There are many different types of thermostats available on the market today. There are just as many brands of thermostats available as there are models of thermostats. Honeywell Thermostats and White Rodgers Thermostats are the most popular brands that you will find at most suppliers. The variety of choices of thermostats can make it confusing for the average consumer who wants to replace their thermostat. The average consumer ends up going to the hardware store or local Lowes or Home Depot and they find the thermostats only to be intimidated by the selection of a thermostat that is suitable for their application of HVAC equipment they currently have installed for their home. Which type and brand of thermostat do you get when selecting a new thermostat? To do that you have to know what kind of HVAC system you have installed for your heating and cooling system.

Do you have a boiler with baseboard heating or radiators with the boiler combination? In addition to the boiler do you have an air conditioning system with duct work or a mini-split ductless system? Do you have a heat pump system? Do you have lectric baseboard heating? Do you have an air conditioner system with electric heat? It is important to know the answers to what kind of HVAC system you have installed in your home.

When you know the type of air conditioning and heating system you have then you can go to the local hardwarde store and purchase a new thermostat. Opinions varying as far as brand of thermostat is concerned but typically Honeywell thermostats and White Rodgers thermostats are the best with the author of this article leaning towards the Honeywell thermostats if I had the coice of thermostats.

Once you are in the hardware store and find the thermostat section you need to read the package and compre it to the type of HVAC air conditioning and heating system you have. All the information should be on back of the package and which system is appropriate for each particular thermostat. Be aware that a heat pump thermostat is different than a thermostat for an air conditioner with a gas furnace for heat.

Additionally electric baseboard heating usually requires a high voltage thermostat. If you have electric baseboard heating make sure you turn the power off before attempting to change the thermostat. It is a good idea to turn the power off to your HVAC system if you change any thermostat. Goodluck and happy thermostat shopping.

HVAC Systems and Thermostats