Thermostats - settings

[cj7]

Ok Just installed a new Thermostat in the house. It is one of those programables. Now I notice that it is much more sensitive than my old one. Now my Furnace turns on more often for a short 'run' than it used to. Before it wold run for a longer time and have a longer down time. So, what are some thoughts? Good? Bad? Have not programed yet for day/night. It is just on the 'hold' setting.

 

[Red_rider]

We replaced our heat pump systems last year and are now experiencing the first "full" winter. We went with the Lennox programmable thermostats. Only problem we had was the installer gave us the wrong stats and the heat pumps weren't cycling correctly. Got the right one this past fall and we are loving it.

Ours can be set-up several different ways. Since the only creatures in our house during the day M-F are the dogs, we keep the temp. down. The thermostat starts warming the house up about thirty minutes before we expect to arrive. We have two zones so we can adjust the temp for the upstairs (bedrooms) only when we are going to occupy the space. Not sure if it is the new heat pumps or the programmable stats, but our electric bill has dropped dramatically.

My advice - use every option the stat will give you.

 

[BB_TX]

What you are seeing is a tighter or narrower dead band on the thermostat. The dead band is the difference between when the unit turns off and when it turns back on again. Maybe it was 4 degrees on the old one and only 2 degrees on the new one (as an example only). The advantage is that the room temperature will be more constant. The disadvantage as you noted is that it will cycle more. The actual total daily run time will probably be about the same so I would not expect it to use any more or less power.

 

[cj7]

btw. I have a forced air oil furnace

 

[BB_TX]

Or fuel. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ByronBob]

Don't know if this is a situation you have but if it's it near a register or something it could be that the heat blows on the unit, warms it up to shut off, then the air cools quickly and kicks it on again.
My T-Stat is in the hallway no-where near a register. Works great.

 

[ronjhall]

My Honeywell thermostat will turn furnace on at 1 degree change. I have seen furnace come on when thermostat still reads what the setting is. I wonder if that means it comes at plus or minus 1/2 degree. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I guess I am not answering your question, just adding to it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[cj7]

ron

Mine is the Honeywell also. I noticed the same thing. It kicks on when it still shows the same temp.

The only draft it may be getting it from the inside of the wall. I'll plug that up see if it makes a difference. It is located in my hallway away from doors and vents.

 

[rdln]

Look in the destructions to change the setting, I just put one on also and it had a cycle time setting along with a temp calibration. It was 3 degrees different than the mercury type it replaced.

Brand was Ritetemp about $50.

BTW, does anybody know if the old (probably unattainable) mercury thermometers are worth anything?

 

[boustany]

Not a professional but I designed and installed the hydronic heating system in my house.

I believe 'short cycling' is not a good thing. Burners usually are inefficient when they start off, so the more starts the less the efficiency, and maybe the more dirt, etc..

As noted above, the placement of the thermostat may be an issue: near a register or something, or even in an area subject to rapid swings in temperature.

I found that my thermostat a 'water' setting which seemed to increase the response time. You may consider moving the theremostat, or maybe getting a box or something to put it in. You seen those boxes in institutions like schools, and so on, around those thermostats.