[Some readers will recognize this as a post that was previously published, then taken down after a few hours. That was done because it wasn’t clear that the thermostats discussed below, selected to work with Crosslands’ baseboard heaters, would be compatible with Kendal’s slightly different electrical system. That issue has since been resolved, and the thermostats are available on both campuses.]

All of Kendal’s “studio” cottages have baseboard heating. Many one-bedroom units (and probably some larger ones) also have baseboard heating. Wherever there is baseboard heat, there are likely to be the old-style “dial” thermostats.

If that’s what you have in your cottage, you know that it’s hard to get your place to stay at a comfortable temperature. By the time the thermostat senses that the room temperature has risen to the level you’ve set and shuts off the heat, most of the room may already be hotter than you wanted. Then, the same thing happens in the other direction as the room cools down. The temperature can swing back and forth by as much as six degrees, according to a Crosslands resident who has analyzed the situation. Kendal is now offering free digital thermostat replacements to fix this problem.

(Note that heat pump-equipped cottages generally have a small baseboard heater in the bathroom. This program does not apply to bathroom heaters.)

New digital thermostats are less susceptible to those temperature swings. They also allow you to program a nighttime setback temperature (which the old ones don’t).

Here’s what the two types look like:

If you wish, you can have Kendal install a new digital thermostat for free. On top of that, Kendal will save a bit of electricity because the of steadier temperatures and the nighttime setbacks. You can get more than one thermostat if you have baseboard heat in more than one room, but you may have to pay (probably less than $100) for the additional ones. Installation will be done for free. Note this exception: bathroom thermostats aren’t eligible.

To get on the list for thermostat replacement, call Bruce Carter in Maintenance (610-388-5560). Maintenance will then call you to set up a time to install your thermostat and show you how it works. This work will be spread out over a number of weeks, so get your request in before the cold weather sets in.