Are digital thermostats programmable?
Not all thermostats with a digital display are programmable. A digital thermostat is just a regular thermostat with a digital reading. It may tell you the time and even the day of the week, but it is not programmable. It has more of a style or readability factor than a standard thermostat.
For those who use a regular lever or dial thermostat to set the temperature for heat or cooling, I can fully understand when confronted with a digital thermostat you could think it's programmable. It's more common than you think. You go to someone's home or see it in a store and think, "That's one of those thermostats that you can preset the temperature to come on or off.", but it's not.
Don't get me wrong, I am not blasting digital thermostats. A digital thermostat has its advantages. The precise degree setting, simplicity, and bold numbers are great. Style can be a factor also. A new digital thermostat could look great with that paint color or wallpaper.
A digital thermostat costs much less than a programmable thermostat, but there's a definite difference. A programmable thermostat can pay for itself in energy savings. It can be preset to turn on or off on different days, times and temperatures. It will calculate the temperature differential, and the time needed to bring the temperature up or down. So when you get home at six, it's 72° and not the temperature you turned it up or down to before you left.
I can hear the growl, "I heard they are complicated to program!" Just like every newer technology, you will have to read the instructions. Take the time to learn about your thermostat as you would the buttons on a new vehicle. You will get used to using it...and to saving money on your energy bills.
