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As we strive for energy efficiency and smarter home automation, the role of thermostats has become increasingly significant. When it comes to controlling heating systems, especially boilers, choosing the right thermostat can make a world of difference. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing setup or are in the process of installing a brand-new boiler, having a thermostat that complements its functionality is crucial.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the world of thermostats specifically designed for boilers. We will delve into the key features, types, and considerations to keep in mind when selecting the best thermostat for your boiler system. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of what to look for and be equipped with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision.

In this era of increased awareness about carbon footprints and energy consumption, having a thermostat that can optimize your boiler’s performance and keep your home comfortable is paramount. An efficient thermostat can help you save on energy bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create a more sustainable living environment.

What is boiler and types of boiler in USA

A home boiler is a central heating system that generates heat to warm a residential space and provide hot water. It consists of a boiler unit that heats water, which is then circulated through pipes and radiators or underfloor heating systems to distribute heat evenly throughout the home. Boilers are commonly fueled by natural gas, oil, propane, or electricity.

In the United States, the most prevalent type of boiler used in residential settings is the natural gas-fired condensing boiler. These boilers are highly efficient, utilizing the heat produced during combustion to preheat cold water entering the boiler. This process maximizes energy efficiency and reduces fuel consumption, resulting in lower energy bills and reduced environmental impact.

Condensing boilers are known for their excellent performance, achieving efficiency levels of up to 98%. They extract heat from the flue gases, which are then condensed into liquid form, releasing additional heat energy. This condensation process helps recover latent heat and further improves the boiler’s efficiency.

Another type of boiler commonly found in the USA is the oil-fired boiler. While less popular due to the availability and pricing of oil, these boilers are still used in areas where natural gas infrastructure is limited. Oil-fired boilers operate similarly to natural gas boilers but use oil as their fuel source.

It’s worth noting that electric boilers are also available in the US market. These boilers use electricity as their energy source and are compact and easy to install. However, they tend to be less energy-efficient compared to natural gas or oil boilers and may result in higher electricity costs.

Smart ,wifi boiler thermostat

Ecobee 4 and 3

Ecobee is a well-known brand in the smart thermostat market, offering advanced features and energy-saving capabilities.

Ecobee4 Thermostat:

The Ecobee4 is a feature-rich smart thermostat that combines temperature control, voice control, and home automation capabilities. It offers a variety of advanced features and is known for its versatility and compatibility with different HVAC systems, including boiler systems.

Compatibility with Boiler Systems:

The Ecobee4 is compatible with most boiler systems, including single-stage and multi-stage boilers. It supports a wide range of heating equipment, such as boilers with or without external transformers, zone valves, and radiant heating systems.

To ensure compatibility with your specific boiler system, it’s essential to check the Ecobee website or consult the manufacturer’s documentation for a comprehensive list of supported systems and compatibility requirements.

Integration and Control:

The Ecobee4 integrates with a variety of boiler system components, allowing you to control your heating system efficiently. It utilizes the Ecobee app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices, to provide remote access and control of your thermostat from anywhere.

The thermostat also supports voice control through popular voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This allows you to adjust temperature settings, schedule changes, and access other thermostat features using voice commands.

Energy Saving Features:

The Ecobee4 comes equipped with various energy-saving features designed to optimize comfort and reduce energy consumption. These features include:

a. Smart Home/Away: The thermostat uses occupancy sensors and geofencing technology to detect when the house is occupied or empty. It adjusts the temperature accordingly, helping to conserve energy when you’re away.

b. Follow Me: The Ecobee4 can detect which rooms are occupied based on its occupancy sensors. It focuses on heating or cooling those occupied areas, providing personalized comfort while saving energy in unoccupied spaces.

c. Smart Recovery: The thermostat learns the heating patterns of your home and calculates the time needed to reach the desired temperature. By doing so, it ensures that the temperature is comfortable at the scheduled time while avoiding unnecessary heating, thus saving energy. It is also called Smart response technology in Honeywell thermostat.

Click here for more detail, price, reviews and ratings of Ecobee 4 thermostat

Ecobee3 Lite Thermostat:

The Ecobee3 Lite is a more budget-friendly option that offers essential features and functionality for smart temperature control. Although it is a simplified version of the Ecobee4, it still provides compatibility with boiler systems.

Compatibility with Boiler Systems:

Similar to the Ecobee4, the Ecobee3 Lite is compatible with most boiler systems, including single-stage and multi-stage boilers. It supports various heating equipment, making it suitable for a wide range of boiler installations.

Note that it may not be compatible with central heating systems having 3 or 4 stages

Integration and Control:

The Ecobee3 Lite offers integration with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. It allows you to control your thermostat using voice commands for hands-free operation.

The thermostat also provides remote access and control through the Ecobee app, enabling you to manage your thermostat settings from your smartphone or tablet.

Energy Saving Features:

While the Ecobee3 Lite may not have all the advanced features of the Ecobee4, it still incorporates essential energy-saving features. These features include:

a. Smart Home/Away: The thermostat uses occupancy detection to adjust the temperature when no one is home, helping to reduce energy consumption during vacant periods.

b. Scheduling: The Ecobee3 Lite allows you to create customized schedules to align with your lifestyle. By optimizing temperature settings based on your daily routine, you can minimize energy waste.

c. Energy Reports: The thermostat provides energy reports that offer insights into your energy usage patterns. These reports can help you identify opportunities for further energy savings and make adjustments to optimize your heating system’s efficiency.

Difference between 2 models

Click here for more detail, price, reviews and ratings of Ecobee 3 Lite thermostat

Nest 3rd Gen and Nest E

When you think of humidity what comes to mind.Mist ,fog,dew,wetness.Well all these conventional picture of humidity tells that it is related to amount of moisture in the air.But our comfort level is not just related to moisture present in the air.A more important and useful term is relative humidity and temperature that affects our level of comfort inside our house or outside.When accessing IAQ(Indoor air quality) both these factor must be taken into account.

So what is relative humidity(RH)?

Well in simple terms it is the amount of moisture present per cubic meter of air.Now while the volume of given air remains fixed the number of molecules of  air,in other words how dense the air is depends on the temperature of the air.Now obviously dense air which is colder can hold less moisture than hot air because as air expands when heated there is more space between molecules in hot air to accommodate water molecules than in colder air.

So if we take air of fixed amount of moisture content in it and heat it its RH will decrease  and if we cool it RH will increase.You can test it by measuring RH at inlet and outlet of your furnace or AC respectively.

But there is a paradoxical effect seen in weather conditions.

You may have seen that hotter seasons are high in humidity while colder seasons are dry.This is because it generally rains or water evaporates faster in hot season so no of water molecules per cubic meter of air is higher than is in winter.

While in winter the air saturates and the water condenses to form droplets or ice.But we don’t see droplets forming on window panes in summer.

We know that AC coil takes up the latent heat from water vapor molecules and removes moisture and but it increases RH. It is only when this cool air mixes with indoor hot air that the RH of supply air decreases while of whole house increases.

Note-While AC is moderately effective in removing humidity than a dehumidifier it can work as a natural dehumidifier especially by using over cool feature of thermostats.

Similarly a furnace makes the air less dense so reduces RH of supply air but when it mixes with the colder air of whole house the RH of supply increases while of whole house decreases.

How humidity affects us.

High humidity levels in the home creates allows for growth of for mold ,dust mites,powerful allergens and irritants which is not good especially for people with asthma.

On the other hand if humidity is below 30%,

• It causes irritation of the mucous membranes in nose and throat, leading to  breathing difficulties.
• Dry air is adds to discomfort to people with skin or eye conditions.
• It is also dry wood made items them too much creating cracks in them.

HVAC components that control your indoor humidity.

Whole house Humidifier-Used in winter season. Introduces water molecules into the draft air by intake from a solenoid valve and pouring it on a meshed plate. The water evaporates and is then taken away by the air draft on the duct it is installed.

Dehumidifier-Can be used in extension to AC.Work almost like AC but do not cool the air but help in making you cool since it removes the stickiness and mugginess from air so your sweat evaporates faster and make you feel cool.

Dehumidity-stat–

It is a simple device that operates and control the dehumidifier or AC But it is more used for energy saving device when you are gone for extended period of time or vacation rather than humidity control and prevent growth of mold or mildew inside your home.

The setting of the nob is like follows.

In summer

When Away-Set the Knob(Used for dehumidification) to 60 % and temperature to your desired cooling temperature Ex-80 degree F and set your fan switch to auto. When away your thermostat wont work if humidity is less than 60% but dehumidifier would.

When Home-Set the Knob to about 100% and operate the thermostat normally.

In winter

This humiditistat comes with the company making your whole house humidifier.In winter when humidity is low Set the humidistat knob to 55 % which in summer would have been in off position.Also you need to adjust the humidity level according to the temperature outside to prevent formation of dew on windows etc and dry the house furniture or wood work beyond acceptable limits.However people generally forget to change it from time to to time.

An alternative to all this could be a humidity controlling thermostat which can control both humidifier or dehumidifier according to the weather and RH present outside.Below we have listed some good wifi thermostat with humidity control feature that is easy to set and forget type.

1.)Honeywell YTHX9421R5101WW/U Prestige IAQ Kit with Redlink technology

Although this thermostat is not programmable it is a full on solution for your indoor air quality including temperature and humidity.It comes with multiple temperature and humidity wireless sensor that you can install inside or outside home and based on inside and outside reading it will smartly adjust your AC or dehumidifier or Humidifier.It says DIY type but it is recommended to install it through professionals.

Check out Honeywell prestige IAQ kit on Amazon.

Other than that it uses red link technology by Honeywell which is secure and reliable in terms of communication between devices.Here is a video explaining Red link technology.

2.)Aprilaire 8620W WiFi Thermostat

Aprilaire is an HVAC manufcacturer that makes humidifiers,dehumidifiers air purifiers,home automation using zoned temperature control and of course thermostats.The above model of Aprilaire thermostat can control both your humidifier and your dehumidifier from the thermostat itself.Along with humidity it also has event based air cleaning and ventilation controls. It has an auto mode which allows you to control humidity hands free.

Temperature we feel is also a affected by humidity so if you can control that with other parameter other than heating and cooling it can lower your energy cost. At least that is what the company claims.In all it is a decent thermostat that allows auto humidity control.

Thermostat can be configured for humidifier or dehumidifier through installer setup and then humidity or dehumidity set point can be set by pressing the humidity control icon or main screen. In auto mode of humidity control you can set it to Off Low,Normal or High and the thermostat will automatically adjust the setpoint according to temperature. In manual mode it will give suggestion of setpoint according to outside temperature and you can directly give the RH set point.

In case of dehumidification it will give current % level of dehumidification. Raise it to make air less dry and lower it to make it more dry. If AC is used for dehumidification it can lower the temperature by upto 3 degree to dehumidify.

Check out more reviews price and ratings of  Aprilaire 8620W WiFi Thermostat on amazon.

3.)Venstar T7850 Programmable WiFi Thermostat

Venstar is a US based company which exclusively makes thermostats for residential and commercial use and energy management system for small businesses. The above model is T7900 which is only residential model with humidity control humidifier and dehumidifier. It has color touch screen which also allows you to set wallpapers and sd card into the Thermostat.You can add voice control by connecting Alexa device.(only).You set the humidity set point and it will humidify using humidifiers or dehumidify using cooling mode.It also auto adjust recovery time using changing seasonal trend.It calls it smart recovery.Overall its a little pricey but good addition to add to your comfort level.

Click here for more rating reviews and price of Ventar T7850 wifi thermostat on Amazon.

4.)Honeywell TH8321WF1001 vision pro 8000 thermostat

This thermostat also has the ability to control but humidifier or dehumidifier or AC. It uses seperate set point for humidifier and dehumidifier. Although when used in common mode ie Off mode(Niether heat or cool mode) the thermostat may maintain 15 % difference in two set points.

For humidify or dehumidify setpoint-

Touch MENU and select Humidification or Dehumidification

Touch Auto.

Touch up or down key to change set point

Touch Done to save.

To prevent frost or condensation on windows when using humidifier on cooler climate Goto MENU, then select Window Protection. It is son a scale of 1 to 10 with lower number used for lower humidity levels.

NOTE: Window (frost) Protection is only available if thermostat can get outdoor temperature data either from an outdoor installed air sensor or local outdoor weather data through internet connectivity via wifi.

If AC is used to dehumidify it can lower the set point(Over cool) to upto 3 degree to reach the desired temperature.

In commercial use to maintain humidity the AC may
• Over cool from 1° to 5° F below set point.
• Run AC or cooling for the minimum “on” time.
• Run both cooling and heating together dehumidity without lowering the temperature.

It is compatible with upto 3 heat and 2 Cool stages heat pumps with auxiliary heat and 2 heat 2 cool stages most conventional oil, gas, electric steam or gravity boilers even with duel fuel feature.

Additionally The VisionPRO 8000 WiFi Programmable Thermostat features a large touchscreen display for easy control of your home comfort. You can program a schedule for each day or adjust the temperature remotely using the Total Connect Comfort app. It also offers Adaptive Intelligent Recovery and energy-saving scheduling options.

Check out more reviews price and ratings of  Honeywell TH8321WF1001 vision pro 8000 thermostat on Amazon

5.)Ecobee3 4 and 5 smart thermostat

Ecobee 3 4 and 5 all have humidity control feature but Ecobee 4 is the middle ground in the whole range of ecobee smart thermostat in terms of price and features.But it has what you need. Note- Ecobee 3 lite do not have this feature. That is ability to control humidifier or dehumidifier It uses its ACC+/ACC-  terminals to control any other accessory other than heating or cooling like humidifiers. To dehumidify you can use AC. In summer month you can adjust humidity by setting the humidity set point and also AC over cool max setting so you don’t over run Ac to lower the humidity.

For winter moths it has a frost control which lowers humidity set point as the outside temperature falls.This prevent frost on windows and save them from damage.

Check out more reviews ratings and price of Ecobee 4 smart thermostat in Amazon.

Here is a video how to set humidity in summer. Setting in winter will go along the similar process and or you can refer your manual.

6.)Nest smart thermostat-When it comes to thermostats we know nest is the market leader. It comes with almost all feature you need in a thermostat. Only drawback is that it is not cheap and maybe not for everybody if you dont need most of its other feature like geofencing etc basically what makes it a smart thermostat.

To connect to humidifier Nest uses single wire from humidifier that connects to the star terminal The other wire from humidifier connect toC terminal of HVAC system.

In Nest controlling humidity after wiring is just as simple as setting the humidity set point and over.You will be done. It will start controlling your AC dehumidifier or humidifier according to your humidity set point.See in this video.

Check out more reviews,price and rating of nest smart thermostat on amazon.

7.)Cielo Breez Plus, Smart Air Conditioner Remote Controller

This probably a new entrant into thermostat market is meant only for those who suffer from hot and humid climate.Its is cost effective way of controlling Ac to keep temperature as well as humidity into your desired range.Works with most of the AC brands and models and is also compatible with Alexa and Google assistant. It also has Geofencing. However if you want to control your Furnace or humidifier in winter as well this is totally not the thermostat you need. Other than that it has overall good customer feedback and ratings.

Check out more reviews price ratings of Cielo Breez Plus, Smart Ac thermostat on Amazon.

8.)Honeywell T10 thermostat

Elevate your temperature and humidity control in the most important areas using the T10 or T10+ Pro Smart Thermostat. Gain precise control over your preferred rooms by incorporating Smart Room Sensors and establishing a personalized schedule, or let the sensors adapt to your lifestyle automatically.

Experience the convenience of Auto Home and Away Mode, allowing you to adjust your thermostat from anywhere using your mobile device or enabling your home to respond automatically based on your schedule with geofencing.

Achieve optimal comfort by focusing on multiple rooms with the addition of Smart Room Sensors (sold separately), ensuring temperature regulation precisely where it matters to you.

There is option to control humidity level by using humidifier like steam in colder months or dehumidifier like AC in summer month. There id also a provision of window protection to control frost in the window by selecting a scale ranging from 1 to 10 that indicated how well the windows are insulated.

In using AC as dehumidifier there is a setting to select the over cooling range of temperature from 1 to 5 degree so the temperature can drop from current cool setpoint untill the desired humidity level is reached.

The relative humidity level ranges from 25 % minimum to 80 %.  Prior to 2019 models had minimum 40 % but it updatea automatically to 25 % when connected to wifi and registered in Resideo App.

When you use humidifier and dehumidifier in common mode ie neither heatinh or cooling but off mode the the theremostat automatically add 15 dead band to its humidifier and dehumidifier set point and automatically select humidifier or dehumidifier to control humidity.

When AC is used to control humidity the temperature may fall to 3 degree below set point before desired humidity is reached.

Check out more reviews price ratings of Honeywell T10 thermostat on Amazon.

9.) Emerson Sensi wifi/ smart thermostats

There are four models of sensi that are compatible with humidifier and dehumidifiers in your home. They are

• 1F87U-42WF (Classic) series
• ST55 (Smart) all series
• ST75 (Touch) all series
• ST76 (Touch 2) all series

To connect the thermostat with humidifiers they have Y2 * that can be used to connect to two stage cooling or humidifier. Similarly to connect to dehumidifier they have W2* that can be used to connect to two stage cooling or dehumidifiers.

It can also dehumidify systems that do not have dehumidifier by using the AC. It can do so by running the AC past your set point by 3 degree to lower the humidity if required.

To set up a the humidity settinggo to Advanced Set Up menu select set up HVAC equipment and press add additional accessories and press yes on wired humidifier or dehumidifier. If you can’t press yes  you have configured to two stage heating/ cool g Go back and change it it 1 stage Heating/ cCooling.

In advance settings

Humidify and
Dehumidify feature controls are also available.
For Humidification
Press Humidifiy.
Toggle the feature on or off. Adjust the set percentage
to using the up/down arrows.

Similarly for dehumidification use press Dehumidify and proceed as above.

Check out more reviews price ratings of Emerson Sensi wifi/ smart thermostats on Amazon

10.)Emerson 1F95-1291 7-Day Touchscreen Thermostat with Humidity Control

It has two terminal Hm connected to humidifier that energies on call for heat if humidity is less than set point to humidify. It also has Dhm that it uses with compatible system with required connection on control module or have a relay installed that can lower the fan speed to dehumidify on call for dehumidification.

 Auto Humidity Reduction (HR) – This feature automatically lowers humidity setting when the outside temperature drops to prevent the interior windows/walls from reaching the dew point preventing water to condense on surfaces.

Automatic Humidification (AH) – This feature if enabled, will energize the humidifier and circulator blower independent of call for heat if the actual humidity is below the set point.

It also has features like cycle humidifier that cycle the humidifier for 10 minutes On to 10 minutes off while the blower and/or furnace is continuously running to lower water usage by 50 %.

It also has prgrammable Dehumidification Optimal Comfort
Mode (OC) or Optimal Dehumidification (Od) mode. In OC mode it lowers humidity when it is above setpoint by 2% but only when call for cooling is required so uses less energy.

While Od mode is same as OC except it does not wait for call for cooing so consumes more energy. It can also over col by 30 degrees.

Other Features of the product include:

1. Spacious 12-inch touchscreen display, providing a large and user-friendly interface.
2. A programmable thermostat with a 7-day capability, enabling you to customize unique schedules for each day of the week.
3. Wide-ranging compatibility with various heating, cooling, and heat-pump systems, ensuring it works seamlessly with most setups.
4. Keypad lockout feature for enhanced security and control, preventing unauthorized access and changes.

Check out more reviews price ratings of Emerson 1F95-1291 7-Day Touchscreen Thermostat on Amazon

11.) Bosch bcc100 smart thermostat

This thermostat has an option to connect to one accessory either humidifier or dehumidifier.

To do that connect the control wire of accessory to the H/DH terminal of wall plate.

You can configure the thermostat to auto humidity control if you correctly wire the humidifier or dehumidifier and configure it in initial setup. Based on that the thermostat will turn on humidifier on heating and dehumidifier on cooling. You can also configure it it work as humidistat which works independent of heating or cooling call.

If the external accessory connected is humidifier you can configure the thermostat to “Cool to dehumidify” so that the cooling device over cool within permissible degree below setpoint or “Hot gas reheat” mode to dehumidify the air and yet maintain temperature.

Note- The HVAC equipment must include this feature for the thermostat to work.

The new updates in model enable it to use for evaporation and steam type external humidifiers.

It supports Conventional (Gas, Oil, Electric) and up to 4 Heat / 2 Cool heat Pump including duel fuel systems.

It is compatible with Amazon Alexa voice commands but not with other home automation system. it also does not have IFTT or geofencing.

It has 5 inch sleek design and touch screen options ans is programmable using phone App.

Check out more reviews price ratings of Bosch bcc100 smart thermostat on Amazon

12.)Wyze smart thermostat

This wifi thermostat comes also has humidity control. It is quite popular smart thermostat because of its affordability and smart features like geofencing 3 in 1 smart remote sensors that monitors temperature, humidity and motion and AI learning capabilities though to give energy saving tips. It can interact  with  Wyze devices like Wyze Cam V3, Wyze Lock, Wyze Plug and Wyze Cam Floodlight.So it makes a perfect choice if you already have these devices installed.

It has ACC+/ACC terminals to connect a humidifier or dehumidifier.

Thermostat can be configured to one of the four accessories Humidifier, Dehumidifier, Ventilator and Emergency heat by turning the dial and pressing the button to make choices in initial set up.

To configure dehumidifier:

Select

1.Cooling: For Dehumidifier to run only when the cooling stage is active and humidity is above the desired range.

2.Fan:To Run the Fan when  humidifier is On.

3.Energize:Active on or Active off.

To configure humidifier:

Select

1.Fan: To runs the fan when the humidifier is On

2.Heating: To run Humidifier only  when the heating stage is active and the humidity is below the desired level.

To set humidity set point go to Settings>Humidity preference and set desired level of humidity.

Check out more reviews price ratings of Wyze smart thermostat on Amazon

In modern heating and cooling systems, thermostats play a crucial role in maintaining optimal comfort levels while efficiently managing energy consumption. When it comes to heat pumps, a specialized type of HVAC system, thermostats are essential components that ensure the system operates effectively and provides both heating and cooling capabilities.

A heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to transfer heat from one location to another, either by extracting heat from the outside air (air-source heat pump) or from the ground (ground-source heat pump). It can reverse its operation to provide both heating and cooling, making it a versatile and energy-efficient option for maintaining indoor comfort.

The thermostat acts as the control center for the heat pump, allowing users to set desired temperature levels and switch between heating and cooling modes. It communicates with the heat pump unit, sending signals to activate or deactivate the system based on the temperature readings in the surrounding environment.

Thermostats for heat pumps are specifically designed to accommodate the unique characteristics and requirements of these systems. They incorporate advanced features and algorithms to optimize energy efficiency and maintain precise temperature control. Some of the key features of thermostats for heat pumps include:

1. Dual-Mode Operation: Heat pumps require a thermostat that can accommodate both heating and cooling modes. The thermostat allows users to switch between modes easily, ensuring the system operates in the desired mode based on the indoor temperature requirements.
2. Heat Pump Compatibility: Thermostats are designed to work seamlessly with heat pumps, providing compatibility with the system’s wiring and control protocols. This ensures smooth communication between the thermostat and the heat pump unit.
3. Programmable Settings: Many thermostats for heat pumps offer programmable settings, allowing users to create personalized schedules for temperature adjustments throughout the day. This feature helps optimize energy usage by adjusting temperatures based on occupancy patterns.
4. Smart Thermostat Capabilities: With the advent of smart home technology, thermostats for heat pumps have become even more advanced. Smart thermostats offer Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling remote control via smartphone apps and integration with voice assistants. They also provide energy usage data, allowing users to monitor and manage their energy consumption more effectively.
5. Energy Efficiency Optimization: Thermostats for heat pumps incorporate algorithms and features designed to maximize energy efficiency. They can intelligently adapt to changing conditions, adjusting temperature setpoints and cycling patterns to minimize energy waste while maintaining comfort levels.

How heat pump works

A heat pump is a device that can be used for both heating and cooling purposes. It works by transferring heat from one location to another using a refrigeration cycle. Here’s a simplified explanation of how a heat pump functions:

Honeywell RTH5100B 1025

The Honeywell RTH5100B 1025 Deluxe Manual Thermostat is a versatile option as it is compatible with all central heating and cooling systems, including heat pumps that do not require an auxiliary heat source. 

• • The thermostat provides easy operation with a simple push of a button, delivering maximum comfort for any home.
  • Accurate Temperature Control: It offers precise comfort control with accurate temperature control of +/-1° F for consistent comfort.
  • Auto change from heat to cool and retains the set point in memory during power outages.
  • Temperature Range Stops: It has temperature range stops of 40º to 89º F for heating and 51º to 99º F for cooling.
  • Easy Installation: It offers DIY installation.

In modern days where automation has reached the residential and is no longer the norm of only industries and factories there are certain terms or technical jargon that people still struggle with.

Basically automation is  part of a subject called control systems. The idea is that you have a control parameter(in our case temperature) and and the set point we want the temperature to be. The work of thermostat is to check the difference between the measured temperature and set point and control the fan or your heating and cooling system to adjust the temperature.

The thermostat is analogous to P+I (in parallel) controller used in commercial temperature controllers. P stands for proportionate I stands for integrate. P part of controller increases output directly proportionate to the difference between set point and actual temperature, while I affect the rate of change of its output proportional to its input by taking into account time duration of error signal(Set point – Actual temperature) to adjust the next switch on and off time accordingly and basically prevent offset error(final range of temperature swing in stable condition). Offset error is high if only P control is used.

The PI controller is subset of more sophisticated PID controller where D stands for derivative. P alone produce large offset or steady state error. It also increases maximum overshoot of system. So I part which produces output rate of change proportional to error is used which reduces this steady state error and bring the system to exact set point but I alone of controller can make system unstable and slow (Toggling for longer time.)

So a derivative function is added to make it stable and improve the transient response(reduce overshoot and undershoot and response time). It is anticipatory meaning it anticipates error and is used to limit over and under shooting of parameter. The main disadvantage is that it never reduce steady state error and produce saturation effect and amplify noise signals. Also since house thermostat are ON/OFF, rather than continuous type controllers D is generally not required.

Note-PID control for is overkill and is not used for house thermostat as it provides continuous or analog time changing (modulation) of heating or cooling capabilities.

Dead Band or Noise margin.

It is a differential also called hysteresis which is included in control system to account for noise or small temperature swing.

The above loop is shows there is +T and -T margin for temperature to swing beyond or below which the output changes. This is done to account for noise and other factors not in control that may change sensed temperature of thermostat. The work of thermostat is to adjust cph to keep temperature in this range of temperature near set point. Higher differential will result in less cph and vice versa.

That is why you may not notice HVAC instruments switching on or off in decimal temperature changes because your thermostat is +-1,2 or 3 differential temperature rated.

The noise may look like below(Graphical representation)

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As you can see using margin for noise etc leads to less unwanted toggling(On/Off) of HVAC instruments.

Why does your thermostat over cycle or cycles frequently.

First understand what is cycling. Cycling is a process of thermostat(temperature controller) to keep the HVAC instrument(ex-AC in summer, Furnace in winter) on and then off for a period of time so as to maximize efficiency. One such period is one cycle.

Why Frequent cycling should be avoided. Frequent switching is damaging to furnace or AC(specially compressor of AC) components due to constant wear and tear in the process. Also it may cost you money because a furnace or AC is more efficient if it is running continuously. It requires some time to build up that efficiency. So if it is switching on/off most of the time it is running predominantly on low efficiency.

Frequent cycling may be because of two reasons.

1.)Your thermostat is sensing some noise signal, like from an air coming through the hole behind the thermostat or air vents, windows, doors etc. To remove that make sure the hole behind the thermostat is properly sealed and no air draft is affecting the thermostat.

2.)Second is because of your boiler or ac system not responding as quickly as desired. So taking into account the “time  error” the I part of thermostat controller increase output which in turn increases cycle rate to keep temperature at required set point. Another reason may be that your boiler or Ac is over efficient and delivers heat or cooling faster than required resulting in frequent over shooting  as can seen in above diagram. To tackle this you must install a proper sized furnace or AC in the first place after consulting your HVAC person.

If no such option are left you can opt for an adjustable cycle rate differential thermostat.

1.)Honeywell thermostat cycle rate adjustment9

Honeywell thermostats do not come with adjustable temperature differential. It is fixed to +- 1 degree F but with some of the models you can adjust the number of cycles for heating(Winter) or cooling(Summer). After you change the cph(cycles per hour) it may take few hours to adjust because the thermostat has to learn the heating or cooling times so that the temperature is as close to set point as possible.

If you refer to Honeywell thermostat manual it states how you can change the cycles per hour rate using program buttons. It also tells how many cph is recommended for various type of system. Here is a  picture of what to find it in the manual.

Some Honeywell thermostat that have adjustable cycle per hour are

HONEYWELL RTH8560D T5 touch screen

and

HONEYWELL  T4 pro TH4110U2005

You can check manual of the model here before buying – honeywellmanual.com

2.)Wyze smart thermostat 

If you want a smart thermostat with adjustable differential temperature  at an affordable price this thermostat is for you. It comes smart features like AI learning of schedules, smart remote sensors and other Wyze devices like Wyze camera, lock, plug etc compatiblity, geofencing only at a fraction of the cost compared to other smart thermostat in about 70 dollars.

It has a default temperature differential of +-1 degree. But you can change from +-0.5 to +- 2 degrees by going to Settings>System>Differential Temp.

It also has a Minimum Runtime feature that prevent short cycling of compressor by waiting a minimum amount of time before restarting. The default is 5 minutes but can be changed from 2 to 8 minutes.by going to Settings>System>Minimum Runtime. The thermostat will show Cool on for AC or Heat on if you have heat pump during the brief waiting period.

Check out more details,price,reviews and ratings of Wyze smart thermostat

3.)Lux thermostat-

If you looking for a cheap thermostat because you want to control your hvac short cycling issue. All lux thermostat have a differential setting upto +-3 with increments of 0.25 degree F. In these type of thermostat if you system is short cycling just increase the differential temperature and you would be ok.

One Good model of Lux Thermostat Program 7 day with selectable smart recovery, universal compatibility.

4.)Robertshaw thermostat-

Robertshaw offer many programmable and non programmable thermostat. All comes with differential setting of 0.2 to 2 degree F for first stage of system. There is also a second stage differential. When first stage cannot keep the desired set point for more than set timer(20 minutes default)  and the temperature difference is more than sum of  first and second stage differential the second stage system gets on to lower the load on first stage.

For ex if set differential is 0.5 and set temperature is 70 degree and the first stage heating will come at 69.5 degree second heating will come at 69. If there is a third stage it will come at 68.5 degree.

It also has adjustable minimum time( maximum 5 minutes) delay for compressor ON/OFF to prevent short cycling in cooling mode.

Two good models of Robertshaw programmable thermostat are

Robertshaw RS10420T Pro Series 7-Day Wi-Fi Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat

Robertshaw RS9320T Pro Series Programmable  Thermostat, Multi-Stage, 3 Heat, 2 Cool

5.) Venstar thermostat

Venstar designs beautiful color screen wifi thermostats. But main feature is that it allows differential temperature of upto 0-6 degree F. Also if the thermostat is designed for two or more stage heating/cooling the it allows differential temperature changes for second stage as well. A timer or time lag is introduced between activation of first and second stage systems and similarly for higher stages. The differential setting is referenced as dead band in its manuals.

You can also limit the cycles per hour in Venstar thermostat which will limit the number of time your HVAC system.

Venstar T1050 5/2 Day Programmable thermostat

Venstar T1700 1-Day programmable thermostat 

It has dead band of 1-6 degree for first stage and 0-10 for second and third stage with adjustable timer between stages.

6.)Ecobee smart thermostat-

If you want to go for smart thermostat though i don’t really recommend unless you need it for other than the frequent cycle differential settings. Ecobee is the only thermostat that offers differential spread of 1-3 degree F. All other factors considered it is excellent investment in terms of ts smart features and operation like geofencing and auto adjust using humidity and temperature sensor that you can place any where across the room.

Check out ecobee3 lite Smart Thermostat on amazon.

7.)Emerson Thermostat

Emerson offers thermostat with adjustable cycle rate

Emerson thermostat do not comes with differential spread but offer to change cycle rate as slow , medium  or fast from the app.

Slow is suited for hot water boiler steam heating

Medium for Ducted heating/cooling and for most accurate control choose fast.

Emerson 1F83C-11PR Conventional programmable thermostat

8.)White rogers-

White rogers which a brand owned by Emerson also has a two option SL anf FA for slow and fast cycles per hour for heating only.If after changing the cph to FA or SL optimum cph is not achieved contact local service person. Cooling cycle rate is not adjustable and is fixed.

White-Rodgers 1F80-361

9.)Pro1 IAQ thermostats

This is another brand that have adjustable temperature differential. They offer adjustable differential of +-0.2 to +-2 degreeF with default setting of 0.5 for cooling and 0.4 for heating.

To set the differential select heat or cool slide switch and press both + and – buttons for three seconds and press+- key again to increase or decrease differential in 0.2 degree increment or decrements.

It also has 5 minutes time delay like Robertshaw for compressor ON/OFF to prevent short cycling of compressor.

This company offers thermostat of all types including programmable,set back, wifi, with or without humidity control, line voltage, thermostats with remote sensors, single and multistage thermostats etc.

Check out Pro1 Iaq T701 Digital Non-Programmable Thermostat (1H/1C)

One of the feature offered by company is free private label badge that removes it’s logo if you want.

Many brands that do not have a dedicated site are probably selling rebranded models from sellers like Pro1IAQ or other whole sale sellers in China.

We say so because they all sell almost identical models with almost identical features and functions.

So you can buy from any of them as they all are more or less the same.

They have cheap programmable and non programmable models for single and multi stage as well but their non programmable models usually sells the most.

Few such brands on Amazon are

Heagstat

Electeck

Suuwer

All of the above three brands offers identical models with same differential setting of +-0.2 to +-2 degree F along with 5 minutes compressor delay ON/OF protection and same procedure of setting them.

Check out

Heagstat H721 Non Programmable Heat Pump Thermostat

ELECTECK  Non-Programmable thermostat

Suuwer non programable thermostat

Aowel  and Garystat

All feature are same except that it has 3 minute rather than 5 compressor ON/OFF delay protection.

Check out

Aowel thermostat

Garystat thermostat

Recommended CPH for various furnaces in well insulated new homes with low heat loss.

1.)Heat pumps-1.5 to 2 cph

2.)Electric furnace-3-5 cph

3.)Gas furnace-3-4 cph

4.)Oil furnace-3 cph

Are you a rental property or mini business owner, or do you have curious small children in your home.In such case you certainly want to lock your thermostat to control who can or cannot access the temperature setting to prevent damage in terms of energy bills or hvac instruments. Well you can be relieved because if you want to buy a wifi thermostat most famous brand and their models offer such functionality, even the china made models like Beok etc. We list some of the best wifi thermostat with lock out based on their ease of use, applicability and trouble shooting.

1.)Emerson sensi wifi thermostat .

Buy any model of Emerson sensi. It comes with lock feature from app or from the keypad if it is not touch screen. We like the classic Emerson sensi without touch screen or its use of ease for lock out.

The keypad can be locked remotely or at the device by pressing menu and up button for 5 seconds But it cannot be unlocked from keypads.For that you have to use the app as shown above.This is ideal if you do not want other occupants of the home or building to change the setting except you who will have full control from the app.Perfect for landlords and rental property owners.

To assure that you have  keypad lock you need to have to confirm that you have

Firmware version: 9.06 or greater

iOS App version: 1.1.0 or greater

Android version: 1.091 or greater

In addition Emerson updates the firmware within 24 hours of installation son you don’t need to upgrade the thermostat.

Click here for more details,price ratings and reviews of Emerson sensi on Amazon

2.)Honeywell Thermostat-All wifi honeywell thermostat comes with a partial or full lock mode. This allows you to completely or partially lock various features of thermostat. Fully full lock prevents accidental or unauthorized change in heat/cool temperature set point.

While locking honeywell gives you a pin which you can reenter to unlock thus you should remember the pin even if you forget the only option which remains is to call customer support. Toll free no-18004681502

Things which you should have before calling customer support –

1.model number

2.date code

which you can easily find in menu>equipment status

The best and economic model we could find is Honeywell TH9320WF5003 Wi-Fi 9000 because with these wifi models unless users has the pin you will be assured that no one can change your settings but in keypad lock thermostats the lock and unlock is just few button press away on the thermostat.

You can also set minimum and maximum temperature range and give partial access to your tenants so that they can only change temperature set points within your allowed range. To do that go to

Menu>Preferences>Advanced preferences>programmable>Set minimum and maximum temperature>Done>Previous menu>Home.

Thermostat with keypad lockout is particularly suitable for landlords or rental property owners as the guest are totally locked out.

There are also thermostats which allows to set temperature limits.

But it does not lock the buttons.

So it wont be secure and cause huge money bills if tenants mess up with temperature setting continuously.

For other who want a thermostat for tenants as a landlord or don’t want children or unauthorized person accessing the thermostat use keypad lock out models.

Other Honeywell thermostat that have screen lock out feature are

If you want  keypad lockout try these models:

T9/T10 Smart thermostat with wireless sensors . T10 is duel fuel  compatible with humidity control.

T5/T6 Smart thermostat without wireless sensors. Models including TH6320WF2003, TH6220WF2006, TH6320U2008, TH6220U2000, TH6210U2001

Honeywell wifi thermostat with  RTH9580WF, the RTH9585WF, and the TH9320WF

Honeywell Vision proT H8110R1008, TH8320R1003, TH8321R1001, TH8321WF1001,

Honeywell Prestige IAQ  THX9421R5021.

For range stop settings, to set high and low temperature limits for heating and cooling try-
TH8110R1008, TH8320R1003, TH8321R1001, TH8321WF1001, TH6320WF2003, TH6220WF2006, TH6320U2008, TH6220U2000, TH6210U2001, THX9421R5021, TH6110D, TH6220D, TH6320U1000, TH5110D, TH5220D, TH5320U.

Click here for more details,price ratings and reviews of Honeywell TH9320WF5003 Wi-Fi 9000 on Amazon.

3.)Ecobee wifi thermostat-Like all above companies Ecobee also give locking option for all its models. While being  expensive it is a smart solution for landlords because it allows to set temperature range limits for both heating and cooling.  To do that

1. Go to Menu > Settings > Preferences
2. Tap onHeating range/Cooling range
3. Set the upper and lower limit values.
4. Tap on Save.

Tenants can choose between heating and cooling but without requiring the pin and also not changing the temperature limits.If you want to be extra sure you can download an app called iftt which gives you the alert when the temperature program changes.

To lock an ecobee go to menu>settings> access control>enable security code and enter 4 digit password that you want to set. Then select  features that you want to require password or simply select all to lock the thermostat completely. If you forget your access code here are the steps to recover it

1. Login to ecobee.com   and you can disable the password from there by going to Settings then access control and select disable.

or

2.)Call support and after confirming your identity they will send you the access code via email or through sms.

Click here for more details,price,ratings and reviews of Ecobee3 lite second generation on Amazon.

4.)Nest smart thermostat.

Locking a nest thermostat is very easy. It can be done with the app or from the thermostat itself. One thing to point out is that nest doesn’t allow to set temperature ranges for heating and cooling separately. You can just adjust the temperature lower and upper limit. This is also a bit complex.

Nest allows you to lock in in two configuration.

a.)Heat or cool mode-In this mode you can lock in either Heat or cool mode. After you create a four digit pin you can set temperature limit for either heat or cool mode. Guest can change the temp by moving the nest outer ring within your set temperature but cannot alter the heating or cooling mode without the PIN. Also when You lock your thermostat with app  the smallest temp range you can set is 5 degree(Eg 70-75).There is no such limit when you lock at thermostat itself and you can set the temperature to a fix value.

b.)Heat-cool mode-When you lock your nest in this mode either by app or thermostat you can also set temperature range limit.The lowest range is 2 degree.eg(70-72).Also no one can change temperature by turning the ring without knowing the pin.Only you can change the set point using phone app.

So in effect you can only lock your thermostat for guests or tenants for a particular season and then you have change it or you have to give them app access in case of heat-cool mode as the ring slider wont work.

How to lock nest.

1.Tap setting icon located on top right corner.

2.)Turn the outer ring till Lock  option show up on the screen and tap on it

3.Enter 4 digit pass code twice.

4.)If you want to lock in heat-cool mode you have to do an extra step in the thermostat(not app) to set the temperature range.

5.)After you create passwords You can set temperature range for heat or cool mode or for heat-cool mode from app.

Note-If you forget the pin you can reset it via app and receive password reset link.

You can also do it via app.Here are the steps.

1.)Select on settings.

2.)Scroll to the bottom to lock.

3.)Tap and select the 4 digit pin twice.

4.)If you locking n Heat or cool mode you have to set the temperature range by dragging slider to min amd max range Remember the minimum allowed range in app is 5 while with thermostat there is no such limit.

Click here for more details,price,ratings and reviews of nest third generation thermostat on Amazon.

As you know probably that wifi thermostat are not cheap.They easily cross the 100 $ range.But in an age when everything is becoming smart device controlled like Alexa or Google assistant one would naturally gravitate towards a wifi thermostat that could be used with such devices in your home.

However finding a affordable wifi  thermostat could be a pain when looking at so many models.So we have compiled a list of some good and cheap wifi thermostat that you could get from amazon.Based on customer reviews and experience using them the thermostats listed below are a decent value for your money.

One thing we would like to point out is that most of the time you don’t require a smart learning thermostat like Nest.This is because of the complexities of using such features.Your wifi thermostat may or may not have smart features like Geofencing.IFTT,Auto adjustment of schedule based on your past setting and other conditions like wether hmidity etc. But these are hardly the features most of the people will use.For example Geofencing which lets you change temperature with geolocation is hardly of any use if you routine is same on most of the days of the week.So a simple 5-2 days schedule will solve the same purpose.Also adjusting temperature multiple time whether automatically like in smart thermostat or manually is damaging to you hvac instruments and may cause higher energy consumption.So predominantly a thermostat which you can program and control remotely through app or your voice is the most desired features that will be more than you want to use in wifi thermostats.The prices of these thermostat will reflect according to these feature on the thermostats.

1.)Vine WiFi Programmable Smart Home Thermostat – 2nd Gen

Vine thermostat can be bought for about 70 dollars and it has all the feature of a wifi controlled thermostat.However it does not have few of the features like Geofencing and auto schedule feature of AI that learns your pattern.You have to manually program the thermostat for different setting you want.Other than that this device can be connected to any of you smart devices like tablet phone and can be accessed remotely. It can connect with home automation devices like Amazon Alexa and Google home assistant.

It is compatible with most of the HVAC devices common in US and Canada and comes with weather forecasting up to five days through its cloud compatibility.It also has humidity indicator.Amazon offers tech support or the product for upto 90 days and it also comes up with 30 days return no question asked and get repair service for 3 years and a lifetime technical support.Vine also claims to give feedback within two working days.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of Vine WiFi  Thermostat 

2.)Radio Thermostat CT50 7-Day Programmable Thermostat

This 7 day programmable thermostat works with most of the HVAC units whether single or multi stages.It is the cheapest thermostat in the list and can be bought for about 55 $.It can be powered by using  either 3 AA batteries or a C wire.The good feature we like is that you have the option of Geofencing with this thermostat along with other features which are common with others like remote access with smart phone tablet or home assistant devices.The thermostat can be accessed by multiple phone so that more than one family member can adjust temperature from anywhere as long as you have internet.It comes with pre built energy saving program that you can alter as your requirement. However it is not compatible with home automation devices.

This device may not be compatible with windows 10. This video explains how you can overcome that.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings Radio Thermostat 

3.)Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat for Smart Home, DIY.

The thermostat is an old model of Emerson and can be bought for 97 $.It offers most of the feature of a smart thermostat like Geofencing,smart alerts for extreme temperature or humidity.The installation instruction is provided in the app with which you can manually install the thermostat in minimum of 30 minutes.The thermostat is also compatible with most hvac instrument.You can check compatibility from here.

The thermostat is Geofencing enabled through Sensi phone app and is compatible with most home automation like Apple home kit Amazon alexa or samsung smart kit.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of Emerson Sensi Wifi Thermostat

4.)Sensi lite smart thermostat

If you want to save another twenty dollars you can buy Emerson sensi lite thermostat. It is a ow end model of Sensi touch smart thermostats.

It has all the smart feature like Geofencing, Voice control thorough Amazon Alexa oe Google Home assistant.

In addition it has plus side that it has touch screen.

The only downside is it is not compatible with humidifiers or dehumidifiers like other Sensi smart thermostats.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of Sensi lite smart thermostat on Amazon

5.)AirPatrol WiFi Smart Air Conditioner Controller

This thermostat is on our list because this thermostat will not require you to have any changes in your current AC system even if your AC system is old.The only exception is wired central ac system that do not use ir remote control.  It can connect to 10,000 different AC and heat pump models.If you consider the cost of buying a new Ac system because your contemporary thermostat wont connect to it this a deal in terms of money.If your AC is multi split you can add multiple thermostats and control all of them with one app on a single phone.It has Fahrenheit as well as Celsius reading option.Most customer found it easy toset up some even in 5 minutes.

Also this is a smart thermostat as it allows IFTT and geolocation(Geofencing) to control your temperature.All that for $100.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of AirPatrol WiFi Air Conditioner Controller 

6.)LUX CS1 Smart Programmable Digital Wi-Fi Thermostat

Although a smart thermostat with impressive features like smart learning- A feture that enables it to adjust the seeting by learning your preference like in the Nest thermostat and other features like Geofencing and Home away this thermostat comes at only around sixty dollars. Being a wifi thermostat it is compatible with phone App and also has voice controlling features using Amazon Alexa or Google Home assistant and even has IFTT compatibility.

You can manage multiple thermostats, user and locations using thermostat manager.

Smart alerts like temperature and filter change and also energy usage and utility cost report are also noteworthy features of this thermostat for your the price.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of LUX CS1 Smart Programmable Digital Wi-Fi Thermostat on Amazon

7.)Wyze Programmable Smart WiFi Thermostat

Wyze Smart Thermostat is one of the most popular and talked about wifi thermostat with manny smart features industry mainly because of its affordability  some smart features. Here are its key features:

1. Easy DIY Installation: With clear instructions, most installations can be completed in under 30 minutes.
2. It is compatible with 90% of home systems, and a C-wire adapter is included for homes without a C-wire.
3. You can share control of the thermostat with guests and family members through the Wyze app.
4. Voice Assistant Compatibility: The Wyze Smart Thermostat works seamlessly with popular voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.
5. It dooes not have IFTT or Homekit compatibility but you can configure it to work with other Wyze devices like the Wyze Cam V3,Wyze Lock,  Wyze Plug, Wyze Cam Floodlight. For ex you can turn heating or cooling On if connected Wyze camera detects motion etc.
6. It has Home,Away and sleep temperature preference and also Geofencing also called auto switch feature.
7. The Wyze app provides usage tracking capabilities, allowing you to monitor your energy consumption pattern providing identify opportunities for energy savings.
8. Energy-Saving Features:  It automatically turns on and off based on built-in motion sensors and detects your phone’s location to adjust the temperature accordingly.
9.  If you input it’s % usage and sizes and expected life time of different filters and it gives you alerts on when it’s time to change them for higher HVAC efficiency.

Note -This thermostat does not have adaptive learning according to your scheduled and routines like high End thermostat like Nest.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of Wyze Programmable Smart WiFi Thermostat on Amazon

8.)Amazon smart thermostat

This thermostat from Amazon comes for only around $70 is a catch if you only have Amazon Alexa at your home as it only works with it for voice commands and not with other automation system like Gogle home asiatant, Apple Home kit or IFTT.

It is an output of collaboration of Amazon and Resideo(Owner of Honeywell home thermostat). Its inside structure is very similar to Honeywell T 5 and T9 thermostats.

It requires C wire and you need to pay extra for power adapter kit if your HVAC device do not have one.

It has built in temperature and humidity sensors but do not have option for remote sensors.

One distinctive feature of this thermostat from other cheap thermostat that claims to be smart is that it has learning capability that anticipated your heating or cooling needs based on your interaction with thermostat and location of your smart phone. It calls them hunches.

So for ex if you leave more often at certain time it will lower the heating or cooling unless someone interfere and change it at your home.

It can also be programmed for standard schedule if you don’t want Amazon thermostat to control via its hunches.

In both case you can use Alexa routine to enable the thermostat to do certain function based on time of the day. The routine can be initiated by input from  smart home sevices like compatible temperature sensor, motion sensor or your voice.

You can view energy usage report and estimate of your energy cost with inputs such as home size and your prior monthly heating and cooling costs.

It is east to install and supports most forced air, radiant boilers and multistage 3 heat/2 cool heat pumps but not with duel fuel systems.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of Amazon smart thermostat on Amazon 

Honeywell RTH6580WF1001 and RET97E5D1005 wifi thermostat

Of all the wifi thermostats by Honeywell these are the cheapest. Both the units have practically the same hardware and have same function but of the two Honeywell RTH6580WF1001 was intended to be sold online while other was not. 

But RTH6580WF1001 is recommended as it has more and recent reviews.

Although it used to be sold at $99 it Honeywell has reduced its price to $79. At this price it offers the capability of setting and changing temperature set point using phone or tablet. It also works with Amazon Alexa and Google home assistant and even compatible with IFTT.

It is compatible with most boilers and heat pumps withup to 3 Heat/2 Cool Heat Pump Systems and up to 2 Heat/2 Cool Conventional Systems however you would require C wire.

It is smart response technology oh Honeywell but do not have AI learning capability of your routine or schedule. It also do not have Geofencing enabled or Auto home/Away mode or remote sensors.

If you want those feature you can opt for Honeywell T5 thermostat.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of Honeywell RTH6580WF1001 Thermostat on Amazon

Honeywell T5 RTH8800WF2022 thermostat

Honeywell T series are latest addition to what honeywell calls thermostat and alternatives to lyric 2.0 thermosts which is now discontinued round. T5 is the cheapest of them all.

It has wifi compatibility and works with Apple homekit along with Amazon Alexa, Gogle home kit and Google home assistant which Honeywell RTH6580WF1001 does not support. 

It has Geofencing( Auto Home/ Away) feature to control your HVAC based on your location. It can set the temperature when you are not at home automatically or your manually pre set temperatures. It also has smart response/ adaptive recovery technology.

It does not support remote sensors and duel fuel systems. Otherwise it is compatible with most heating and cooling devices upto 2 heat with auxiliary and 2 cool stages and requires C wires. It has a similar but higher version T6 if you want it for duel fuel systems.

It use to be sold for higher price but now available at $99 on Amazon or Honeywell store.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of Honeywell T5 RTH8800WF2022 thermostat on Amazon

Robertshaw  RS10420T Pro Series wifi thermostat This is a simple wifi thermostat that will work with most HVAC systems with upto 4 stage heat/2 stage cool systems.

However it is compatible with Amazon Alexa only.

It does not have many features Ike Geofencing, remote sensors AI learning capabilities. Also for its price of around $70 you can can other wifi thermostats with more functions. It is therefore not so popular among customers.

But it is useful in case you want an adjustable differential thermostat. It comes capability to adjust differential temperature from 0.5 to 3 degree. It is the temperature difference between setpoint and next higher or lower temperature to switch On heating or cooling device. It can be useful to prevent short cycling of your HVAC device.

It also has minimum(maximum 5minutes) compressor ON/OFF delay to protect short cycling of compressor.

It requires C wire and do not have battery backup. It is 7 day or 5-2 4 times a day programmable and has warranty of 6 years.

Click here for more detail, price , reviews and ratings of Robertshaw  RS10420T Pro Series wifi thermostat on Amzon

Other than the above thermostats I found few thermostat like the Beca,Beok or Qiao xi pan on  which are chinese manufacture selling on Amazon but is available for purchase in Alibaba.These thermostat are not so reliable for obvious reason but if you want a thermostats quite low in price you can find multitude of these thermostats  at aliexpress.com and find them or similar other wifi thermostats quite easily there and get it mailed through cheap china post.But as said these thermostat wont have the customer support or maybe clear installation instruction as i read in few of the reviews for models sold on Amazon.

Perhaps more than any other company, household thermostats are most commonly associated with Honeywell, the brand whose history reaches back to the invention of a coal thermostat in 1855. Honeywell’s line of 7-day programmable thermostats continues that tradition, providing the convenience of pre-set temperatures for every day of the week.

The Honeywell RTH7500D Conventional 7-Day Programmable Thermostat was designed specifically for homeowners who prefer push button controls, rather than touch screen technology. The model is also priced slightly lower than its touch screen counterparts. All of Honeywell’s 7-day models allow users to program four settings for every day of the week, with terminology – wake, leave, return and sleep – that guide you through the process.

(Click here to download the users manual for the RTH7500D)

Installation – Pros and Cons

Honeywell thermostats can be used with a variety of heating and cooling systems, but some consumer reviews cited trouble in determining the wiring configuration with atypical installations. The product comes with stickers to help identify which wire goes where. Programming the thermostat is fairly easy, and the manual guides you through any confusion in terminology.

The RTH7500D model has an “automatic” option that allows you to set a single temperature that the system will then maintain, switching from cooling to heating systems as needed. It’s a handy option when you’re home all day, and it can be toggled off when you’re not.

User-Friendly Button Interface

Many homeowners will find the button interfaces more user-friendly than those with touch screens. The buttons ensure you won’t accidentally hit the wrong setting. To conserve the batteries, the display remains in “dim” mode until a button is pressed, which triggers the backlight.

The display itself is clear and concise, showing the current temperature, your pre-set temperature, the current time and three options for turning on the fan, setting the clock and for bringing up the scheduling menu. Up/down push buttons to the side make adjusting the temperature simple, even in the dark.

>>> For more details price reviews and ratings about  Honeywell RTH7500D Click here … <<<

Many homeowners grew up seeing the Honeywell name on their household thermostats. The brand is so deeply imbedded in popular culture that their model known as “The Round” is displayed at the Smithsonian as an iconic American product.

With that kind of legacy, consumers expect a lot from a Honeywell thermostat, and the RTH7600D Touchscreen Thermostat delivers.

The RTH7600D model is compatible with a variety of heating and cooling systems, including heat pump systems. Configuring the thermostat to alternate systems requires using its advanced programming options.

(Click here to download the users manual for the RTH7600D)

Simple, Set and Forget Features

Set the thermostat at the temperature you want, and this thermostat ensures it stays there, automatically swapping between heating and cooling. Its digital display is easy to read, easy to understand and easy to program.

Some consumer reviews complained that the advanced programming interface uses numbered codes like “0300” instead of plain text. The manual clearly explains the codes, so this may be a minor irritation.

Advanced programming also allows users to set reminders to replace the filter and batteries, features that reviewers liked.

Don’t expect the RTH7600D model to serve as a night light. The backlit display stays lit for about eight seconds, then goes dark to conserve the batteries.When lit, the display is extremely user-friendly.

Clear up/down arrows allow you to easily adjust your pre-set temperature, and the system holds the new setting.

Care-Free Programming

This Honeywell thermostat has all the programming options you’d expect from a quality 7-day system, allowing you to easily program the system for variable settings for each day of the week.

The feature that really sets this model apart is its “recovery” option.

Keep the system turned off while you’re a work, set the time you want it to recover your optimum temperature, and the system ensures that your home reaches that temperature by the time you walk in the door.

>>> Click here to more details price reviews and ratings of Honeywell RTH7600D … <<<

This thermostat is compatible alongside pretty much any kind of heating or cooling system available on the U.S market.

The Lux TX9100U showcases a user-friendly energy-saving design that is easy to learn even for the not so tech savvy people out there.

Due to the fact it’s programmable the TX9100U utilizes energy only when it’s necessary this unit will be a tremendous factor in helping you to spare money on your energy bills as well as protect the environment.

For safety and further benefits this advice is completely free from mercury.

Because of the large backlit display patented Lux Speed Dial as well as pre-programmed energy-saving plan the TX9100U is extremely simple to use.

The TX9100U allows you develop an entirely different program for every single day of the week and you are able to submit four different time intervals and temperature settings in a 24-hour period.

Whenever you are planning to leave your home for a longer period of time it’s possible to use the vacation hold feature to make sure that you are not paying to heat or cool an empty house.

Save Money and The Environment

Like all programmable thermostats the TX9100U helps reduce energy consumption but this efficient devicetakes savings a step further.

To maximize your home’s energy efficiency the TX9100U comes preprogrammed with a default heating and cooling schedule that’s designed to save up to $500 in energy costs over a year.

>>Click here to find more detals price reviews and ratings of Lux TX9100U…