Recovery time

David Efflandt

Honeywell has some thermostats with "Smart Response" that can learn how long it takes to recover from setback and bring the temperature up in stages so it arrives at the set temperature at the set time (assuming your system is capable). It senses both wall and air temperature. They give a general example where it brings the temp up 6 degrees in 2 degree increments over 1.5 hrs. But because it learns, even if weather changes, it gets the temperature close by the set time.

John_9

Recovery time

I set back the thermostat to 58F at night, and up to 64F during the day. The first floor is all copper baseboard on all the exterior walls. It's a big space - about 1000 square feet. I need to know if there is a way to figure out what is considered "reasonable" recovery time in cold weather. Is there a formula out there? Rule of thumb? It seems like it takes a very long time. Thanks!

BillW@honeywell

Ramping up the temperature

All of our T8600 series stats and PC8900 Home Control System feature that is called "Adaptive Intelligent Recovery". What this means is that the thermostat "remembers" what the temperatures were for the past 3 days, and calculates the start point for recovery based on that. The concept to remember is that the old mechanical clock type and most low end electronic thermostats just come out of setback at the start of the "wake" period. You wake up to a cold house. The new stats begin ramping up the temperature gradually, until you are at the comfort setpoint at the start of the "wake" period. These and other "EnergyStar" features are available on the Trade model thermostats only... the retail models have either no recovery or a less sophicticated version. Use the "Find a Contractor" feature above. For more info, visit www.honeywell.com/yourhome/

Eric Taylor

Went through this

I am not a heating expert, but I want through the same experience. Large old house with tons of plaster. Had a smart recovery thermostat for a while and it would go into recovery at 3am to get the house up to temp from a 6 degree setback by 6:30. This was on colder nights. I looked at how hard the boiler needed to work to raise the house temp versus just maintaining it and I think the setback was using MORE fuel than just leaving the house warm all the time. It was close, but I don't think I was saving any fuel. Plus we had a new baby and my wife didn't like a cold house for the 2am feeding Once all of that plaster cools off it takes a lot to warm it up again. Just my experience.