Digital Thermostat — Solve My Digital Thermostat IssuesAlthough an installed digital thermostat typically functions trouble-free, perhaps you can benefit by the following simple testing processes. After all, a faulty thermostat affects the heating and cooling comfort level throughout your entire home.
Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat System Receives Popular Mechanics Breakthrough AwardIn October of 2010, Popular Mechanics announced a positive first look at the soon-to-release Trane ComfortLink II thermostat unit. Public interest immediately followed the announcment. But face it: Any time an HVAC manufacturing company or any other company picks up a Breakthrough Award from a publisher known for recognizing world-changing technology, homeowners and business owners will begin to take serious notice.
Public release of this new Trane A/C temperature control product wouldn’t happen before early 2011. But the news was out. Trane was about to release the most advanced home comfort device of modern technology. Highlighted by a seven-inch interactive control screen, this innovative heating and cooling control unit offered:
When it comes to innovation, new technology, and product reliability Trane has always been in the forefront of home air conditioning solutions. In 2010, Popular Mechanics proclaimed Trane heating and cooling products among “The Year’s 10 Most Transformative Products.” But that was six years ago.
What about now?
What about 2016 HVAC applications?
Has, through the years, the technology that drives the Trane ComfortLink II home thermostat control unit proven durable as well as successful?
Well. First off, the ComfortLink II home control unit has never been considered a typical thermostat. It came out as a unit that served as a one-of-a-kind zoning and controls HVAC product manager. When coupled to a wireless in-home router via a personal app, the system enables instant access and control over the installed ComfortLink system. Homeowners can even view and manage the comfort level of individual rooms within the home. And it is custom to personal taste. With ComfortLink, homeowners can go light with simple thermostat controls or they can go deep by viewing and managing home humidity, indoor air quality and the temperature management of individual rooms.
But go even deeper, Trane ComfortLink II functions also include on-screen tracking of current weather alerts and 5-day weather forecast for their precise location, all of this completed by an up-to-minute radar image of current conditions.
So what defines the distinctions between then and now, 2011 and 2016, modern heat pumps versus aged air conditioning systems, and current WiFi technology versus previous WiFi technology. One immediate fact surfaces: the performance of WiFi-based communication systems. For any form of digital communication, speed is the primary factor of increased product performance.
In March 2003, 3G came out as a new standard in mobile phone network technology. Users received greater data bandwidth, quicker web browsing and image-based functionality. It marked a giant step in the evolution of camera phones. Then along toward the end of 2008, WiMax networks made the scene. Shortly thereafter, during 2009 and 2010, 4G.LTE provided a considerable increase in performance, reliability and usability. And now we stand with 5G pushing around the corners. And on the side of land-based communications, Google Fiber excites millions of users with the prospects of a new and improved land speed.
What does all this mean when looking at the Trane ComfortLink II home thermostat system? Users gain improved functionality, greater speed, and quicker data feedback. So let’s close by zooming in on the current:
ComfortLink™ II XL950What you get…
A remote heating and cooling management device that is much more than a mere thermostat. The Trane comfortLink Wi-Fi thermostat is actually a home-energy command center. It’s digital, programmable, easy to use, and ready made for the quickest in remote system access. Features include:
And the best point about Trane ComfortLink thermostat technology: By constantly updating to handle new techno advancements, the Trane home heating and cooling management system continues to rival the features of any home thermostat on the market.
Get yours ComfortLink now. Contact your local Arizona American Cooling and Heating supply team.
Argument: Is A Programmable Thermostat Efficient?According to one regional Department of Commerce web file, nearly 70% of the homes that currently heat and cool via the control of an installed programmable thermostat are wasting money (1). It seems that most homeowners fail to complete a primary step in the installation process: they don’t program the thermostat.
Thus a device designed to help you save energy ends up being no more efficient than the manual version of the same product. Hey. It doesn’t have to be that way. Fact is: if programmed effectively, the first-year savings from a correctly installed and programmed home comfort management system can sometimes recoup the full cost of the unit. Just ask the tech to help you get started.
After the initial unit cost is recovered, the energy saving from your thermostat investment becomes a cumulative benefit. A properly programmed “smart” thermostat requires less personal attention therefore you get superior home A/C comfort with better energy efficiency without the added cost of consistent manual manipulation of the controls.
A/C thermostats are used to control the temperature within a business, home or various sections thereof. By gauging internal temperature in relation to a pre-set comfort configuration, the thermostat activates the power controls on a central air conditioning, furnace, or heat pump comfort system. Furthermore, if the associated home comfort system includes air exchangers or humidifiers, the thermostat can control those mechanical systems also.
Throughout the ages, HVAC technology has advanced from a collection of simple and half-effective ideas to a degree of well throughout purposeful home comfort management systems that stuns the mind of the modern A/C consumer. Current thermostat options include: manual, programmable, and smart. Herein is a brief description of each format:
In the tradition of the times, the wheel on early manual thermostats followed the nature of a dial telephone. The homeowner dials up the number (desired temperature setting) and conditions in the home or business remain stable as such until such time as someone rotates the dial left or right. However, due to the need of manual intervention, most folks have a habit of selecting a “comfortable” setting and then leaving it in place — even at night or during times when nobody is home to gain the benefits of a human-comfortable setting.
By enabling users to make one-time changes wherein the temperature settings shift according to time of day or time of night, programmable thermostats up the efficiency of even a poorly performing HVAC system. Digital units, typically driven via touch-screen technology, enable users to make these changes directly on the device itself. Some models, for example the Trane XL800 Digital Thermostat, include multiple mode settings such as:
Various models also include options for auto-changeover for weekends and weekdays, evening to night and even special adjustment modes for morning versus daylight hours. Furthermore, many programmable systems include the power to manage and control heat pumps, air exchangers, humidifiers and other mechanical devices.
Designed for the homeowner or business owner with a desire to reap even greater energy efficiency than that which can be provided via a digital programmable thermostat, Trane and other major A/C manufacturers have developed “Smart” thermostat technology. The programming options typically match or exceed the modes provided by a digital system, however Smart thermostats include one significant improvement: Smart thermostats use an applied rudimentary form of artificial intelligence so that they can actually “learn” the heating and cooling preferences of the user. This means the unit can actually make adjustments according to the factual presence of a human being within the dwelling or office. Additional features include Wi-Fi control via smart phone apps, tablets or personal computers. This also enables the homeowner to receive monthly e-mail reports that offer suggestions for even more efficient use of the system.
Some “Smart” units even link to home security systems. Thus some “Smart” programmable thermostat units not only monitor and control your homes HVAC systems, they can also provide remote monitoring and operation of many other home security and comfort functions.
To help guide your choices in this matter, American Cooling and Heating places a five-star mark of confidence in the Trane ComfortLink™ II SMART CONTROL. This intuitive and innovative touch-screen home HVAC management system functions well with most any other brand of standard central heating and air conditioning systems as well as with the Trane brand name. Among the many standard functions included with the ComfortLink™ II SMART CONTROL, you get:
Custom Scheduling and Control
Indoor/Outdoor Temperature Monitoring
Filter Monitoring
Remote Access
Live Weather Reports With Radar Images and More
And A Fantastic Digital Picture Frame Display For Times When The Unit Is Not In Use.
Installation – Although the physical installation of a programmable system may be fairly simple for some folks, remember that damaging your system due to a crossed wiring accident isn’t going to play well with the product warranty. Some units require wiring changes that the average homeowner is better off leaving to the skills of a trained HVAC technician. Furthermore, if you plan to include additional devices, the wiring tends to get even more complex.
Location – It’s all about performance and efficiency. To function most effectively, a thermostat should be located away from doorways, drafts, direct sunlight, windows and other specific forms of interference. The installer must also consider air currents such as those involved in war air rising or the opposite which is cool air sinking.
Programming Your Thermostat – Now is when the homeowner really has to consider various options, options that no tech can weigh-in without homeowner input. However, even without knowing the basics of your household family schedules, don’t let the tech leave without having him or her walk you through some of the basic programming processes. With American Cooling and Heating, you won’t need to worry about being inadequately trained. Our techs want you to know your system and how to get the best from your new programmable thermostat control unit.
1) https://mn.gov/commerce/assets/home-energy-guide_tcm17-28824.pdf
Carrier Cor Thermostat Control Ramps Up Carrier Market Share In Smart Thermostat TechnologyLeap to the competitive edge in home comfort. Install a Carrier Cor Thermostat in your Arizona home. For more information on Carrier Air Conditioning products in Arizona, contact an American Cooling and Heating professional in your area.
What makes Cor Technology the hands-down choice for Arizona homeowners looking for more energy-efficient air conditioning thermostat technology? Consider the broad overview:
By grabbing hold to the latest in smart technology, the Carrier Cor Thermostat system activates a two-way flow of information between consumers and the equipment that drives home heating and cooling resources. You want quick and easy access to more energy-efficient home air conditioning comfort. You also demand technology that helps reduce the price of cooling via reduced energy consumption. In core features, Cor smart thermostat technology meets your demands. The Cor system provides energy-conscious consumers with:
And, as though the front-end benefits of controlled heating and cooling can’t win you over, Carrier links the Cor’s primary advantage over existing thermostat technology to user access to detailed energy usage reports. Made available through a associated iPad compatible app, the Cor system technology generates monthly statistics custom-designed to help the homeowner understand the real-time savings associated with personalized thermostat management.
Furthermore, a month-by-month comparison reports provides community assessments that enable Arizona air conditioning customers to examine how their energy consumption rate differs from that of neighbors who are also using the Carrier Cor Thermostat system. The Cor iPad app is more than a basic tracking tool. It is an app designed by a company noted for expertise in home environmental controls. The advantage is yours and it kicks butt over the competing smart thermostat technology.
If the app provided no more than the monthly reports, homeowners could use it to save moment on the cost of Arizona air conditioning. Yet, Carrier has ensured that Cor Thermostats customers receive even more benefits from the app. Cor™ Insights examines your neighbors cooling system performance and settings and makes personalized suggestions for how to best reap performance in a given home. The system can provide minute-by-minute breakdown reports that cover:
Best of all, you don’t have to be standing before the on-screen display to reap the benefits of a Carrier Cor thermostat system. The smartphone app mimics the on-screen display of your home Cor smart technology thermostat system.
Ok. A super cool technology is by nature governed by sensitive electronic equipment. It’s powerful, efficient, effective, and sensitive. Some less effective and less-efficient smart thermostat systems may be suitable for installation by the customer. Carrier recommends that a professional heating and cooling expert install the Cor technology thermostat. Don’t risk burning out the electronics. For immediate information, support or installation, contact Arizona’s premier HVAC resource, American Cooling and Heating.
Central Air Conditioning Efficiency: Use A Programmable Thermostat And Avoid Manual Fan On SettingsKnowing what a central air conditioning system should do and knowing how to efficiently operate your programmable thermostat are not identical points of wisdom. For example: It may seem that the fan on your A/C or Heat Pump unit performs the same function as a standard room fan. Not So. HVAC system fans are designed to produce an entirely different manner of air circulation and air management.
In core function, air conditioning removes hot air from within your home or office, and then returns to you the cooler air. Central A/C units circulate the chilled air throughout your office, home, or even a huge industrial plant. Window air conditioners, although sometimes used to cool an entire home, are most often used for single rooms and other forms of limited space cooling. Window fans, attic fans and other stationary fan units merely churn the existing air, creating turbulence that generates a sense of wind chill.
Central cooling and heat pump systems work in conjunction with a structure’s overall HVAC components, which include air conditioning processes, heating equipment and even ventilation management. Room or window units function as stand-alone cooling, heating or cooling and heating appliances. Freestanding fans, although seeming to cool your home, in actuality increase the heat of the nearby air. Electricity generates heat. Thereby an electric fan when set to fan on releases additional heat into a room and provides no supplemental removal of hot air from the room. Now wind chill refers to the process wherein wind increases convective heat loss. By moving air throughout a room, a fan enables quicker and easier evaporation of sweat from your skin. Thus you are cooled by your body’s natural means of eliminating heat. The greater the wind chill, the more evaporation and the cooler you feel. But remember, fans do not remove hot air from the environment; they add hot air. Thus even as the wind chill effect reduces your discomfort, the fan actually increases the cause of that discomfort.
The fan that functions with your installed AZ heat pump or central air conditioning system is also connected to your furnace system. Warm interior air returns to your outside air A/C condensing unit. The air passes through the condensing coils and is then re-circulated back to the inside furnace unit. The cool air is then disbursed via ducts and vents throughout your home. Although evaporation plays a role in the functions of a central A/C system, the core result is nothing like the results produced by a standard room fan, ceiling fan or even attic fan. The fan on your central HVAC unit is neither designed for or should be used as a regular home fan unit. Window air conditioners, however, are not like central A/C units. Setting the Fan On mode on a window unit merely circulate air just as a standard window fan functions. For cool air, you need to set the window unit to “air conditioning” mode.
Under normal conditions, you should never set your central A/C fan mode to “Fan On” only mode. It causes problems for your thermostat and your overall heating and cooling system. Extended use of “Fan On” only mode increases room humidity while decreasing the efficiency of your HVAC system. For better HVAC equipment performance, the Arizona Energy Commission recommends that homeowners keep air conditioning system fans set to automatic.
In the Energy Star article “Heat and Cool Efficiently,” the editors suggest that an installed programmable thermostat can save homeowner’s as much as $180 per year in energy costs. During summer months, cooling an Arizona home accounts for as much as fifty-percent of home energy consumption. Several points help reduce this cost:
Defined by quality components, every Trane Programmable Thermostat is crafted to help ensure that your family reaps the best in air conditioning comfort. Take a look at some of the options and features:
Crafted for intuitive touch-screen control, the Trane ComfortLink� II sets the scale for innovative management of HVAC equipment. Adaptable to most all brands of heat pumps and A/C units, as well as most all Trane products, the Trane ComfortLink� II is ripe for the picking. Furthermore, the unit is fully upgradeable and well supported for updates to remain compatible with future-released heating and cooling systems. Features include: · Custom control and scheduling · Live weather and dealer contact
For even more details on Trane Programmable Thermostat and Trane central air conditioning equipment, click here.