These days, thermostat communication with heating and cooling units happens in more ways than one. The thermostat on your wall and the furnace and air conditioner elsewhere in the house are engaged in daily give-and-take. The thermostat continuously monitors air temperature inside the house. It also stores your desired temperature settings to keep the house warm and cool. When heat or cooling is required, the thermostat signals the appropriate HVAC unit to turn on or off.
To keep your home comfortable in all seasons, the thermostat must exchange information with both the furnace and the AC. Here are two ways thermostat communication happens:
Wired Thermostats and Thermostat Communication
The standard thermostat is hardwired to communicate with the furnace, air conditioner and/or the heat pump. Typically, a home thermostat utilizes five wires that connect to HVAC components and power. These wires are color-coded for easy identification.
- The red wire is the “hot” wire that carries 24 volts.
- The white wire carries 24 volts to the gas controls in the furnace when the thermostat signals for heating.
- The yellow wire connects to the central air conditioner to initiate cooling.
- A green wire controls the system blower fan, which is typically installed in the indoor air handler.
- The remaining wire may be blue or black and is a “common” wire that completes the 24-volt circuit and powers the thermostat.
Wi-Fi Thermostats and Thermostat Communication
Also known as smart thermostats, these units communicate with HVAC components via a Wi-Fi connection. The thermostat has an IP address and connects to your router just as other wireless devices in your home do. Most furnaces and air conditioners manufactured in recent years are Wi-Fi-compatible. Typically, just one wire is required to provide electricity to the thermostat.
An additional benefit of Wi-Fi thermostats is that you can communicate with and control the system from any remote location with just your phone and the appropriate app.
For more information about the technology of thermostat communication in your home, talk to the professionals at Jackson & Sons.