How to Maximize Comfort with a Thermostat

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and home technology expert Ross Trethewey discuss improvements to thermostats and how they contribute to comfort in a home. Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the official This Old House YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thisoldhouse Cost: $200 and up Shopping List: Smart thermostat [https://amzn.to/2PRfl5w] Steps: 1. Richard and Ross emphasize that the thermostat temperature is just one measurement in the category of comfort. In their field, they work to ensure that the environment is comfortable based on the following data points: a. Temperature – is the space warm or cool enough b. Humidity – is there too much (or not enough) moisture in the air c. Air Speed – is the general air flow of the house causing the occupants to feel colder than they should? d. Mean radiant temperature – are there surfaces in the room (like windows, floor tiles, etc.) that are different from the occupants’ body temperatures that are making them feel warmer or colder? 2. Modern thermostats, when combined with smarter furnaces or boilers, can account for more of these factors to make the home more comfortable. Resources: While Richard and Ross emphasize that temperature is just one measure of comfort in a home, they also point out that innovations in new thermostats are allowing room temperatures to be more precise and more effective than in the past. To demonstrate this, they referenced a variety of different thermostats, including the Nest Learning Thermostat (https://amzn.to/2H6bSNQ) and the Ecobee 4 Smart Thermostat (https://amzn.to/2JoDTBN), which can be found at most home centers. Ask This Old House TV Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook. This Old House releases new segments every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Keywords: This Old House, How-to, home improvement, DIY, ask this old house, richard trethewey, ross trethewey, kevin o'connor, smart thermostat, thermostat, heating Watch the full episode: http://bit.ly/2YnRddK Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/1psm4fC Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisoldhouse https://twitter.com/asktoh Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1psm4fE G+: http://bit.ly/1CtsNjJ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1psm1QZ Tumblr: http://bit.ly/1CtsLbH