Budget Programable T.stat

[RoseRx]

I am looking for a simple programmable t.stat to tide me over till next yr, when I upgrade my 17 y/o 10 SEER heat pump for an Federal Energy Tax Credit qualified HVAC unit.

[m kilgore]

How do you know that the tax credits are going to be around next year?

[beenthere]

Because this round of tax credits are for 2009 and 2010.

[jpsmith1cm]

I am looking for a simple programmable t.stat to tide me over till next yr, when I upgrade my 17 y/o 10 SEER heat pump for an Federal Energy Tax Credit qualified HVAC unit.

Hopefully this doesn't constitute DIY, but I used a Hunter that I got at a large home improvement warehouse for about 4 years without a bit of trouble.

Hunter stats seem to have a bad reputation, but I would buy another.

It wasn't expensive, and it worked very well.

[beenthere]

I don't know that you actually violated DIY rules.

But, recommending Hunter is criminal.

[jpsmith1cm]

I don't know that you actually violated DIY rules.

But, recommending Hunter is criminal.

I was just making a recommendation based on my experience.

I still have one running in my grandmother's house and, when she keeps her fingers off of it, it works well also.

I think that DIYers and improper install may give them an undeserved bad name. Either that or I got a good one.

[bmathews]

Hunter is pretty much the same as Braeburn. I like Honeywell tstats over almost anything. More consistent than the rest. You have a heat pump. I would call a professional out to install something. There is too much involved in the installers setup for a heat pump. 1 heat and 1 cool seems to be as much as most homeowners can install without help.

[m kilgore]

Because this round of tax credits are for 2009 and 2010.

Learn something new every day. I thought they were just for this year.

[beenthere]

The 2007 was written for just that year. 2008 was skipped. And then they wrote the credit for 2009 and 2010 to be continuous. And you can even claim some of the credit across both years. Depending what credits you are taking.m HVAC can only be taken for one year, as far as I know.

[RoseRx]

What does this mean from the Honeywell literature and can I use it on my heat pump?

"Compatible with heating and cooling systems plus heat pumps - does not work with heat pumps with back-up heat

[jpsmith1cm]

Well, do you have a backup source of heat, or is a heat pump your only source of heat?

The answer to that question will answer yours.

[beenthere]

It can't bring on aux heat.

Call your contractor. He can sell and install a thermostat for you.

Plus. You can get a good thermostat now. And keep it when you get your new system.

[RoseRx]

You answered my questiion, my heat pump does have emergency or auxiliary heat. Thanks!

[sktn77a]

Heat pumps are more complicated than an AC/furnace combinations. They have reversing valves, defrost controls, aux/backup heat strips, etc. Consequently, heatpump thermostats are different from regular thermostats. Moreover, the terminals on the different thermostats are labelled differently from manufacturer to manufacturer so there's lots of opportunity to wire them incorrectly (with potentially catastrophic results). I'd pay a pro to recommend and/or install a heat pump thermostat for you.

[amd]

1. The cost of a programmable heatpump stat will offset the savings over one year.

2. With electric backup, the use of heat strips during recovery could offset the savings

I would leave it alone for now.

[amd]

I was just making a recommendation based on my experience.

I still have one running in my grandmother's house and, when she keeps her fingers off of it, it works well also.

I think that DIYers and improper install may give them an undeserved bad name. Either that or I got a good one.

I think it's safe to assume that anything not manufactured by honeywell, white rogers, or totaline is junk.

[dan sw fl]

What does this mean from the Honeywell literature and can I use it on my heat pump?

"Compatible with heating and cooling systems plus heat pumps - does not work with heat pumps with back-up heat

What it ACTUALLY means, If you have to ask, CALL a contractor BEFORE you screw it up. ! !! !!!

[RoseRx]

An A/C guy is going to the power company's demand-based electrical service and is going to sell me and install his old Honeywell.

[jpsmith1cm]

I think it's safe to assume that anything not manufactured by honeywell, white rogers, or totaline is junk.

Whatever.