Thermostats

A thermostat is one component of a heating and/or cooling system with the specific purpose of allowing the user to set a desired temperature for a space. The original thermostat for homes and offices was a round knob-like device mounted on an interior wall that could be turned in one direction or the other to make a space cooler or warmer.

Today’s modern thermostats are digital. You simply punch in the number of the temperature you wish to keep constant in the room and the HVAC system comes on and off as needed to maintain that temperature.

Thermostats use a variety of different sensors to “sense” the room’s temperature and make adjustments. The two most common are the bi-metallic strip and the thermistor. Most thermostats work by simply turning on the heat or air conditioning unit when the temperature reaches a certain number.

For instance, in the summer, you will have your HVAC system set to the Cooling mode. You might want to keep a room at a constant 72 degrees. When the room heats up to 76 degrees, the air conditioner comes on and runs for a few minutes, cooling the space back down to 72 degrees. The process repeats itself automatically throughout the day and night so that the space is kept within a few degrees of the target temperature.

Most of the new thermostats can also be easily switched from “cool” to “heat”. This makes it very easy to maintain a comfortable temperature in a home or office, whether it’s winter or summer.

Thermostats are also used in automobiles for basically the same purpose only with a much different application. They maintain an optimal temperature in the engine using coolant that flows in and out of a radiator.

Thermostats are used in many other industries and applications, to keep the temperature at a constant number. A common household clothes iron contains a thermostat that lets the user set the temp at different heat intensities depending upon what type of fabric you’re ironing. A clothes dryer also uses a thermostat to maintain a specific temperature to perfectly dry the type of clothes you place inside. Lingerie cannot be dried at the same high heat as towels, thus the thermostat is an important component in the dryer.

The latest technology in thermostats can be found in devices from a variety of companies, like Nest. They take the old thermostat to a new and exciting level by allowing the user to regulate more than just heating and cooling. Using a smartphone, computer or remote control device, the user can turn lights, cameras, alarm systems, and many other items, off and on. This is convenient for those going on vacation. Homeowners can turn lights on and off to make it look like there’s someone home when there isn’t. One of the major advantages of Nest systems is that they save energy and are considered a “green” eco-friendly choice.