Thermostat/Humidistat/Whateverstat

[kp11364]

Hi all,

I feel somewhat foolish asking this, but the only "stat" in my "up north" home turns the furnace on/off during cold weather. I have window ACs.

The "stat" in TV controls the temperature of the AC unit/heat pump and the humidity, correct? Are there separate indicators and separate controls? I may want to install a new one when I move down here, so can an HVAC company do it? I'm not a DIY'er, and I wouldn't want a fancy wireless one that makes martinis and is voice controlled or needs an app on a phone - just nice, easy, readable and RELIABLE.

Thanks in advance.

[CarlR33]

Might peruse these threads…enjoy
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/search.php?searchid=26971325

[jimhoward]

I my villages house I have just one single thermostat controlling one single zone and that is it. I think that is typical. My Northern home was vastly more complicated....I wont tell you how many thermostats, but it was ridiculous.

It is vastly simpler here. The thermostat has three modes heat, cool or both. You just set the temperatures above which you want AC and below which you want heat. You can control with a phone or computer, but you don't have to. If you don't care about programing the temperature to minimize energy consumption You can just set the desired temperatures on the device

I have a an ecobee unit, but most alternative choices are pretty much the same....unless you want to go back a half century to a Honeywell round....which I am not sure but I think you could also do.

I don't have a de-humidifier (other the ac-unit itself). I dont think its typical to control humidity within a thermostat, but maybe. That would be new to me.

Any HVAC company can install a new thermostat, but I bet you will find that unnecessary.

[villagetinker]

Hi all,

I feel somewhat foolish asking this, but the only "stat" in my "up north" home turns the furnace on/off during cold weather. I have window ACs.

The "stat" in TV controls the temperature of the AC unit/heat pump and the humidity, correct? Are there separate indicators and separate controls? I may want to install a new one when I move down here, so can an HVAC company do it? I'm not a DIY'er, and I wouldn't want a fancy wireless one that makes martinis and is voice controlled or needs an app on a phone - just nice, easy, readable and RELIABLE.

Thanks in advance.

There are several models of HVAC controls in TV, so I cannot answer your specific question. If this is a new home, you should be getting an instruction manual for this equipment. If this is a resale, try looking at the HVAC unit to see if the manual is still there. The other option will be to see if you can find a make and model number and search for the manual online.
IMHO, most of the units look imposing but once you get the initial settings they are more or less a set and forget operation.
You will find the typical HUMIDITY control setting works by turning on the AC to lower the humidity which will typically lower the temperature by 3 degrees. High humidity can be a problem in FL, so I would not disable this setting.
As too replacing the unit if you come to that, I would definitely go with an HVAC company, the old types had 3 or 4 wires, the new ones are typical digital and may have a companion board in the HVAC unit.
Hope this helps.

[tophcfa]

Keep it simple. Just keep the house at 81 degrees or lower and you don’t have to worry about humidity.

[retiredguy123]

There are several models of HVAC controls in TV, so I cannot answer your specific question. If this is a new home, you should be getting an instruction manual for this equipment. If this is a resale, try looking at the HVAC unit to see if the manual is still there. The other option will be to see if you can find a make and model number and search for the manual online.
IMHO, most of the units look imposing but once you get the initial settings they are more or less a set and forget operation.
You will find the typical HUMIDITY control setting works by turning on the AC to lower the humidity which will typically lower the temperature by 3 degrees. High humidity can be a problem in FL, so I would not disable this setting.
As too replacing the unit if you come to that, I would definitely go with an HVAC company, the old types had 3 or 4 wires, the new ones are typical digital and may have a companion board in the HVAC unit.
Hope this helps.
I have my thermostat set on 78 degrees all year, and my humidity control is turned off. I have never had an issue with high humidity. Note that, if you turn on the humidity control, there is no reheat function, so your house will get colder whenever the humidity function is activated. The only way to control both the temperature and humidity is to install a dehumidifier that has a reheat function.

[Altavia]

The EcoBee thermostats have a mode where they try to reduce the humidity by dropping the set temperature 2 degrees if the humidity is high (usually @ 60%).

To reduce there risk of mold, most experts recommend to keep the humidity below 55-60%.

[Rainger99]

The EcoBee thermostats have a mode where they try to reduce the humidity by dropping the set temperature 2 degrees if the humidity is high (usually @ 60%).


What mode is that??

[BrianL99]

The EcoBee thermostats have a mode where they try to reduce the humidity by dropping the set temperature 2 degrees if the humidity is high (usually @ 60%).

To reduce there risk of mold, most experts recommend to keep the humidity below 55-60%.

What mode is that??

Most every modern thermostat (paired with a modern system) has a de-humidification mode.

Instead of setting your Thermostat to maintain a specific temperature, you can also set it to maintain a specific humidity range. Makes sense as a "hot house" in Florida isn't the problem, it's the combination of heat & humidity.

It's generally cheaper to control your summer cooling by regulating humidity, rather than temperature.

[Altavia]

What mode is that??

Discover ecobee'''s Humidity Control for Year-Round Comfort (https://www.ecobee.com/en-us/citizen/learn-about-a-thermostat-feature-that-just-feels-good/)

[retiredguy123]

Most every modern thermostat (paired with a modern system) has a de-humidification mode.

Instead of setting your Thermostat to maintain a specific temperature, you can also set it to maintain a specific humidity range. Makes sense as a "hot house" in Florida isn't the problem, it's the combination of heat & humidity.

It's generally cheaper to control your summer cooling by regulating humidity, rather than temperature.
In my experience, using the optional humidity setting causes your house to get too cold when the humidity rises. I guess it is a personal preference, but I never use the humidity control function. The humidity in my house never exceeds 60 percent.

You will save money on electricity if you are a snowbird and set the temperature above 80 degrees. The house will overcool to about 77 degrees to reduce humidity as needed. But, if you are living in the house, a temperature drop of 3 degrees is uncomfortable.

[tophcfa]

In my experience, using the optional humidity setting causes your house to get too cold when the humidity rises. I guess it is a personal preference, but I never use the humidity control function. The humidity in my house never exceeds 60 percent.

You will save money on electricity if you are a snowbird and set the temperature above 80 degrees. The house will overcool to about 77 degrees to reduce humidity as needed. But, if you are living in the house, a temperature drop of 3 degrees is uncomfortable.

When we’re gone during the summer we set the A/C at 81 and put a dehumidifier on the kitchen counter draining into the sink. We set the dehumidifier to only go on when the humidity reached 60%. I don’t think the dehumidifier ever runs, or if it does it is very infrequently. It’s cheap insurance against mold and gives us peace of mind when away. We also monitor the house temperature when away and get a text notification if it reaches 83 degrees just in case the A/C fails, which has never happened.

[retiredguy123]

Most every modern thermostat (paired with a modern system) has a de-humidification mode.

Instead of setting your Thermostat to maintain a specific temperature, you can also set it to maintain a specific humidity range. Makes sense as a "hot house" in Florida isn't the problem, it's the combination of heat & humidity.

It's generally cheaper to control your summer cooling by regulating humidity, rather than temperature.
I don't know what you mean by modern, but the de-humidification mode has been available for at least 20 years. If I am used to the house being 78 degrees, a decrease to 75 degrees makes me feel very uncomfortable.

[Rocksnap]

The EcoBee thermostats have a mode where they try to reduce the humidity by dropping the set temperature 2 degrees if the humidity is high (usually @ 60%).

To reduce there risk of mold, most experts recommend to keep the humidity below 55-60%.

Weird. My humidity level is tough to get below 60%. I’m in the new build block/stucco full time with a mid level HVAC system, meaning it has a 2 speed fan over the 1 speed base unit. My thermostat is an Ecobee Lite. It’s been running for days now. I set it to 75 by day, 70 by night. My indoor humidity shows at 64% right now at 7am.

[WalkerLoop]

The Honeywell Home Programmable thermostat can control just about anything. You can buy it on Amazon.

[retiredguy123]

Weird. My humidity level is tough to get below 60%. I’m in the new build block/stucco full time with a mid level HVAC system, meaning it has a 2 speed fan over the 1 speed base unit. My thermostat is an Ecobee Lite. It’s been running for days now. I set it to 75 by day, 70 by night. My indoor humidity shows at 64% right now at 7am.
That is not surprising, since the outside temperature is 63 degrees and the humidity is 82 percent. My current inside humidity is 55 percent, and it has a 24 hour range of 50 to 60 percent. Today is a very humid day. The humidity should decrease when it gets hot enough for the AC to kick on. One thing that will keep your humidity high is leaving a window open.

I would suggest buying several humidity measuring devices and place them in different rooms, including your garage. These devices are very inexpensive from Amazon. There are some devices that will show the high and low readings over a 24 hour period. Measuring the relative humidity is usually not as accurate as measuring temperature.

[Sparky99]

+1 for Ecobee pro with extra room sensors. It is very sensitive to humidity so I set mine to 64% humidity and it overcools to my comfortable temperature; be that 71 degrees to 81 degrees. At 60% humidity the AC runs to much and is colder than comfortable.

[Altavia]

That is not surprising, since the outside temperature is 63 degrees and the humidity is 82 percent. My current inside humidity is 55 percent, and it has a 24 hour range of 50 to 60 percent. Today is a very humid day. The humidity should decrease when it gets hot enough for the AC to kick on. One thing that will keep your humidity high is leaving a window open.

I would suggest buying several humidity measuring devices and place them in different rooms, including your garage. These devices are very inexpensive from Amazon. There are some devices that will show the high and low readings over a 24 hour period. Measuring the relative humidity is usually not as accurate as measuring temperature.

Did the same and discovered the Ecobee was about 8% out of calibration. You can make a humidity correction via the installation settings.

https://youtu.be/KNIoNvv8-lk?si=-ktR7xYPEZzjc380

[Ptmcbriz]

The newer homes have Ecobee thermostat. I’m a 65 year old female and figured it out just by looking around in it. No manual. I downloaded the Ecobee app on my phone and made it even more simple. I have mine on auto and set the heat temperature and the AC temperature. Went in to time zones Home, Away,Sleep and set the times these should turn on and at what temperature. My sleep mode turns on at 8pm and lowers the temp down to 72. Home mode kicks on at 8AM and the temp is 74. I set the humidity level at 40% and also set a timer for air ducts to recirculate the air ducts at least 10 minutes every hour. That helps maintain correct humidity. Just make sure you download the app to your control unit. The apps make figuring it all out really simple vs standing their in front of the unit for 20 minutes.

[retiredguy123]

The newer homes have Ecobee thermostat. I’m a 65 year old female and figured it out just by looking around in it. No manual. I downloaded the Ecobee app on my phone and made it even more simple. I have mine on auto and set the heat temperature and the AC temperature. Went in to time zones Home, Away,Sleep and set the times these should turn on and at what temperature. My sleep mode turns on at 8pm and lowers the temp down to 72. Home mode kicks on at 8AM and the temp is 74. I set the humidity level at 40% and also set a timer for air ducts to recirculate the air ducts at least 10 minutes every hour. That helps maintain correct humidity. Just make sure you download the app to your control unit. The apps make figuring it all out really simple vs standing their in front of the unit for 20 minutes.
A 40 percent humidity setting is very low. I would think that your AC will run a lot, and you will get a lot of overcooling in your house. Have you measured the humidity in your house with a separate device? Also, the thermostat probably allows you to adjust the overcooling temperature. A normal setting is about 3 degrees below the temperature setting, but you can adjust it up or down.

[rsmurano]

A lot of misinformation here. Learn how to use your ecobee! There are so many features in it. Some people say if the ecobee encounters humidity, it lowers the temp until the humidity is lowered, which is true, so what would you want, high humidity that can cause future damage or a small decrease in temp, maybe for 30 mins?
A couple of things: the hvac people in are area are clueless for designing a multi zone hvac system. In 1 of our custom houses we built, we had 3 heat pumps with 5 zones. We had 5 ecobee’s and multiple of them had sensors associated/assigned to certain ecobee’s so the sensor knows that someone entered the room, now apply the settings on the ecobee to that room. This is a feature you can setup in the ecobee. Why heat/cool a room when it isn’t being used? If you redesign your hvac system, look for a dealer that knows how to create zones if that makes sense for your house/your living needs.

If you are going to add a mini split in a room or lanai, get the dehumidifier version so you are not taxed. I have the same ceiling Mitsubishi mini split that mos people in the country buy, but mine includes the humidity piece that allowed me to bypass the county charging me more in property taxes.

If you do have the ecobee, learn about eco+ mode, geofencing, humidity settings, HomeKit settings, and many more

[DeLunatics]

Happy with our Ecobee and the app, but...

Recommend against using the Auto setting. We experienced it, using Auto last year around this time, bouncing back and forth between cooling and heating. It created a condition known as "dirty sock smell." Look it up. It's a thing.

Pick a side, is my advice. Either heat or cool. Don't let the system try to choose.

[retiredguy123]

Happy with our Ecobee and the app, but...

Recommend against using the Auto setting. We experienced it, using Auto last year around this time, bouncing back and forth between cooling and heating. It created a condition known as "dirty sock smell." Look it up. It's a thing.

Pick a side, is my advice. Either heat or cool. Don't let the system try to choose.
I don't have an Ecobee thermostat, but my Carrier thermostat has an "auto" setting that does not allow you to set the heat and cool settings to be less than 4 degrees apart. So, if the cool setting is 78 degrees, the heat setting must be 74 degrees or lower. I use it all the time, but my house has never smelled like dirty socks.