Made in USA + Free Shipping

Call or Text (305) 928-8910 Need Help? News | Contact Us
Login Commercial Accounts
Logo Logo
  • Filter Sizes v
    • 0.5" Air Filter Sizes
    • 1" Air Filter Sizes
      • 20x25x1
      • 20x20x1
      • 16x25x1
      • 8x24x1
      • 16x20x1
      • 30x30x1
      • 20x23x1
      • 20x40x1
      • 19.5x19.5x1
      • 17x21x1
      • 21x23x1
      • 19.5x23.5x1
      • 10x36x1
      • 16x19x1
      • 20x24x1
      • 24x36x1
      • Shop All v
    • 2" Air Filter Sizes
      • 16x20x2
      • 20x30x2
      • 20x25x2
      • 30x32x2
      • 16x25x2
      • 20x20x2
      • 10x10x2
      • 14x14x2
      • 30x36x2
      • 18x20x2
      • 20x24x2
      • 20x36x2
      • 28x30x2
      • 10x10x2
      • 13.25x13.25x2
      • Shop All v
    • 4" Air Filter Sizes
      • 20x25x4
      • 20x20x4
      • 16x25x4
      • 16x20x4
      • 24x25x4
      • 24x30x4
      • 30x32x4
      • 12x20x4
      • 14x20x4
      • 19.25x23.25x4
      • 19x21x4
      • 20x24x4
      • 20x30x4
      • 25x25x4
      • 10x20x4
      • Shop All v
    • Custom Air Filter
  • Filter by MERV v
    • Select Your Merv Type
    • MERV 8
    • MERV 11
    • MERV 13
    • MERV 8 Carbon

    Or Select Popular Sizes

    • 30x30x1
    • 19.5x23.5x1
    • 17x21x1
    • 20x20x1
    • 19x19x1
    • 13x21x1
    • 19.5x19.5x1
    • 19x20x1
    • 20x25x1
    • 16x25x1
    • 19x22x1
    • 20x40x1
    • 16x20x1
    • 8x24x1
    • 16x19x1
    • 16x25x4
    • 20x25x4
    • 21x23x1
    • 10x36x1
    • 11.5x11.5x1
    • 24x36x1
    • 15x15x1
    • 13x25x1
    • 17.5x22x1
    Shop All v
  • Custom Filters
  • Contact Us
  • Account
  • Call or Text Us 305-928-8910

Home / AC Systems / How do thermostats work?

How Do Thermostats Work?

If you live anywhere in which the seasons, or just the temperature outside changes, odds are you have a thermostat in your home. The thermostat allows you to change the temperature of your home with a simple click of a button or a turn of a nozzle. It’s a small box on your wall that has tried to blend in or be aesthetically pleasing but has not quite accomplished that, however, you accept it anyway because it holds so much power over your comfortability in your home.

The Different Types of Thermostats Explained:

There are mainly two different types of thermostats that could be in your home—or maybe your home has both, one upstairs and one downstairs (something more common than you would think). Within these two different types are other types—we know, confusing, but stay with me—which advance the technology even further with either wifi or more ability to be self-sufficient. However, we are going to stay simple and explain the basic, main two types. There are electronic thermostats which are more modern, and then there are electromechanical thermostats which are usually in older homes and buildings.

These two different types of thermostats obviously work differently from each other, so in order to understand how your thermostat works we’re going to have to figure out which type of thermostat you have. It is pretty simple to determine what type you have as electronic will be just that, electronic, whereas electromechanical thermostats do not have any type of screen or anything somewhat technologically advanced-looking.

How Thermostats Work:

Electronic thermostats are easy to understand because they usually have a little screen that is easy to read. These types of thermostats use sensors to determine the temperature in the house. Electronic thermostats also usually have some more advanced technology, like the ability to set certain temperatures for certain times during the day or night—this ability dives into those other types of thermostats mentioned above.

Electromechanical thermostats are more simple technologically speaking, but may be more difficult to understand. Electromechanical thermostats usually contain a bi-metal coil or metal strip which will move when the temperature changes. When the coil or strip moves, it causes a vial of mercury to tip to a certain side which indicates whether the temperature is too high or too low. Although electromechanical thermostats are the cheaper option, they do take a little longer to gauge the temperature in your home.

How to Keep Your Thermostat and You Happy:

Keeping your thermostat and yourself happy is important. The happier the thermostat is, the better it works, and the happier you become in your home. Your thermostat will work harder to control the temperature inside the home when the temperature outside the house or building is drastically higher or lower than what the thermostat is set at. You may not have thought about this, but now may be the time: the argument of turning the thermostat up versus down means. When you are turning the thermostat up, you are technically turning the temperature down—confusing, right? Make sure there is some clear communication between the people in your household before telling someone to turn the thermostat up or down.

It will be better to set your thermostat to a number that is not too far off from the outside temperature (within reason). For example, if the temperature is 32℉ outside, set the thermostat to the lowest number you can handle, such as 68℉, that way you are comfortably warm inside but you are still as close to the outside temperature as possible. These temperatures may seem far off from each other, but in terms of actual warmth, it makes sense—the same goes for when it is hot outside. Don’t get carried away with the thermostat temperature, think about what you can handle, cold and heat-wise. If you are mindful of this, you will save energy and ensure your thermostat is working well and continues to do so. It is also important to remember that constantly setting the thermostat lower or higher is not going to heat or cool your house any faster. Try to keep the thermostat set at a comfortable temperature and give it some time to put in the work and get that temperature just right.

In order to save more energy, keep in mind that there are other ways to get warm or stay cool in your home without cranking up the AC or heat. Invest in a heated blanket, or light a fire in the fireplace when you’re getting chilly. Don’t walk around the house in sweatpants or a sweatshirt during the warmer part of the year. This will save you money in the long-run and, like we said before, will save some energy. One of the most important things you can do is take proper care of your HVAC system—heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. If your HVAC is not working correctly, or taken good care of, you could potentially be wasting a lot of energy and money without even knowing it. If you’re lucky enough to have an electronic thermostat that has all the latest and up-to-date technology, then it probably has the ability to tell you whether your air filters need to be changed.

If your thermostat is a bit more outdated, make sure you’re paying attention to your system, especially around those times of the year when you start to switch from low temperatures to high temperatures. Don’t shy away from doing annual HVAC system maintenance checks. If your air filters are dirty or clogged, or the area around your compressors isn’t clean—the part of the system that compresses the refrigerant to get the pressure and temperature right when cooling—then your system could be working overtime, wasting you energy and money. It may be worth it to schedule a professional to do a maintenance check when seasons start to change to ensure your system is ready to start cooling or heating accordingly.

Check out Filter King's online store for affordable, quality air filters.

Air Filter

Filter King

Air Filter Guides

Air Filter Sizes

HVAC Filters 101

AC Troubleshooting

How To Change Air Filters

Best Home Air Filters

Air Filter Delivery

Most Popular Sizes

  • 16 x 25 x 1
  • 16 x 20 x 1
  • 14 x 20 x 1
  • 14 x 18 x 1
  • 18 x 20 x 1
  • 14 x 25 x 1
  • 14 x 30 x 1
  • 14 x 24 x 1
  • 20 x 25 x 4
  • 12 x 12 x 1
  • 25 x 32 x 1
  • 16 x 25 x 5
  • 20 x 25 x 4
  • 20 x 20 x 1
  • 20 x 25 x 1
  • 16 x 25 x 4
  • 25 x 32 x 1
  • 30 x 30 x 1
Custom Air Filters

Locations

  • Custom Air Filters in Alabama
  • Custom Air Filters in Arizona
  • Custom Air Filters in Arkansas
  • Custom Air Filters in California
  • Custom Air Filters in Colorado
  • Custom Air Filters in Florida
  • Custom Air Filters in Nevada
  • Custom Air Filters in New Jersey
  • Custom Air Filters in New York
  • Custom Air Filters in Texas
  • Custom Air Filters in Utah
  • Custom Air Filters in Connecticut
  • Custom Air Filters in Georgia
  • Custom Air Filters in Delaware
  • Custom Air Filters in Idaho
  • Custom Air Filters in Illinois
  • Custom Air Filters in Indiana
  • Custom Air Filters in Iowa
  • Custom Air Filters in Kansas
  • Custom Air Filters in Kentucky
  • Custom Air Filters in Louisiana
  • Custom Air Filters in Maine
  • Custom Air Filters in Maryland
  • Custom Air Filters in Massachusetts
  • Custom Air Filters in Michigan
  • Custom Air Filters in Mississippi
  • Custom Air Filters in Missouri
  • Custom Air Filters in Montana
  • Custom Air Filters in Nebraska
  • Custom Air Filters in New Hampshire
  • Custom Air Filters in New Mexico
  • Custom Air Filters in North Carolina
  • Custom Air Filters in North Dakota
  • Custom Air Filters in Ohio
  • Custom Air Filters in Oklahoma
  • Custom Air Filters in Oregon
  • Custom Air Filters in Pennsylvania
  • Custom Air Filters in Rhode Island
  • Custom Air Filters in South Carolina
  • Custom Air Filters in South Dakota
  • Custom Air Filters in Tennessee
  • Custom Air Filters in Vermont
  • Custom Air Filters in Virginia
  • Custom Air Filters in Washington
  • Custom Air Filters in West Virginia
  • Custom Air Filters in Wisconsin
  • Custom Air Filters in Wyoming
  • Custom Air Filters in Minnesota

AC Systems

  • Best AC Brands for Offices
  • How do thermostats work?
  • How Does Central Air Work?
  • HVAC System Types
  • HVAC Terminology: What You Should Know
  • The Top Five Smart Thermostats of 2020
  • Top 5 AC Companies
  • What are refrigerants?
  • What is a boiler?
  • What is ACH and how do you calculate it?
  • Who invented AC?
Shop Filters
  • Air Filters
  • Air Filter Sizes
  • Custom Air Filters
  • MERV 8 Air Filters
  • MERV 11 Air Filters
  • MERV 13 Air Filters
  • MERV 8 CARBON Air Filters
  • Find Air Filters Near You
Shop Other Products
  • Heat Pump Air Filters
  • Geothermal Air Filters
  • Paperboard Air Filter Frames
  • Paper Coasters
  • Laminated Air Filter Media
  • Bulk / Wholesale
Resources
  • Blog
  • HVAC Filters 101
  • Air Filter Types
  • Best Home Air Filters
  • MERV Rating Guide
  • Shipping & Returns
Company
  • About Us
  • Business
  • Filter Finder
  • Filter Reminder
  • Customer Reviews
  • News
  • Contact Form
Filter King LLC
7301 NW 36th Ct, Miami FL 33147
[email protected]
305-928-8910
Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Youtube

© 2025, Filter King LLC. All rights reserved. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

On The Map Marketing
Logo

Join the family and get $5 off your first order

Place your E-mail below to get $5 dollars off your first order. Get notified with new updates specials for your next order.

Thank you, successfully subscribed!
Please provide valid email.

SKIP - I'm too Rich for Discounts

Logo Cart

HAKUNA MATATAH!

You’re all set, your $5 credit has been applied to your cart