Suggestions for Digital Thermostat -w- adjustable offset

[Innov8tive1]

As the title says, I am looking for suggestions on a good digital thermostat with an adjustable offset. Just had a new high efficiency furnace (95%) installed over the weekend by my brother in law. It works great but it moves a LOT more air than the old furnace (20 year old high efficiency) and it is cycling more often than we would like. I think the thermostat we currently have is controlling the temperature too closely, like within a half a degree and as far as I know I can not change that. If it ran less but longer it would disrupt our sleep a whole lot less!
So what can you recommend that won't break the bank?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Just about every thermostat I've ever seen has an adjustable anticipator in it. You need to pop the cover and look, it will most likely have one.

Charles

 

[solarliving]

Hi This is my first post,
I am an A/C contractor in Las Vegas NV. I would recommend the brand Honeywell, The digital Tstats are programable and easy instructions. Make sure to get the one that matches to your unit, you know gas or electric. my personal fav is the model 5000 this is the one I installed in my own house, costs about 100 USD I dont know because I get wholesale prices
Dont touch the blue wire to any other wire you will short out the transformer or a fuse
I know you will do good

 

[solarliving]

also it sounds like you should install a second return air can with grill filter if the unit is pushing more air that what your duct work was originaly designed for, if it will fit.
I forgot to tell you that you can program the honeywell tstat you can program it to keep within a 2 degree ambient temp and also you can tell it to only cycle (this many times) per hour too
Hope this helps

 

[nehog]

... I think the thermostat we currently have is controlling the temperature too closely, like within a half a degree and as far as I know I can not change that...

The term for what you want is hysteresis, not off-set.

(Off-set allows you to compensate for a cold wall for example, or for a thermostat that is not really seeing the true temperature.)

Some of the newer electronic ones allow doing what you want. I can check mine (probably wont' be until tomorrow) and see if that is adjustable, I do recall something but I'm not sure what it was.

 

[hobie1dog]

Yep a Honeywell T5000 would be highly recommended as solarliving suggested.

 

[Innov8tive1]

Thanks, I will look at the Honeywell as it is a name I am familiar with and have seen it mentioned around the forum quite a bit.
Thanks for correcting my terminology nehog, that would help me get what I'm looking for!
Also the new furnace is a two stage unit so I would like the thermostat to handle that too. I will look at the specs of the T5000.

 

[solarliving]

One more thing Innov8tive , I do believe the honeywell 3000 has this same feature you are looking for too, and it will be easier on your wallet. One big thing to think about is to buy programable or non-programable if everyone in your house leaves and returns at a set time then of course go with the programable, If you are a senior citizen and want to drive yourself to madness because " The damn thing does what it wants" Then I would advise going with the non-programable Tstat.
Happy Hunting
Earl

 

[brewchief]

What brand/model furnace?

 

[superspec]

i did some research recently and while honeywell ranked up in the 1/2 to 3/4 carrier got the best reviews. i havent bought one just yet but its only because i need to spend that money on my car that gets me from a-b.

 

[joey d]

try turning down the fan speed. If its a 95% it should have taps to adjust it. probably wont help with short cycling, but it might quiet it down a little. If u can turn it down make sure you stay within the heat rise range

 

[Innov8tive1]

It is a Rudd RGRM.
I have opened up an additional cold air return in the basement and removed some decorative register covers that were pretty restrictive and the noise level is getting more tolerable but the bedrooms which are at the end of the house where the furnace is are still pretty noisy. When they were installing the new furnace they said the A/C coil was not installed very well and it was causing quite a bit of restriction too so that's something else I will have to get looked at and probably replaced.
I have been looking over the manual that came with the furnace (the install manual) and I have a few ideas. I will speak to my brother in law as well (he installed it) and see what he recommends for a thermostat.
I don't want to mess with the fan speed too much as I don't want to affect the efficiency. I guess I want my cake and eat it too!

 

[solarliving]

DO NOT MESS WITH THE FAN SPEED
You bought a RRRRUUUUUUDDDDDD Thats what they sound like brand new Hahaaa
If your new furnace moves more air than the origional with the duct work designed for less air flow, the only fix is to install a new duct run with supply can and grill, if your brother is an a/c guy then he can do this easily, while he is working on your ducts then you guys seal all of the joints where the ducts join together, a tub of duct sealant is pretty cheap, do it right , you may need to run a larger main duct I would think so, your bro can be their too see it so have him compute the sizes. Remember this is where you get your energy efficentcys foundation "properly sealed ducts" and also seal the return and filter box too, this side is where you get your air quality from , it has a vacume inside of the ducts and you want to make sure that all air passes through the filter media and also duct tape around the new filter and get at least a "pleated" filter or better. This will save you a lot of money from calling a company and also energy bills. once again ,do good.
Earl

 

[solarliving]

While you have your registers down clean them , then spray paint them the color you like. when you put them back in then caulk around between the inside of the dry wall and the can, use the duct sealant to get back inside the duct as far as you can. place a ring of caulk around the inside of the register edges where it will contact the dry wall and put it in place and screw in. This is your house, make it a labor of love.
Earl

 

[Innov8tive1]

DO NOT MESS WITH THE FAN SPEED
You bought a RRRRUUUUUUDDDDDD Thats what they sound like brand new Hahaaal

That's funny! I was reading on their website where our furnace is one of the quietest in the industry.......whew, glad we didn't get one that doesn't have that honor. I think the fan motor is built by GE............the aviation division 'cause it sounds like there is a jet ramping up for take off!

 

[bd8134]

After adding an extra room in our house we changed the compressor to a larger unit, the fan coil was at the correct size but the setting changed. The fan speed increased and we had more noise in the returns. I changed out 2 of the existing returns to almost double their original size and the noise level is back roughly to its previous level.
On the Carrier controler I have, you can change how many times it will call for heat or cold in an hour.

 

[solarliving]

Hey Im glad I could help you , if you have any more questions you can send to my email I had registered to let others email me. I think I will check back time to time under the Air Conditioning fourm. I am an A/C Tech
Earl
P.S GE moved all of their manufacturing to Mexico and since their quality has droped, now I only buy Marathon by the pallet )))

 

[brewchief]

What is the complete model number? What size ductwork do you have? What size A/C?