We have a single thermostat in the living room.
When we purchased our home fifteen years ago, the furnace was already installed. The heating system was already a bit outdated. We had plans to replace it but other home improvements took precedent. Because the furnace continued to operate, we prioritized a new water heater, window replacement, updated kitchen appliances and all sorts of projects. I think it would have been very beneficial to our comfort and budget to install a new furnace right when we moved into the home. Our heater is a single-stage model. It is strictly capable of operating at maximum capacity. The furnace blasts heat from the vents until it brings the indoor temperature up to the setting on the thermostat. It then shuts completely off. Once the house cools down, the heater starts up again. This continual cycling creates very unpleasant temperature fluctuations and wastes a great deal of energy. There are now furnaces on the market that feature adaptable-speed technology. These modern alternatives are able to adjust output in tiny one percent increments anywhere between forty and one hundred percent capacity. Most of the time, the furnace operates at a very low speed, supplying the exact amount of heat necessary to maintain a consistent and comfortable temperature. Our furnace is also too old to accommodate zone control. We have a single thermostat in the living room. While the living room is always at the ideal temperature, the kitchen is typically chilly while the upstairs bedrooms are overheated. With the installation of a new furnace, we could incorporate thermostats into each room. I am convinced that the investment into a new furnace will pay for itself in energy savings very quickly.