A lot of people don’t seem to know the effect a geothermal thermostat can possess on their geothermal system’s efficiency. A thermostat that has been poorly placed or improperly calibrated can end up costing its owner a lot more money for their home systems to perform inadequately.
On the other hand, a geothermal thermostat of good quality will help to increase energy efficiency. Modern-day geothermal thermostats have a lot of features that give users increased control over the manner in which their homes make use of energy.
In most cases, these thermostats are used with Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs). In many quarters these are also described as ground-source heat pumps. They are able to heat, cool, and also supply hot water to a residential home by transferring heat to or from the ground.
If you’re planning on purchasing a smart geothermal thermostat, the following are some of the best on the market.
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Emerson Sensi ST55 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
With this thermostat, you will be able to create a weekly schedule. Users can also create a weekend and weekday schedule, with the option of customizing each of the days. Multiple schedules can also be created and saved. For instance, if you have rotating shifts, you can decide to create a schedule for every shift.
- Sensi Smart Thermostat, Wi-Fi, Works with Amazon Alexa
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The Sensi doesn’t make provision for selecting particular degrees for cycle rates. Instead, users will have to choose between “Fast“, “Medium” and “Slow“. The slow cycle rate causes the temperature to vary often, but it will stop your thermostat from turning off and on. We advise that this slow setting should be used by people that have boiler type systems. Meanwhile, a fast cycle rate keeps a more stable temperature. However, it will entail your equipment to turn off and on more times than often.
The Early Start feature is this thermostat’s way of ensuring that its users don’t become too cold when they wake up in the morning. If you set the heat to increase from 65°F to 70°F in the morning, this feature will turn on the heat minutes before the selected time. This ensures that the temperature is already at 70°F by the exact time you scheduled it.
The Boost feature is meant for users with systems that have multiple cooling or heating stages.
The most popular kind of system for this scenario is a heat pump that has a supplementary heat source. If the temperature difference is 3 degrees or more, putting on the boost will turn on all the stages so it reaches the preferred temperature as fast as possible. The thermostat will revert to the most efficient way of maintaining the temperature when you turn off the boost.
The Sensi thermostat’s compatibility encompasses a wide array of HVAC configurations, which include heat pumps and a maximum of four stages of heating and dual stages of cooling. Installing this thermostat is easy and its app provides a handful of scheduling options that will allow users to make schedules of their own preference.
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Honeywell TH9320WF5003 Programmable WiFi Thermostat
First of all, this thermostat comes with a colourful touchscreen display which will make it easy to program it to use Spanish, English or French. You can also program the settings with the help of your computer, tablet or smartphone using the app.
This thermostat was designed with its setup and installation at the forefront. Its terminal block means you will be able to reconnect the wires without a need to use a screwdriver, although you might require one to disconnect the wires from the old thermostat.
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It can be installed in its entirety without the need for a manual – which makes it suitable for a lot of people.
After setting it up, there will not be much need for user interactions. This model will practically run by itself. The only exception is when you want to operate the thermostat outside of the regular routine. The device will actually send you an alert via email if or when there’s an event that is different from the set parameters.
Due to the fact that this is usually a replacement thermostat, the ease at which its installation will largely depend on the preexisting installation. This thermostat – like most Wi-Fi thermostats – requires a ‘C’ wire. If you lack one, you will have to install one or get a power extender kit.
This thermostat is one of the simplest to program. The moment you power it up, you’ll be taken through various intuitive steps that will allow you to program the settings without a need to refer to the instruction manual. It is very effective at controlling heating and cooling – thereby saving energy and cost. This is assured as long as some time is spent on setting up the cooling and heating times.
This thermostat was built and designed to last, with its 5-year warranty further proof.
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Google, T3007ES Nest 3rd Gen Learning Thermostat
This thermostat comes with a handful of innovative features. While the older Nest thermostats used solely near-field sensors to pick up motion activity, the third-gen Nest Learning Thermostat uses a near-field sensor for its Farsight function.
This function will be able to detect a user’s presence farther than the earlier models. Also, from as far as 20 feet, you’ll be able to see the current time or target temperature of this thermostat.
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- Auto-Schedule. Just turn it up and down. It learns the temperatures that you like and creates a schedule for you
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Users can put a maximum of six sensors in their homes with each of them powered by a CR123 battery which is supposed to last two years. Its installation will take only minutes. All you have to do is remove the battery tab, input the code on the sensor, then wait until it connects before assigning it to a specific room.
After this, you can then make one of the sensors the default temperature that reads from the app. Custom schedules can also be created for mornings, afternoons, evenings and nights with the “manage sensors” feature located in the app settings.
This thermostat also comes with Home/Away Assist and Family Accounts – two features that help to improve the overall performance of the product. Family Accounts allow users in a household to set up different Nest accounts (as opposed to the shared family accounts initially employed).
When these family accounts are created, the Home/Away Assist then starts to track the phone location of each user. It’s not the same thing as geofencing, but it actually makes it easier for the thermostat to keep a watchful eye on the respective whereabouts of its users.
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Honeywell RTH7600D Thermostat
This is a programmable thermostat that gives its user the option of setting up seven programs – one program for each weekday. Each of these programs supports multiple temperature periods. You can set up the time the period starts, the desired room temperature during the period and how you’d like the system fan to work during the period.
This thermostat is a low-voltage device, so ensure that you don’t make use of it with low-voltage heating systems like electric baseboard heaters.
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This thermostat – like a lot of Honeywell products – has nine screw terminals that provide control for different stages of cooling and heating. However, only six of these are needed for this thermostat’s climate control system.
Installation of this thermostat will take you less than thirty minutes. However, this depends on if you’re installing a new thermostat from scratch or just replacing an existing one. Installing a thermostat from scratch will definitely take longer than thirty minutes. This thermostat, unlike previous models, comes with a wall plate that is fastened to the wall. Wiring connections will be made with the plate. After this, the thermostat will latch onto it. This drastically simplifies its installation.
The RTH7600D doesn’t come with any buttons. Instead, it solely relies on a touch screen through which the thermostat’s functions can be accessed. During power outages, this thermostat will retain all program data. With two AA batteries, it will also keep accurate time.
Whenever the temperature set point is changed, this thermostat immediately responds. What this means is that it will turn on the HVAC immediately the temperature is raised and vice versa when the temperature is lowered. The climate system remains active until the room temperature gets to the desired set point.
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Emerson Sensi WiFi Thermostat
This particular thermostat comes with a practical design – a wide and responsive touchscreen as well as an ability to tweak the temperature set up schedules and a lot more with the thermostat.
Its installation is quite easy. If you’re confused about anything, just ask a professional for advice. When you’re done installing the thermostat, the next step is to configure it on the app.
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You can get the app on Playstore or the Apple Store. Sign up and follow the instructions to set up the thermostat.
This app will request for your Wi-Fi information to give your thermostat a name. You will also be able to connect the unit to HomeKit – if your plan is to control it using Siri voice commands. Setup with the app is very simple – especially if you desire a cooling, heating or automatic schedule for the weekdays, and a different schedule for the weekends.
It’s a little bit tricky to create alternative schedules, but you will be able to pinpoint an unlimited amount of temperature targets for each of the days. You will also be able to create schedules that can be different each day, different only on weekends, the same on weekdays, etc.
This thermostat also comes with a geofencing function that automatically places the thermostat in an away mode that is energy-saving whenever your phone shows that you have left the set perimeter. It will restore the earlier temperature whenever you’re in the perimeter again. The thermostat’s app has basic weather report, while its settings can also be adjusted from virtually anywhere – as long as internet access is available.
Things to consider when purchasing a thermostat for geothermal
You will not find two different thermostat models that are exactly similar. In this light, here are a few important features and factors to consider when buying a thermostat to manage the output of your heat pump.
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Compatibility
There are thermostats that are compatible with heat pumps, while there are some that are not. When buying a thermostat, you will have to confirm if it will be compatible with the HVAC appliances you already own.
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Does it Work with Auxiliary Heating
Heat pumps that have been installed in places that have sub-freezing temperatures usually come with an emergency or auxiliary heating function. If you own a model of this nature, you need to be aware that this feature isn’t compatible with all heat pump compatible thermostats. What this means is that you should find one with this feature.
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Programmable Features
A lot of the geothermal thermostats that are available on the market allow users to set up various temperature control schedules and programs. This gives you control over specific temperatures during the day without needing to be at home. You will be able to come home to a comfortable temperature without the thermostat having to constantly be set at a particular temperature for the duration of your absence.
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Remote Temperature Control
If you feel that the programmable settings are not giving you the kind of control you crave, then you can use your smartphone or laptop to gain access to the geothermal thermostat. This is a feature a lot of thermostats have. You will be able to adjust the temperature settings in real-time from anywhere.
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Occupancy Detection Sensors
A handful of smart geothermal thermostats can control the temperature on their own. With the help of occupancy detection sensors, the smart thermostat will be able to determine if a room is unoccupied or if its occupants are asleep. This makes things very easy and if you need this feature, you should ensure that you look for it among the thermostats you’re considering getting.
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Review of Energy Reports
A smart geothermal thermostat has the ability to provide its user with important information. It will be able to compile energy use data from one period of time to another. This kind of information can be used to further understand the cooling and heating habits of your home. Find energy spikes that are recurring, change your habits and conserve energy.
