So you’ve just bought your first programmable thermostat. You’ve now invested in a device that will help optimize your system, maintain consistent temperatures, save you money, and much more. Now, you need to install and start programming your thermostat. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up a thermostat.
How to Program a Programmable Thermostat
Once your thermostat is already installed, here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up a digital thermostat.
1. Programming Thermostat Date and Time
The first step is to set the thermostat date and time. This will help it keep track of your schedule and adjust the temperature accordingly.
2. Familiarize Yourself with the Thermostat
When setting the thermostat, take time to familiarize yourself with the system. A great way to do this is to read the included literature. Make sure you understand the settings for heating and cooling and the fans.
3. How to Set the Thermostat Temperature
Now, you’ll set your schedule with the times and temperatures you decided on earlier.
Before You Begin
Before setting a thermostat, you need to know what schedules you can set. Most programmable thermostats allow daily, weekly, or weekday/weeknight scheduling.
Daily: Daily scheduling allows you to program digital thermostat settings for each day of the week.
Weekly: Weekly schedules let you set one schedule that you use every day of the week.
Weekday/Weekend: This scheduling option lets you set different schedules for weekdays and weekends.
Consider your family’s general schedule and take note of the times that everyone wakes up, when people leave the house for work and school, return home, etc. You’ll use that information when you’re ready to program thermostat schedules.
4. Set the Thermostat Temperature
Now it’s time to determine your desired temperature settings for the different times of day. These are typically designated as “home,” “away,” and “sleep,” but they can vary slightly depending on your system.
The Department of Energy provides guidelines on the ideal temperature setting for maximum energy savings. When you’re not home and when you’re sleeping, keep the temperature 7º to 10º lower to maximize savings further.
Depending on your chosen schedule, you will have to repeat this process for multiple days.
5. Test and Adjust Schedule as Needed
Now that you’ve set programmable thermostat schedules, give them a few weeks to see how they work. You may decide to make adjustments to suit your family better. Adjust slowly, but maintain things with an appropriate range to ensure energy savings.
Tips for Programming Your Thermostat
Here are some tips on how to set digital thermostat systems up to maximize the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system:
Choose the Right Location for Your Thermostat
The location of your thermostat matters. Where you install the thermostat affects the performance and efficiency, and the wrong location can result in “ghost readings.” To avoid this, install the thermostat on an interior wall away from direct sunlight, drafts, doorways, etc.
Seasonal Temperature Considerations
Programming thermostat season settings is important to help ensure you’re using as little energy as possible. The Department of Energy recommends 68ºF in cold weather while awake and seven to ten degrees lower at night and while you’re away. For summer, they recommend 78ºF while you’re awake and higher when you’re away.
Vacation/Hold Settings
Once you’ve set your thermostat settings, you don’t have to do anything unless you’re leaving for an extended period. In that case, you can put your regular schedule on hold to lower the temperature for your vacation.
Thermostat Solutions from Warmup
Warmup has over 25 years of heating experience, specializing in radiant heat flooring systems and compatible smart thermostats.
Radiant heating systems heat rooms from the ground up rather than just heating the air like traditional systems, which can result in cold spots. The even and consistent heating allows radiant heating systems to work at lower temperatures, which helps you save on your energy bill. There are many Warmup systems to consider; the DCM-PRO and StickyMat Systems are compatible with most flooring, and you can cut the membrane to fit your room better.
For laminate, engineered wood, and carpet, there is the ultra-thin Foil Heater System, and concrete floors can be heated with the In-Slab Cable System.
Paired with a Warmup thermostat, you’ll have a system that works smoothly and efficiently without you having to do a thing.
The 6iE Smart WiFi Thermostat
As the world’s first thermostat and underfloor heating color with a Smartphone touchscreen, the 6iE Smart WiFi Thermostat‘s advanced technology helps maximize the efficiency of Warmup’s heating systems to provide significant energy savings. The 6iE is easy to set up by following the same steps on how to program a digital thermostat, but adding a mobile application, WiFi access, and various smart features. It offers SmartGeo and Early Start technology, and uses various sensors to detect the temperature to start heating the system. The 6iE WiFi Thermostat is also compatible with certain home automation systems, like Amazon Alexa, using IFTTT.
The Terra WiFi Thermostat
The second smart thermostat Warmup offers is the Terra WiFi Thermostat, which offers all the same features as the 6iE except for home automation compatibility. It features a simpler design that doesn’t sacrifice style and it is easy for anyone to use.
RFT Thermostat
The RFT Thermostat is the most basic option. It is a simple programmable thermostat that will allow you to set schedules, but it does not use WiFi or any smart technology.
Getting the Most Out of Your Thermostat
Getting a programmable or smart thermostat is a great way to make your heating and cooling system more efficient. Once you know how to set a thermostat, you are ready to see what a difference it can make. Pairing one of these thermostats with a high-quality system is best to get the most out of it. For example, pairing the 6iE Smart WiFi Thermostat with the DCM-PRO heating system will create a powerhouse of a system that will keep your home warm and save you hundreds.
Contact us today to learn more about Warmup thermostats and radiant heating systems. Our team will be happy to discuss our products and show you all the benefits they offer!
