JANUARY 13, 2022 Heating and cooling systems installed in a home may vary from central furnaces, boilers, electric baseboards to heat pumps. The most common type of heating/cooling (HVAC) system used in the USA is the central furnace  – which may be singles stage or multi-stage. A heat pump is used in regions with a moderate climate, where summer/winter is not that extreme at any time. In this article, we guide you through heat pump thermostat models, ideal to control the heat pump in your home. As I wrote above, a majority (90%) of homes in the USA rely on central furnace based systems, or boiler-based systems or heat pump systems. Only about 10% of homes in America use electric baseboards for heating (these homes would be either old constructions or located in places where electricity is cheap). In regions with a moderate climate, a heat pump (with emergency heat) alone is usually enough for home heating/cooling. Homes located in extreme weather regions often use a heat pu...

#1 Compatibility – The very first thing to keep in mind is not all thermostat models are compatible with a heat pump system. There are thermostat models that do not support HVAC systems with a heat pump. You’ve to read the specifications very clearly before you order your thermostat. Note: Read our guide on thermostat compatibility for popular thermostat models.   #2 Wiring – The wiring required for a heat pump is different from other HVAC systems like a central furnace system. So the thermostat you’re considering should support the wiring required for a heat pump. You’ve to check with the manufacturer’s specifications or check the model number online to see if it supports a heat pump system. #3 Heat Pumps with Aux/Emergency Heating – If your heat pump has an aux/emergency heat option, then you’ve to choose a thermostat model that supports the same. Keep in mind there are thermostat models that support a heat pump but are not compati...

Heat pumps can switch between heating and cooling to create a comfortable indoor climate. However, you may wonder whether a heat pump requires a special thermostat. So, we researched more about thermostats for heat pumps to provide you with an answer.   You need a special thermostat for a heat pump because it needs to be able to communicate with the reversing valve when changing from heating to cooling. Heat pumps rely on outside air and electricity. Heat pump thermostats will typically have a fifth wire explicitly for the reversing valve. Regular thermostats only have four wires.   Thanks to advancements in technology, you can successfully install programmable Wi-Fi or Smart thermostats with various heat pump models. Discover more interesting information about using heat pumps, thermostats, and controlling your home's climate in this post.    Ecobay has focused on thermostat research for 20 years, high-quality wireless programmable room thermostat, smart thermostat...

Manual thermostats are usually less expensive than high-end, internet-connected devices that are programmable. Prepare to spend anywhere from $15 to $300 for a thermostat. The rates for hiring professional installation vary.   You will most likely need to employ an electrician, with an average rate of $65 to $100 an hour for rendering services. If you feel confident enough to handle installing a thermostat without professional help, you can save money.   A home's square footage also impacts the cost of a thermostat installation. The average price range for a thermostat and installation altogether is between $112 and $254. Poor installation is risky and dangerous, so hire help if needed.   If you are on a strict budget, opt for a manual or non-programmable thermostat versus a fancy smart thermostat with all the bells and whistles. A programmable electric thermostat is a middle-of-the-road choice that most will accept.   Ecobay has focused on thermostat research for 2...

ou don't really need a programmable thermostat if you have a heat pump. Because a heat pump may need to quickly shift from heating to cooling, it doesn't make sense to set the thermostat at a set temperature for extended periods.   When a heat pump is in heating mode, there may be more energy inefficiency when a programmable thermostat sets the temperature back at designated times. However, there are newer programmable thermostat models for heat pumps.   With a programmable thermostat, you don't want to cause a heat pump to rely on backup electric resistance systems. You usually save on energy and lower bills by keeping your heat pump in cooling mode versus heat mode.   Keep your home comfortable if you use a heat pump thermostat. You may want to set the temperature at a lower point when you're away from home or asleep. A wide range of thermostat settings for a heat pump isn't as necessary compared to a furnace.   Know before you make a final decision on a thermosta...

Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners for all climates. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house.  During the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your house into the  outdoors. Because they transfer heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can efficiently provide comfortable temperatures for your home.    Ecobay has focused on thermostat research for 20 years, high-quality thermostats that work with google home, Heat Pump Thermostat, tuya zigbee 3.0 smart radiator actuator. We look forward to your consultation and cooperation.

For homes without ducts, air-source heat pumps are also available in a ductless version called a mini-split heat pump. In addition, a special type of air-source heat pump called a "reverse cycle chiller" generates hot and cold water rather than air, allowing it to be used with radiant floor heating systems in heating mode.

Geothermal (ground-source or water-source) heat pumps achieve higher efficiencies by transferring heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. Although they cost more to install, geothermal heat pumps have low operating costs because they take advantage of relatively constant ground or water temperatures. Geothermal (or ground source) heat pumps have some major advantages. They can reduce energy use by 30%-60%, control humidity, are sturdy and reliable, and fit in a wide variety of homes. Whether a geothermal heat pump is appropriate for you will depend on the size of your lot, the subsoil, and the landscape. Ground-source or water-source heat pumps can be used in more extreme climates than air-source heat pumps, and customer satisfaction with the systems is very high.

An air-source heat pump can provide efficient heating and cooling for your home. When properly installed, an air-source heat pump can deliver up to three times more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy it consumes. This is possible because a heat pump transfers heat rather than converting it from a fuel like combustion heating systems. Air heat pumps have been used for many years in nearly all parts of the United States, except in areas that experienced extended periods of subfreezing temperatures. However, in recent years, air-source heat pump technology has advanced so that it now offers a legitimate space heating alternative in colder regions. For example, a study by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships found that when units designed specifically for colder regions were installed in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, the annual savings are around 3,000 kWh (or $459) when compared to electric resistance heaters, and 6,200 kWh (or $948) when compared to oil sy...

Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), sometimes referred to as GeoExchange, earth-coupled, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps, have been in use since the late 1940s. They use the relatively constant temperature of the earth as the exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature.  Although many parts of the country experience seasonal temperature extremes -- from scorching heat in the summer to sub-zero cold in the winter—a few feet below the earth's surface the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature. Depending on latitude, ground temperatures range from 45°F (7°C) to 75°F (21°C). Like a cave, this ground temperature is warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. The GHP takes advantage of these more favorable temperatures to become high efficient by exchanging heat with the earth through a ground heat exchanger. As with any heat pump, geothermal and water-source heat pumps are able to heat, cool, an...

A thermostat is the brains behind your home’s heating and cooling system, whether that system consists of a heat pump, furnace, boiler, or central AC. By monitoring and controlling the temperature in each part of your home, a responsive thermostat is key to keeping your home comfortable. And some thermostats can save you money. A smart thermostat can shave about 8 percent off your home’s heating and cooling bills, amounting to an average savings of $50 a year, according to Energy Star. (Some thermostat manufacturers claim those savings can reach $100 or more.) Of course, non-connected, programmable thermostats—which, according to the Energy Information Administration (PDF) are used in about 42 percent of U.S. homes—can also provide energy savings. But for years, the problem has been that they’re too difficult to program for many consumers. For that reason, Energy Star stopped certifying the entire product category in 2009. In fact, according to a study (PD...

At Consumer Reports, we’ve tested hundreds of thermostat models over the years. And while once upon a time they weren’t very accurate, most now are able to keep rooms close to the set temperature. It’s for this reason that we no longer test manual thermostats—all they do is hold a set temperature. With temperature accuracy a given, CR focuses our testing on ease of use—taking note of how simple each thermostat is to set up, program, read, and operate. For programmable thermostats, the ease of use testing is broken down into four aspects of the product experience: setup, ease of reading the display, programming, and manual operation. Our setup test evaluates how easy the thermostat is to configure for your HVAC system after physical installation, and our display test judges how well information is presented and how easy it is to read. The programming test looks at the number of steps it takes to create a heating and cooling schedule and the cues provided fo...