How Long Do Thermostats Last?

There are a few things that every home needs in order to function properly. A quality thermostat is definitely one of them. A thermostat is one of the most important devices in your home, as it is responsible for controlling the HVAC system and managing the temperature throughout the living areas.

There are several types of thermostats that can be installed to run a home’s heating and cooling equipment, and while they typically run a long time, they won’t last forever. Sanborn’s Air Conditioning & Heating explains how long thermostats last and why newer equipment beats older options.

How Long Do Thermostats Last?

For the homeowner that is unaware of the variety of thermostats available in 2022, here are three main categories of thermostats:

• Manual
• Programmable
• Smart

In general, the average lifespan for any of these thermostat types is 10 years. Once thermostats reach the 10-year mark, most homeowners start to notice signs of wear, and their functionality may have diminished into a faulty thermostat over the years. Generally, you should replace your thermostat whenever you have a new HVAC system installed. Then, a new thermostat should be installed about every 10 years in between HVAC system upgrades. 

However, not all homeowners follow this schedule. It’s not unheard of to walk into an older home and spot a classic round-dial manual thermostat!

How long do thermostats last can vary from one thermostat model to the next and between equipment brands? Older manual thermostats have fewer parts and are low-tech, which can keep them in service for longer periods of time. The same can be said for many programmable thermostats, although they may be replaced more often when homeowners need different device capabilities.

When we get into the newest smart thermostats, replacement may occur more frequently to obtain more features or incorporate a device compatible with the smart home hub used in the home.

Why Smart Thermostats Are a Smart Choice for Replacing Older Devices

If you’ve determined it’s time to replace your current thermostat and choose a replacement, which type of thermostat should you choose for installation? While manual and programmable thermostats are still available, they fall far behind in features compared to smart thermostats. The capabilities that smart thermostats offer and the benefits you gain from using one are unmatched.

Smart thermostats provide comfort and control for you along with savings for your wallet. The number of homes adding smart home technology and switching to smart thermostats continues to increase each year. Smart thermostats are the obvious choice when replacing old manual and programmable devices, as their functionality includes everything those older thermostats can do plus so, so much more.

Smart Thermostat Features

A smart thermostat is an extremely programmable thermostat that has built-in Wi-Fi and a mobile app that allows you to control it from anywhere, including adjusting your temperature settings. Adjusting the temperature on your heating and cooling system is as easy as checking your smartphone — it’s just a swipe and you are done.

You can pre-program the thermostat settings, and temperature adjustments in the app, or let the smart thermostat make choices for you.

Learning technology combined with occupancy and weather sensors allows the smart thermostat to learn the household’s temperature preferences, habits, and schedules for any heating or cooling system. Once the thermostat learns this info, it takes over making temperature adjustments where appropriate to keep you comfortable and maximize the energy efficiency of your HVAC system.

Thermostat Installation in San Bernardino

How long thermostats last can vary widely, and there are many reasons you may want to replace yours even before it starts to fail. Upgrading to a smart thermostat, from a quality company, is one of the best things you could do for your home.

Call Sanborn’s Air Conditioning & Heating for thermostat installation, and our team will help you find the perfect new device that offers the features and capabilities you desire.