the schedule using the up and down arrow keys and set the temperature. This will be respected until the time settings bring the thermostat back to the established program.
- If you program the thermostat properly during the cooler seasons, you can save a little on your bill without suffering considerable variations in the temperature inside the house.
- If you want to maximize savings by programming the thermostat, you should set it no higher than 20 ° C in winter, while in summer the air conditioning system should not be regulated below 25 ° C. These values are to be respected when you are at home and awake; if you are not at home, the system should be turned off.
