Programmable thermostats simplify furnace control

Your heating system, not surprisingly, is the single biggest power consumer in your home, and so it accounts for the majority of your utility bills, as well.

Anything you can do to maximize your control over your heating system will not only keep your home more comfortable, but it also can make a substantial difference in your monthly fuel bills.

A programmable thermostat is one of the easiest and best ways to do that. Utilizing an internal computer circuit that works in accordance with your family’s needs and habits to raise and lower thermostat set points throughout the day and night, a programmable thermostat will keep your furnace — and your air conditioner — running only when it needs to, without you having to remember to make changes.

Based on a number of reviews, tests, and ratings comparisons that I’ve looked at, here are some of the top-rated models for you to consider:

• Nest Learning Thermostat (Average retail $215).

Now in its third generation, the Nest is consistently ranked at or near the top of every thermostat comparison I reviewed. The Nest is easy to program, and once it’s been initially set up, it then “learns” your habits and schedules and programs itself.

It has a sleek, minimalist round design with no visible buttons; adjustments are done with the outer ring. It’s now available in four different colors, and the inner circle glows orange when it’s in the heating mode and blue when it’s in cooling mode.

The nest also has sensors in it that detect when no one is home. It switches into Auto-Away mode, automatically turning itself down to save even more energy. In that mode, the face switches to black. As additional motivation, there’s even a leaf symbol that appears periodically to show you when you’re saving more energy than what you’d originally programmed it for.

The Nest works with your smartphone or tablet for additional control options, and can also work with Alexa.

• Ecobee4 Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat (Average retail $230).

The new generation of Ecobee comes with builtin Alexa voice capability so you can ask it to set a timer, adjust the temperature, even read the news (Alexa’s everywhere now, isn’t she?).

Room sensor modules can be placed in any room of the house to give feedback to the thermostat, helping you manage specific hot and cold spots in your home. (One room sensor module is included, additional ones can be purchased separately for $79 a pair).

As with most of these new generations of thermostats, the Ecobee4 also can be remotely controlled with your smartphone using and iOS or Android app.

Don’t need Alexa talking to you? Consider the Ecobee3 for around $169. It’s also compatible with the room sensor modules, although it doesn’t come with any.

• Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Programmable Thermostat (Average retail $145).

The Sensi has more of the appearance of a conventional thermostat, with easy-to-read digital temperature controls and well-labeled buttons. You can easily program it for a 7-day cycle to match your lifestyle, which is great if you have different hours of occupancy during the week and the weekends.

The Sensi works with good ‘ol Alexa, and of course you can use it with your smartphone as well, so it’s easy to control your home’s heating and cooling cycles from anywhere, anytime.

• Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat (Average retail $175).

Here’s a thermostat that’s both attractive and functional. It has the rectangular look of a more conventional thermostat, but you can customize the screen color to match your decor. The readout is clear and easy to read, and the thermostat has modes for use at home or in a business setting.

The Honeywell has a simple setup with smart programmable features. It has an indoor humidity sensor, and can be set to send you filter change reminders. It’s compatible with iOS and Android smartphone, as well as with Alexa.

Nothing’s perfect

This is an overview of some of the more highly rated and reviewed programmable thermostats. Not all of these thermostats are compatible with all heating and cooling systems, and some may not work with heat pumps, so you’ll need to be sure and check that before purchasing.

A lot of them are suitable for DIY installation, depending on your skill level, but depending on the equipment and wiring you have, you may still need the help of a pro to get them installed and operating correctly.

And of course, as with any technology, none of them is perfect. Online reviews from actual users are mostly positive, but they do indicate some compatibility issues and software glitches in some instances. And finally, be prepared for a learning curve.

So do a little homework when selecting the right model for your home and your lifestyle. Make sure it’s compatible with your system, that it has the features and operating modes that you like, and that you can control it in a way that’s comfortable for you and your family.

Have a home repair or remodeling question for Paul? He can be reached by email at improvingyourhome@ ykwc.net.