Best Thermostats For Dual Fuel Heat Pumps 2024

Before choosing the best thermostats for heat pumps you should consider the following options:

Wired vs. Wireless

This is the first and arguably most important feature to consider when shopping for a thermostat. Wireless models are a bit more expensive, but they offer several advantages over their wired counterparts. For starters, they are much easier to install. With a wired model, you will have to get up on a ladder and run wires through the walls of your house.

With a wireless model, you simply have to remove the old one and replace it with the new one. They also offer more flexibility. With a wired model, you are somewhat limited in where you can place it. With a wireless one, you can put it anywhere you want, as long as the receiver is in range.

Programmable vs. Non-Programmable

If you are going to have a non-programmable thermostat, you might as well get one that is wired. You can’t do much with a non-programmable one other than turn the heat up or down.

The advantage of a programmable one is that you can set it to come on before you get home from work and turn it off before you wake up in the morning. This can save you money on heating and cooling bills. You can also set it for different temperatures at different times of the day and for different days of the week.

Heat Pump vs. Air-Source

In most cases, a heat pump is a way to go. An air-source heat pump is usually a lot more efficient than a standard heat pump. They also don’t require any special installation and can be used with a standard forced-air heating system. However, they tend to be a bit more expensive.

Two-Stage vs. Single-Stage

A two-stage unit is a way to go if you plan to heat your entire house with your heat pump. With a single-stage unit, the heat pump can only run in one mode at a time. With a two-stage unit, you can set different temperatures for different zones.  For example, you can have the heat pump set to a higher temperature for the bedrooms and a lower temperature for the living room.

Zone Control vs. Single Stage

If you have a heat pump and you want to heat your entire house with it, you will need a zone control model. If you have a standard forced-air system, you can go with either one. With a zone control unit, you can set different temperatures for different rooms. With a single-stage model, you will either heat the entire house or have no rooms.

Communicating vs. Non-Communicating

A communicating thermostat has some advantages over a non-communicating one. For starters, it is easier to install. You simply remove the old one and replace it with the new one. Another advantage is that you can control it from your phone. If you have a smartphone and Wi-Fi, this is a nice feature to have. The only disadvantage of a communicating thermostat is that it tends to be more expensive.

Efficiencies

This might not be such a big deal, but you would be surprised at how much money you can save with a more efficient model. The Department of Energy rates all types of thermostats. For example, the Emerson Network Power Tridium J-Series is an 80% efficient model.