A thermostat is the control interface for your HVAC system. It measures indoor temperature (and on advanced models, humidity, motion, or outdoor temperature) and signals the equipment when to start and stop a heating or cooling cycle.
Basic thermostats are single-stage (on/off) controllers. Programmable thermostats schedule setbacks (e.g. raise the setpoint while you're at work). Smart thermostats add Wi-Fi connectivity, learning algorithms, geofencing, and utility-program integration.
Modern variable-speed and two-stage HVAC equipment may require communicating thermostats that match the manufacturer's protocol — replacing a thermostat with a wrong one can disable advanced features even if the basic on/off function works.
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