Programmable thermostats allow you to set different temperatures at different times of the day, providing the appropriate level of comfort while you are home and adjusting to a set-back, or energy-saving temperature, when you’re away or asleep. Programmable thermostats are also equipped with controls that allow you to manually override the program’s schedule as needed.
A basic programmable thermostat will allow you to program a heating and cooling schedule in. This can be the same every day of the week, and within each day you can choose temperatures that suit certain times. It’s as simple as that. Once programmed, the thermostat will do everything for you. Your system will come on at the time you choose and switch up, down or off when needed.
The more complex designs will also reduce the amount of energy you use, but they offer more flexibility and an even further reduction in what you spend. For instance, you can buy thermostats that will allow you to remotely access your system when you’re away from home or the office. So in case something unexpected comes up and you’re not coming home at the time you programmed your system to turn on, you can override the program so it won’t turn on yet.
From your desktop or mobile device, it’s possible even to amend the settings so your system can adapt to things like the local weather or humidity levels. Having this option is particularly useful if an unexpected heat wave occurs and you want to switch your system off.