Looking to upgrade or replace your thermostat? There are a few things you need to consider in order to get the best possible thermostat for your home. It’s more than just choosing what bells and whistles you want with your thermostat; some thermostats only work with certain systems, some are manually set, and some can be programmed.

HVAC System

The first step is to make sure you have the right thermostat for your HVAC system. These include central heat, central heat and air, heat pump, baseboard, fireplace, and furnace. The thermostat’s packaging should indicate what system it is designed for, so make sure you match it to what you have.

Thermostat Type

Learning thermostats program themselves as you use them. They track your heating and cooling

order to set a schedule that’s most efficient for your home. Programmable thermostats let you set periods of time throughout the day for the heat or AC to run or remain off. These can also be very efficient, as long as they are programmed effectively. Manual thermostats can be set to a temperature and turn the AC on when it rises above the temp, or turn the heat on when it drops below the temp. These are the least efficient, because if you forget to turn them off before leaving home or going to bed, they will continue to run.

Program Modes

With programmable thermostats, you’ll want to choose one that is easiest to set. A 7-Day model lets you program each day separately. A 5-1-1 Day lets you program all the weekdays as one, and Saturday and Sunday as individuals. A 5-2 Day lets you program the week and weekend as two separate settings. Finally, a 1 Week model lets you program the entire week as one entry.