Mercury thermostat how does it work

In some homes, especially older ones, the electromagnetic thermostat that you depend on to consistently control your heating or cooling needs often contains mercury — a potent neurotoxin. Exposure can cause significant health problems, including damage to the central nervous system. In addition, mercury-filled thermostats are often inaccurate, despite proper calibration. This can cause your HVAC system to work overtime, wasting money and energy.

They are also capable of programming themselves by learning how you typically set the temperature throughout the week. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile.

Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Within this low-voltage thermostat category, there are four major types: Mercury contact Mechanical contact Digital Electronic programmable.

Does your Coachella Valley home still have a mercury thermostat? If so, there are some things you should know, like the potential hazards of having a mercury thermostat in your home and how to recycle the thermostat when the time comes to replace it.

The first is simply to look at it. Mercury thermostats are manual thermostats, usually rectangular or circular in shape. That little ampule contains up to 12 grams of elemental mercury, making it the single largest source of mercury in your home. New digital thermostats and programmable thermostats are designed to work without mercury. This is due to the hazards that have been discovered to be associated with mercury.

Marvair reported to IMERC-member states that they discontinued their line of air conditioning units with mercury thermostats in December Sunline reported to IMERC-member states that they have not had any mercury-added products, including mercury thermostats, in their recreational vehicles since July Princo Instruments, Inc.

PSG Controls, Inc. They do, however, continue to sell mercury thermostats to states without such bans. There are non-mercury alternatives that may be suitable for replacing mercury thermostats.

These include electromechanical i. Many factors should be considered when switching to a non-mercury thermostat, including the relative costs, availability, and product effectiveness. Many of the non-mercury alternatives are readily available from wholesale and retail heating and plumbing supply stores at a generally comparable price as mercury thermostats. Programmable thermostats are more expensive than traditional mercury thermostats, but can save energy and money, by enabling users to automatically adjust the temperature or turn off the heat or air conditioning depending on the time of day.

The Thermostat Recycling Corporation's TRC thermostat collection program is an industry-sponsored private corporation, originally established by thermostat manufacturers General Electric, Honeywell, and White-Rodgers.

TRC facilitates the collection of all brands of used, wall-mounted mercury-switch thermostats so that the mercury can be separated and recycled.

For more information on the TRC program, visit: www.