[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/fo...rchid=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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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]

Originally Posted by 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%).

What mode is that??

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by 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%.

Originally Posted by Rainger99

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]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

What mode is that??

Discover ecobee'''s Humidity Control for Year-Round Comfort

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

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]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

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]

Originally Posted by 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%.

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.