Every home has one and every homeowner uses one, but outside of turning on the heat or kicking on the AC, most people don’t think a lot about their home’s thermostat. If you have an older home, or have an HVAC system that was installed after the home was already built, then you might want to take a second look at this important piece of equipment. If the thermostat isn’t in a good location, your home might not be as comfortable as it could be. You might even be paying more than you should in utility bills!
So how do you know if your thermostat’s in the right place? Let’s take a moment and learn about what the thermostat does and where it should be placed for optimal performance.
The thermostat is essentially the brains of your HVAC system. It helps regulate your home’s temperature by telling your system when it’s time to turn on and when it needs to shut off. This means that the thermostat plays a vital role in making your home comfortable year-round as well as in managing your energy use. When something isn’t working correctly, your home will be less comfortable and you’ll probably have some uncomfortably high utility bills as well!
While there are many things that can go wrong with a thermostat, something as simple as having it in the wrong place can also be a big problem. If you have a home that never feels right even though your HVAC system is working properly, then thermostat placement might be to blame. Today we’re going to talk about where you should and should not have your thermostat for optimal comfort and efficiency.
So where should your thermostat be located? For starters, you will typically want to place it about 5 feet from the ground and at least 1.5 feet from an outside wall. This helps to prevent a cold or hot external wall from triggering your system to stay on or go off prematurely. A location towards the center of your home usually serves both of these purposes fairly well.
You should also look for an area that is free of drafts. For instance, if your thermostat is near your front or back door, it will be exposed to outside air every time the door is opened. This includes windows and areas with ceiling fans. Remember, your thermostat needs to gauge the temperature accurately in order to work properly. These external factors will skew your thermostat’s readings, telling it to kick on too often or not often enough.
Next, make sure that your thermostat isn’t near any of your home’s vents. This will drastically change the temperature around it and prevent it from ever truly knowing the temperature of your home. Even having hot lights near the unit can alter the temperature enough to turn it on or off. For these reasons, the interior hall of a home often makes a good location since it is free of windows and vents and is usually shielded from doors. Your home is unique, however, so it’s important to consider the layout of your home carefully before making a decision.
If you need help to determine if your thermostat is in a good place, you can always call a professional. They can help you place it in the best area for your home’s size and layout. They can also offer you options on programmable thermostats that are more efficient and customizable.