The Wonder of Thermostatic Heat Control

Thermostats are one of those many items in a modern house that we can easily take for granted. We use them to adjust the temperature of our home and make it comfortable for us without giving it much thought, until it stops working, that is. 

The first thermostat for controlling room air temperature was invented in the late 1800’s. Since then, the use of a thermostatic device to control the temperature in our home and the output of our heating and cooling systems has continued to evolve. Initial thermostats were related to the heat system only, but many today are used to control both heating and cooling of the home through the same thermostat. 

A residential heating and cooling thermostat works by first measuring the temperature of the air surrounding it. A thermometer of some type must therefore reside in the thermostat to measure and give a reading of that actual temperature. In addition, the readings of that thermometer device must trigger an electrical response based on the temperature settings you provide to signal the furnace to ignite the burner and start the blower fan, as well as turn those functions off when the thermometer reaches the desired temperature setting. 

The internal means of measuring the temperature and responding to the temperature settings have varied over the years and used a variety of means. Today, most homes use a digital, programmable thermometer, though there are still plenty of homes that have the older dial type thermostat. Both provide similar control, the programmable thermostat simply offers the homeowner the convenience of telling the system when to turn on and off without the owner having to be physically present to make those adjustments.

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