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Thermostats

A thermostat detects and maintains the temperature of your home. It turns your heating and cooling equipment on or off until the desired temperature is reached.

Manage your thermostat settings to improve your home’s comfort and to save energy and money. You can save 3 to 4% on heating costs during heating season by setting your thermostat at least 3°C lower for 8 hours a day.

For even more control over your settings, upgrade to a Wi-Fi connected smart thermostat.

Wi-Fi connected smart thermostats

A smart thermostat connects to your Wi-Fi network and lets you set and adjust the temperature of your home when you are not at home. When used properly, smart thermostats can help you save money by running your heating and cooling equipment more efficiently.

According to Natural Resources Canada, an ENERGY STAR® certified connected thermostat is a smart way to save at least 8% of your home’s energy use and keep your home comfortable. Saving energy saves money and reduces your carbon footprint.

Thermostat models that earn the ENERGY STAR symbol have been independently certified to deliver energy savings.

Benefits

  • certain models can learn from your behaviour to set a schedule according to your preferences;
  • geofencing features provide passive control over home and away settings;
  • users report increased comfort and control over their system;
  • provides home energy use data you can track and manage;
  • certain models can communicate with other smart home devices and appliances.

How to choose a smart thermostat

  • Different products will have different features, so take the time to compare products.
  • Make sure the thermostat is compatible with your heating system (for example, not all smart thermostats are compatible with geothermal heating systems).
  • Make sure your home’s wiring will work with the thermostat before you buy. That information is usually found on the manufacturer’s website.
  • Consider advanced features such as occupancy-sensing, reporting functions, and compatibility with other smart home devices.

Programmable thermostats

Programmable thermostats can be set to change the temperature in your home on a repeating 7-day schedule. Simple programmable thermostats must be manually set and may not be ideal for homes with changing schedules and occupancy.

Manual or non-programmable thermostats

Manual thermostats work on a dial or slider, and have a single, constant temperature. You must change the temperature yourself. These tend to be the least efficient thermostats.


The Manitoba Electrical Code recommends the use of a licensed electrician to wire any electronic device, including low voltage work such as a thermostat installation. Manitoba Hydro assumes no responsibility for any damages caused by self-installation.