Written by Industrial Stores Staff 18/16/22
Everybody wants a nice and comfortable home with the temperature set just right.
Nobody likes a thermostat war.
Whether it's couples competing for the perfect temperature or parents and teens racing to be the first to control the climate, avoiding a thermostat war is a must.
Thermostats automatically regulate temperature by activating systems like your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) when the temperature reaches a specified point. By using a thermostat, you’re able to choose a desired temperature and how long you’d like that temperature to be maintained.
Imagine unwinding on your couch, with the temperature set to a comfortable 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Strangely, less than an hour later you get the urge to brew a hot cup of coffee and grab your sweater.
Why wouldn’t you, given that someone has turned the temperature down to their preferred 68°F? Now, you might be the exception who takes thermostat changes in stride, but not all couples do.
According to a Vivint Solar survey:
75% of American couples argue over the temperature their thermostat is set to.
60% get angry when someone changes their thermostat settings.
64% go ahead and change the thermostat without their partner’s knowledge.
These stats suggest that thermostat wars can be more serious than they might sound. They aren’t always fair, either, since some partners have been known to adjust the thermostat behind the other’s back.
Here are some painless methods you can adopt to win the thermostat war in your home.
1 - Compromise With Your Partner or Family
Reaching a compromise can help you build a better relationship with your family or partner, despite different temperature preferences.
Maybe you argue with your partner or kids about the thermostat because you’re uncomfortable with the temperature. Perhaps you do it because you’re concerned about the cost of running the air conditioning or its environmental impact.
It’s easy to see why disagreements arise when one thermostat sets the temperature of every room in the house. Only the last person to set it will be happy.
But it’s much better to come up with a compromise than have unending contentions over thermostat settings.
One way to do this is to settle on a temperature that falls midway between everyone’s preferences.
Alternatively, keep warm if you prefer higher temperatures by:
Wearing a cozy pair of socks
Wearing a jacket around the house
Keeping your closet and cabinet doors closed
Opening your shades and blinds to let the sun in
Sipping coffee or tea
Keep in mind that one can always layer more clothes and blankets to keep warm. If you prefer cooler temperatures, you can:
Use a fan
Go barefoot
Drink iced drinks
Take cold showers
Wear lighter clothes
If compromising doesn’t do it for you, create a schedule and take turns being in charge of the thermostat. When you alternate the days each person is in control of the temperature, you’ll quickly become more mindful of one another’s needs.
2 - Install HVAC Zoning
It can be difficult for everyone under your roof to simultaneously feel comfortable when your HVAC system is governed by one thermostat. After all, different people prefer different temperatures. Thankfully, with HVAC zoning, you can set temperatures room-by-room.
Zoning makes it easier to accommodate everyone’s comfort level, particularly in the spaces they spend the most time in. It can be an especially beneficial compromise if your family has wildly different temperature preferences.
Additionally, zoning makes it possible to set your own bedroom temperature without affecting other rooms in the house.
It helps that modern zoned air conditioning solutions score significantly higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ratings than standard air conditioners. Higher scores mean HVAC zoning is efficient and energy-saving.
Without zoning, any thermostat tweak will make your air conditioner adjust the temperature in every room, including those you aren’t occupying.
Zoning, however, allows you to either ease up or completely turn off climate control in the parts of your home you aren’t using.
Ultimately, the efficiency that comes with zoning will benefit your budget since you won’t be paying to heat or cool rooms that aren’t in use. It also has the added advantage of benefiting the environment while stopping thermostat wars at home.
3 - Use a Smart Thermostat
Using a smart thermostat or AC controller can be a great way to consider individual preferences and automate your home’s climate.
You can program smart thermostats like the Robertshaw RS9220 and the Trane Comfort Control to maintain different temperatures during different times and days of the week.
For instance, it’s possible to schedule warm mornings and cool afternoons, depending on your household preferences.
You can even work around people’s presence in the home. Turn on your own preferred settings when everyone leaves, and switch them back when your housemates return.
Some smart thermostats, such as the Honeywell FocusPro, use the internet to connect with an app on your smartphone. This feature makes it easy to adjust your home’s temperature and schedule when the cooling or heating should turn on, no matter where you are.
Since conflicts over energy consumption fuel some thermostat wars, the learning capacity of a smart thermostat can come in handy.
By learning and automating your schedule, smart thermostats can save you money by ensuring that HVAC systems aren’t running when not needed. Some thermostats even help you track energy use and have energy-saving presets.
Others provide convenient features, such as voice controls. Such thermostats allow Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa to tweak the temperature.
Household members with mobility challenges will especially appreciate the conveniences offered by smart thermostats. Giving them a voice regarding temperature preferences can increase their independence and reduce potential hostilities in the home.
Lastly, if you have smart home automation set up, you can add your smart thermostat to it. In fact, by connecting your thermostat to smart smoke alarms or fire listening devices, you can keep your home safe.
Smart thermostats will automatically switch off your HVAC during a fire. Doing so ensures a fire isn’t made worse from blowing air. This handy benefit can ease your mind, knowing that your home has sufficient safeguards in place.
The table below summarizes the key features and benefits of a smart thermostat.
Solving Thermostat Wars Matters
Thermostat wars might seem trivial to some, but they can be a big deal on the homefront. After all, while temperature affects our comfort and productivity, among other things, the perfect temperature is quite subjective.
Therefore, solving thermostat-related conflicts can be a great way to maintain strong and healthy relationships with your partner, family, or housemate.
You don’t have to be one of those households where everyone battles over thermostat settings.
Fortunately, you can negotiate and compromise, consider HVAC zoning, or find a suitable thermostat to win the thermostat war in your home.
As Luis discovered upon interacting with our customer service team, you want Industrial Stores as your partner when you upgrade your thermostat:
"Received the order shipment tracking number. It was great news! Thank you so much for your hard work and concern. Really appreciated. Have a nice day and a great weekend!"
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