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 the 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 the 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 find 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 first, say 18ºC 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.
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