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.

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...

There are three main types of heat pumps connected by ducts: air-to-air, water source, and geothermal. They collect heat from the air, water, or ground outside your home and concentrate it for use inside.  The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. Today's heat pump can reduce your electricity use for heating by approximately 50% compared to electric resistance heating such as furnaces and baseboard heaters. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. Air-source heat pumps have been used for many years in nearly all parts of the United States, but until recently they have not been used 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 alte...

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.

A number of innovations are improving the performance of heat pumps. Unlike standard compressors that can only operate at full capacity, two-speed compressors allow heat pumps to operate close to the heating or cooling capacity needed at any particular outdoor temperature, saving energy by reducing on/off operation and compressor wear. Two-speed heat pumps also work well with zone control systems. Zone control systems, often found in larger homes, use automatic dampers to allow the heat pump to keep different rooms at different temperatures. Some models of heat pumps are equipped with variable-speed or dual-speed motors on their indoor fans (blowers), outdoor fans, or both. The variable-speed controls for these fans attempt to keep the air moving at a comfortable velocity, minimizing cool drafts and maximizing electrical savings. It also minimizes the noise from the blower running at full speed. Some high-efficiency heat pumps are equipped with a desuperheater, which recovers waste hea...

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...

A heat pump's refrigeration system consists of a compressor and two copper or aluminum coils (one indoors and one outside), which have aluminum fins to aid heat transfer. In heating mode, liquid refrigerant in the outside coil removes heat from the air and evaporates into a gas. The indoor coil releases heat from the refrigerant as it condenses back into a liquid. A reversing valve, near the compressor, can change the direction of the refrigerant flow for cooling mode as well as for defrosting the outdoor coil in winter. The efficiency and performance of today's air-source heat pumps is a result of technical advances such as the following: Thermostatic expansion valves for more precise control of the refrigerant flow to the indoor coil Variable speed blowers, which are more efficient and can compensate for some of the adverse effects of restricted ducts, dirty filters, and dirty coils Improved coil design Improved electric motor and two-speed compressor designs Copper tubing, groo...

Heat pumps can have problems with low airflow, leaky ducts, and incorrect refrigerant charge. There should be about 400 to 500 cubic feet per minute (cfm) airflow for each ton of the heat pump's air-conditioning capacity. Efficiency and performance deteriorate if airflow is much less than 350 cfm per ton. Technicians can increase the airflow by cleaning the evaporator coil or increasing the fan speed, but often some modification of the ductwork is needed. See minimizing energy losses in ducts and insulating ducts. Refrigeration systems should be leak-checked at installation and during each service call. Packaged heat pumps are charged with refrigerant at the factory, and are seldom incorrectly charged. Split-system heat pumps, on the other hand, are charged in the field, which can sometimes result in either too much or too little refrigerant. Split-system heat pumps that have the correct refrigerant charge and airflow usually perform very close to manufacturer's listed SEER and HSPF. T...

WHAT BRAND OR MODEL SHOULD I INSTALL? The only way to get a meaningful recommendation is to set an appointment with the professionals at ecobay. When we come to your home, our heat pump experts will evaluate all aspects of your home and your preferences to recommend the right system for your needs and budget.   ISN’T IT TOO COLD HERE FOR HEAT PUMPS? That is a common misconception, but it is simply not true. They work more efficiently in a warmer climate, but more than 70% of our normal heating season is above 32 degrees (the record setting cold we have been experiencing so far this winter is obviously not the norm) so there is ample opportunity for savings. We can set up your system as “dual fuel” so your system automatically switches over from heat pump to your oil, propane, or natural gas system when needed.   DO THEY MAKE A MODEL FOR MY BASEBOARD OR RADIATOR HEAT SYSTEM? No, but there are options for you too. Ductless split systems and/or adding ductwork ...

We live in an age where smart phones connect us to nearly every aspect of our lives —  and it seems that there is no end in sight. This technological revolution is also extending to the way we control indoor comfort. As a result, the simple thermostat, which has been a basic staple in our homes for decades, has significantly evolved.   Today’s thermostats or control systems can offer a wide range of features and connectivity with a smart phone, making it even easier to align your lifestyle with the comfort in your home. However, will this new, smart home technology connect with your current heating and cooling system?     Your current heating and cooling system likely was designed to perform a single function — to heat or cool your home. It may not have been designed to directly communicate with the various types of control technology on the market today. Depending on the HVAC system in your home, it’s possible that only a specific style...

Before you spend money on a new thermostat for your air or ground source heat pump, there are certain things you need to think about.  Let’s take a look! Types of Thermostat There are three types of thermostat which differ in the way they perform. These are mechanical, electrical and smart.  The least expensive is the mechanical thermostat, as there’s no defined functionality as such. You key in the temperature as per your preference and turn it on or off. Electric thermostats, on the other hand, can be programmed with details like date and time and whether you’d prefer manual or automatic functioning.  Smart thermostats can do everything that its electrical counterpart can do and on top of that, it connects wirelessly to your mobile phone or any smart home device. You can use an app to program, operate and schedule your smart thermostat from virtually anywhere.  Compatibility Thermostats are not universal in their operation as they might not work ...

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...