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What is a programmable room thermostat?
... an explanation for householders
A programmable room thermostat is both a programmer and a room thermostat. A
programmer allows you to set ‘On’ and ‘Off’ time periods to suit your own lifestyle. A
room thermostat works by sensing the air temperature, switching on the heating when
the air temperature falls below the thermostat setting, and switching it off once this set
temperature has been reached.
So, a programmable room thermostat lets you choose what times you want the heating
to be on, and what temperature it should reach while it is on. It will allow you to select
different temperatures in your home at different times of the day (and days of the week)
to meet your particular needs.
Turning a programmable room thermostat to a higher setting will not make the room
heat up any faster. How quickly the room heats up depends on the design of the heating
system, for example, the size of boiler and radiators.
Neither does the setting affect how quickly the room cools down. Turning a
programmable room thermostat to a lower setting will result in the room being
controlled at a lower temperature, and saves energy.
The way to set and use your programmable room thermostat is to fi nd the lowest
temperature settings that you are comfortable with at the different times you have
chosen, and then leave it alone to do its job. The best way to do this is to set low
temperatures fi rst, say 18°C, and then turn them up by one degree each day until you are
comfortable with the temperatures. You won’t have to adjust the thermostat further. Any
adjustments above these settings will waste energy and cost you more money.
If your heating system is a boiler with radiators, there will usually be only one
programmable room thermostat to control the whole house. But you can have different
temperatures in individual rooms by installing thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on
individual radiators. If you don’t have TRVs, you should choose a temperature that is
reasonable for the whole ho use. If you do have TRVs, you can choose a slightly higher
setting to make sure that even the coldest room is comfortable, then prevent any
overheating in other rooms by adjusting the TRVs.
The time on the programmer must be correct. Some types have to be adjusted in spring
and autumn at the changes between Greenwich Mean Time and British Summer Time.
You may be able to temporarily adjust the heating programme, for example, ‘Override’,
‘Advance’ or ‘Boost’. These are explained in the manufacturer’s instructions.
Programmable room thermostats need a free fl ow of air to sense the temperature,
so they must not be covered by curtains or blocked by furniture. Nearby electric fi res,
televisions, wall or table lamps may prevent the thermostat from working properly.
