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...

Instead of relying on a standard furnace for heating and a separate air conditioner for cooling, install a heat pump. However, if you plan on using a heat pump to control your home's climate year round, you'll need the right thermostat.   So, what's the difference between a heat pump and a furnace and why does it matter? For a furnace to function, it relies on gas or oil for fuel. In comparison, a heat pump uses electricity and refrigerant, which is usually less expensive.   If you choose a heat pump system, it is ideal for homes in areas that don't get too cold, as heat pumps don't generate as much heat as a traditional furnace. Also, a heat pump transfers heat and requires less energy than a heat-generating furnace.   Be advised, if you will ever experience prolonged periods where the temperatures fall below freezing, you will want a secondary heat source to take over. Heat pumps warm a home by drawing outside heat inside and using electricity.   Ecobay has focuse...

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...

Proper wiring is essential to create the dual or hybrid heating system brought by a furnace and heat pump. Additionally, a thermostat should connect the two heating units, and it’ll act as the temperature control center for the home. The resulting setup allows the heat pump thermostat to regulate the temperature automatically and more efficiently than before. First, the thermostat will increase the premises’ temperature to a certain temperature using the heat pump. Then, once the outdoor ambient temperature reduces to a specific level, the thermostat will activate the furnace to support the system. Before proceeding, be wary that you shouldn’t run both heating units in ‘Heat Mode’ simultaneously. Otherwise, the system’s overall heat will exceed normal levels, causing issues like physical damage to the heating agents and dehydration to household members and guests. Take note that the items needed for this operation should come with the different devic...

Heat Pump Thermostat Step-By-Step Guide 1.Connect the red 24-volt wire from the furnace’s control board to the wireless heating thermostats. 2.Attach the orange wire from the thermostat to the furnace’s board. Make sure that this connection goes through the heat pump’s board for the thermostat to automatically reverse the cooling mode when necessary. 3.Link the wire in the yellow or 'Y' terminal from the thermostat to the furnace’s board. Then, connect the same wire to the heat pump’s board. 4.Connect the green wire from the thermostat to the appropriately labeled terminal in the furnace’s board. You’ll know that it’s the correct station if it has the letter ‘G’ adjacent to it. 5.Join the aux/e terminal from the thermostat with a white wire to the 'ww1' station in the furnace’s board. 6.Connect the 'w2' terminal of the heat pump’s board with the same white wire used in the previous step to the furnace’s 'ww1'...

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.

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...

Z-Wave radiator thermostats allow you to wirelessly control individual radiators. Each radiator can have it's temperature set and changed throughout the day - manually via a smartphone or based on timed schedules. The Z-Wave radiator valves allow you to have different parts of the house at different temperatures through the day, as you need it. You no longer need to heat empty rooms.   The Z-Wave radiator thermostats are fitted within minutes, they simply replace the existing TRV, no need to drain the system. Once installed they operate just like other Z-Wave devices, such as Z-Wave thermostats, as part of your Z-Wave smart home automation system allowing you to control them wirelessly from wherever you are. Or, you can use other features of the Z-Wave system to control them automatically based on time of day, or from other devices such as Z-Wave Sensors. This enables you bring smart central heating control to your home using your Z-Wave system.   If you've got questions abou...

To control your heating from your phone on a room-by-room basis, you'll need a smart radiator valve (thermostatic radiator valve or TRV). Here are our recommendations.   There’s a reason smart heating is growing in popularity. Not only will it give you more control over the temperature in your home – so it’s always warm when you want it to be – but you can easily monitor your heat and potentially make savings on your energy bills. Still, we’d advise that you take manufacturers’ money-saving claims with a pinch of salt.   If you’re buying an entire smart heating system, it’ll take some time to recoup the cost of the tech but a smart radiator valve is a much smaller investment. Each one will allow you to control a single room, which means you can schedule heating so that it’s warm when it needs to be and no heat is wasted the rest of the time.   Being able to see the temperature clearly on your phone screen or on the de...

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 ...