Programmable thermostat-- should i purchase one built by the same company that my a/c is?

I'm ready to save money with a programmable thermostat. I have an old boiler (radiator heat) and a brand new Trane central air conditioner system, installed in January of this year. Is there any advantage to buying a Trane programmable thermostat over another brand thermostat (since my a/c is Trane)? Any disadvantages?





Thanks.

Programmable thermostat-- should i purchase one built by the same company that my a/c is?
I am not an expert in this field, but I have recently replaced my thermostat and can give a little advice. When I changed thermostats I did some research and realized that basically all of them are interchangeable. Most likely the wiring that you are going to have to plug the new thermostat in to is not going to relate to your new Trane AC system anyway. They probably just hooked the new AC system up to your old electrical wiring. So when you put the new thermostat in, you are gonna need to get someone that knows what they are doing to make sure its wired properly. If you are very patient and have some skill in wiring things, you might be able to do it yourself.


I would buy a higher quality thermostat from Home Depot or somewhere like that. However, if the Trane thermostat is alot more expensive, I don't think you will have any advantage by getting it.
Reply:programmable t-stats are relatively the same. meaning how they operate. you are going to pay more for bigger brand names, i.e. trane, honeywell, white-rodgers, robert-shaw. pick the one that best suits your needs, i.e. what it does (programs), ease of set-up, value, price.





save all the paperwork so that it will be easier to re-program or to change the settings.
Reply:yep that way its compatable,
Reply:Mine cost $100 bucks but it is very accurate. I bought a $50 one that worked pretty well. The main thing is to make sure that it is compatible with the unit you have. Otherwise, you will just be wasting money.
Reply:No, there really are no advantages to purchasing the thermostat same brand as ac. The disadvantages are that with Trane you are paying for the name. The best thing to do is decide what features you want then shop for the best value. For more info including brand rankings and a diy guide to thermostat replacement, check out the thermostat page at my source.
Reply:I have a threeTrane units but none of them have a Trane thermostat. In fact all three have different manufacturers.





When you buy one, be sure and save the packaging and instructions so if it turns out to be not compatible, you can return it for a refund.
Reply:You'll definitely save money with the programmable thermostat. I installed several last year and they keep the heat levels in the house at perfect temperatures. Most manufacturer'ers are interchangeable and it's not necessary to buy the Trane.