What You Should Know About Thermostats

Where I am from, thermostats seem to be a normal part of the landscape of the home. Usually located in the hallway or other interior space, they are pretty much ignored unless you live in a house full of college students all used to living under different temperatures. In that case, the thermostat could get quite a workout, whether it's manual or programmable. The thermostat controls the operation of heating or heating and cooling systems on your property. Proper location, maintenance and operation of these control centers keeps indoor temperatures comfortable and can save on utility costs.

Thermostats should be on an interior wall near the center of the home, away from direct sunlight or radiated heat from fireplaces, radiators or other heat sources. That generally means outside the kitchen. They should be away from doors and windows that open and close frequently. Thermostats are generally located about five feet above the floor so they can be read or adjusted easily and may be controlled by a gauge, a dial or digitally with a panel of buttons. Thermostats should be assessed as part of the general mechanical system during a home inspection.

Programmable thermostats can help save on heating costs because they allow you to set different temperatures for different times of the day. While you are sleeping or at work, raising the temperature in the summer and lowering it in the winter can have a big impact on your energy bills without making any noticable difference in comfort levels. Some will even have different temperature settings for weekdays versus the weekend. This type of technology is only helpful if it is programmed correctly with your heating or cooling unit. Make sure to follow the manufacturers directions carefully and ask a service technician if necessary.

Most thermostats for gas-fired appliances also have a variable anticipator to help prevent overheating. The anticipator "fools" the heating unit into shutting down just before the room hits the set temperature so that the heat remaining in the furnace finishes the job. Whenever changing a thermostat or having routine maintenance, it's a good idea to make sure settings for the anticipator are correct. For more information on a general home inspection, contact National Property Inspections at http://npiweb.com.