[Curmudgeon10]

I'm looking to replace my older analog thermostats with digital ones. One device I reviewed claimed extreme accuracy, ability to keep the temperature to within 1 degree of that set. A consumer reviewer claimed that his heating bills went up considerably, because this narrow range meant that his furnace was kicking on all the time, albeit for short periods. He recommended getting a device with a 2 to 3 degree "range."

Is there any truth to this?

 

[yuri]

No. The better thermostats like Honeywell have a CPH cycles per hour setting. All digital tstats have it from what I have seen but the dude should have read his manual and set it.

There is a different setting for electric vs oil vs gas vs hot water heating in CPH.

Best bet is to get a good Honeywell from HDepot and read the manual carefully and come back for more info if needed.:smile:

Also it must be out of sunlight and drafts as yeah they are more sensitive. Keep it away from supply and return vents and sunlight and plug the hole behind it with fibreglass pink insulation where the wires come thru.

 

[Curmudgeon10]

HW has a $99 unit with WiFi at HD. Is the Nest at $249 $150 better? I get the "learning" and adaptive nature of Nest, but we are retired and our routine is so routine, I don't need anything to "learn it."

 

[yuri]

I don't like Nest and have heard not good about them.

Honeywell is pretty much bombproof and they have invested a LOT of time and [email protected] in making their consumer products very good and user friendly.

That learning biz may be good for shift workers or people who travel but it probably would be wasted 4 U.

 

[user_12345a]

On gas furnaces and boilers, especially the natural draft ones, frequent cycling increases fuel consumption.

All electronic thermostats tend to come pre-set from the factory to cycle within a very narrow range; I recommend changing it.

Honeywells come from the factory at 5 or 6 cph - 3 cph is better.

People tend not to read instructions.

 

[bfletcher7]

If I may jump in, how can we determine whether narrow or wide swings are more cost-effective? Determining comfort level is a no-brainer but is there one absolute answer concerning cost variances of wide vs. narrow swings?

 

[yuri]

IMO and experience it comes down to comfort and the client and how they feel/what they want.

In a COLD climate like mine people like to have the furnace run at least once every 20 mins for about 10 mins. Mine does. After 20 mins they get chilly/drafty. Every 15 mins is not uncommon in old drafty houses. Elderly people or sick people like to feel warmer and don't want to shiver waiting for the furnace to cut in.

Cost effective is a matter of theory as it is the most efficient when running steady. The purging at startup and stop wastes the most heat. However unless you buy a over $5000 modulating furnace most are going to have to stop/start.

Your best bang for NRG savings and saving $$ is attic insulation, better windows and sealing air leaks around doors, attic hatch etc.

A $5000 furnace in a leaky drafty poor insulated house will still burn a lot of gas.

 

[bfletcher7]

Sounds logical to me, Yuri.

 

[Bret86844]

Keep it away from...return vents

Why do you say away from returns? Industry design standard is put the T-stat near the return so you get the most accurate temp of the room.

 

[user_12345a]

In a COLD climate like mine people like to have the furnace run at least once every 20 mins for about 10 mins. Mine does. After 20 mins they get chilly/drafty. Every 15 mins is not uncommon in old drafty houses. Elderly people or sick people like to feel warmer and don't want to shiver waiting for the furnace to cut in.

Play with it, do what works.

my preference is for fewer cycles, longer - easier on the equipment and saves some fuel and if not oversized doesn't impact comfort. The need for high cph to be comfortable stems from oversized equipment -> needed to prevent a large swing.

 

[yuri]

Why do you say away from returns? Industry design standard is put the T-stat near the return so you get the most accurate temp of the room.

Nyet. Any drafts are bad. You want it in a interior living or dining room or central hallway away from the sun and any drafts. We are trying to get a stable average temp of the house not just one room.

 

[Curmudgeon10]

Thanks to all. I believe I'll give the HD Honeywell $99 unit a try. As far as locating it away from returns, not possible in my house. The existing location is smack dab between (one above, one below) the main returns for the main floor.

 

[yuri]

Ideally you want to keep them away but if not possible then you got to do what you got to do.:wink2:

 

[bfletcher7]

Since you cannot relocate your tstat, if you otherwise agree based on feedback given by others it would be a better approach, then you could consider a stat that allows for a wireless indoor sensor. Based on selection charts that I've previously read I did see that Honeywell's VisionPro and SOME Prestige stats can utilize remote sensors but---in your case---for it to be of value you would need to know that you could completely disable the thermostat sensor and only use a remote sensor, as opposed to the combined sensors being averaged. My Prestige IAQ offers that setting and is near a large foyer and very close to our main-entry door, so I disabled its internal sensor and use a remote sensor located in our family room.

You would want other experts here to validate my claim before making a decision but I believe it could be an option to consider, though it may entail a larger investment (but you may also find better deals online, be it Amazon or other vendors).

Attached are a couple selection charts that aided in my thermostat selection.

Good luck!

https://forwardthinking.honeywell.com/related_links/thermostats/03-00005.pdf

https://forwardthinking.honeywell.com/related_links/50-1376.pdf

 

[bfletcher7]

Also; in your original post you speak of a thermostat's ability or inability to provide more cost-effective utility bills. You mention being retired and having a routine but depending on your HVAC system and location there could be additional worthy factors for considering a more robust stat. Among such features could be if/when/for what duration to engage supplemental heat, to use or not use recovery, remote outdoor sensor, etc.

 

[roughneck]

Just a side note, I have seen many a customer install a programmable thermostat on their heat pump and wonder why their electric bill sharply increased. Heat pumps are more efficient being left at a set temperature all the time. No need for a programmable unless you want a wifi stat for remote monitoring.
Conventional fossil fuel furnaces are more efficient with extended runtime. The components also last longer not cycling all the time.

 

[bfletcher7]

To that end, I live in Ohio and I choose against the stat's recovery feature but, rather, make my own decisions about "setback" temps by programming multiple temperatures throughout a 24-hour period. For heating demand during very mild temperatures I may allow my HP to fall back a few degrees. For not-so mild conditions I may choose to allow it to fall back 1 degree, and during extreme cold conditions I may maintain a constant set point.