While thermometers only tell us what the ambient temperature is, thermostats are also capable of regulating it, increasing heat if the environment is very cold and lowering temperatures if it is very hot. To do this, the thermostat controls the heating and cooling systems, which are the two systems that consume the most energy in the home and that most influence your comfort. Although it may not seem very simple, its operation does not involve many difficulties and knowing how a thermostat works can be very useful, so let’s take a look.

What is a thermostat?

Basically, and as it is mentioned, a thermostat is a device whose purpose is to control the heating and cooling systems (air conditioning) of the home so that it maintains a certain temperature within certain ranges. In a home, for example, the thermostat can turn on the heating system when the room temperature drops or is in a certain range that is considered cold.

There are basically two types of thermostats: mechanical and digital. The digital ones are generally programmable and this allows the user to program or set the desired temperatures according to the time of day, the days of the week and the weather according to the season of the year. Let’s see a little more about each one and how it works.

Types of thermostats and their operation

Mechanical thermostats

Thermostats of this type use physical mechanisms, both to measure the air temperature and to activate the processes that will change it by turning the systems on and off. Various technological sensors are used here, from bimetallic strips, wax pellets, gas-filled bulbs and air tubes. These sensors react according to changes in temperature and through expansion or contraction, activate the switches to raise or lower temperatures. In the past, this type of thermostat contained bulbs filled with mercury, but this was banned several years ago due to known mercury problems.

Digital thermostats

In the case of digital, the most used today, everything is even simpler. Digital thermostats use electronic sensors instead of physical ones to monitor changes in temperature. The user programs a certain temperature according to his comfort and when the electronic sensors of the thermostat register these quantities, they make the necessary changes turning the systems on or off. Have the knowledge from blackhawksupply.com.