Question About HVAC Thermostats

[Wigwam Jones]

I just moved into a new apartment, need some help keeping costs down, since I pay the electric and gas. This apartment complex was built in 1970. The Thermostat is a White-Rodgers, and the HVAC unit is a Johnson Controls monster, it appears. Not a window unit, but it has a large vent to the outside for the A/C evaporator (I presume).

I have noticed that the A/C has a larger range than I would like - I set it at around 76 degrees (hard to tell where you're setting it, it has a slider on the side and a temperature gauge that who knows how accurate it is. I notice that I'm getting uncomfortably warm by the time the A/C kicks on, and am getting too cold by the time it kicks off - I wish I could get it to have a finer degree of control.

Likewise, I was hoping that the newer computerized thermostats could save me some money by programming the times I am normally out to be a bit higher temps in summer, lower in winter - save a buck or two.

However, this is an apartment, and I have to leave it like I got it - so whatever I do, I have to be able to put it back later to the state it is in now. I also wonder if the cost of a programmable thermostat would amortized in say, a year or so.

Any HVAC gurus out there?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

[Blackknight]

Not a guru but I've replaced a few thermostats, it's not that hard as long as you can follow directions. I can't really say what the break even point is, if you save the old one and swap them before you move out you can use it on your next place.

[Wigwam Jones]

Not a guru but I've replaced a few thermostats, it's not that hard as long as you can follow directions. I can't really say what the break even point is, if you save the old one and swap them before you move out you can use it on your next place.

That's what I was hoping to hear. I took the cover off the old one, I see about 8 wires, doesn't look too bad. I can always take a photo so I can remember how the wires go back again later.

Did you notice a savings in gas/electric cost?

[Blackknight]

I did notice some difference but I don't remember how much, with my current place I just turn the AC off when I leave and I keep the heat around 60 in the winter.

[Mark W.]

Wiggy if there is a local ACE hardware or Home Depot/Lowes there are a number of not to expensive digital (possibly not with internal timers) thermostats that you can look into. The one I used to control the cooling system on the SHRINE was less then $30.00 and came with VERY complete instructions for a number of different control types. If your careful opening the package the biger stores would return it should it not match your setup.

8 wires seams like a rather complicated control compared to the ones I have messed with.

I doubt you will break even in a years time on the cooling but it might be a big help on the heating this winter depending on how quickly the place will warm up from say a 50 degree daytime idle temp.

But it might very well improve your comfort. The one I have in use has about a 2 degree trigger sensitivity maybe even a little tighter.

Hope this helps having a brain that feels like hot chile is not a good thing LOL

[Wigwam Jones]

Wiggy if there is a local ACE hardware or Home Depot/Lowes there are a number of not to expensive digital (possibly not with internal timers) thermostats that you can look into. The one I used to control the cooling system on the SHRINE was less then $30.00 and came with VERY complete instructions for a number of different control types. If your careful opening the package the biger stores would return it should it not match your setup.

8 wires seams like a rather complicated control compared to the ones I have messed with.

I doubt you will break even in a years time on the cooling but it might be a big help on the heating this winter depending on how quickly the place will warm up from say a 50 degree daytime idle temp.

But it might very well improve your comfort. The one I have in use has about a 2 degree trigger sensitivity maybe even a little tighter.

Hope this helps having a brain that feels like hot chile is not a good thing LOL

OK, I think I was wrong on the wires. It just looked like a mess of 'em in there. Maybe 4. There is a white, a blue, a yellow, and what looks like a light green (I'm color-blind). The blue and the white and the yellow go several places, so it looks like there are more of them than there really are.

I figure if I could save say $10 per month - that's $120 per year, so it would pay for itself if I actually saved that much - if I could save more, that would be even nicer, of course. Just looking to trim a few bucks here and there.

I am near a Lowe's I'll stop in and see what they have. Thanks!