Your home thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature – but the room you’re in feels too hot or too cold. What’s going on?
Unfortunately, your thermostat isn’t all powerful. In fact, it’s pretty limited. Because your thermostat is only able to measure the temperature of the room it’s in, the extent to which you can control the variation of temperatures throughout your home is limited. An overly sunny room or some drafty windows can cause your thermostat to overcompensate one way or the other, leaving you uncomfortable in your own home.
With such fickle environmental factors at play, how can you make the most of your thermostat? There are two simple things you should keep in mind.
Limitations and Location
No matter how advanced your thermostat may be, it’s functionality is limited by the fact that it can only measure the ambient temperature of the space in which it is located. Just as wind chill in the winter and heat index in the summer can affect the feel of the temperature outside, environmental conditions in your home can affect the efficacy of your thermostat.
So, what can you do?
It may seem trivial at the point of installation, but location is critical to the efficacy of your thermostat. Whether you have one thermostat, or dual-zone, you’ll want to carefully consider the placement of the thermostat in your home.
Is it near a fireplace? In a room with vaulted ceilings? Variables like these may affect the temperature that your thermostat reads. For the best results, select a neutral spot for your thermostat—somewhere away from direct sunlight and drafts, that is most likely to reflect the average temperature of your home overall.
Help from your windows
Your thermostat is just one useful tool in the pursuit of a comfortable home. In addition to selecting an ideal location for your thermostat, you can use your ceiling fans and windows to help with ventilation throughout your home. Learn some useful tips on passive ventilation from your Champion window rep.