Why do thermostats have mercury

A digital electronic thermostat has no moving parts, no mercury, and will always remain efficient over its lifespan, which can be longer than 15 years. It is estimated that by using an electronic thermostat over a mercury filled type, the average homeowner can save up to 30 percent on energy costs alone.

Electronic thermostats can be programmed to provide heating and cooling only when someone is in the home. But that is the kind of control you will have by using an electronic thermostat over a mechanical mercury filled kind.

However, peace of mind may top anything else. 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. Mercury poses a threat to both the environment and to your health. Direct exposure to mercury can cause neurological damage, behavioral problems, kidney disease and problems with the lungs and digestive tract that can prove fatal.

If mercury is released into the environment it can get into our food sources, most commonly fish. While eating fish is a form of indirect exposure to mercury that is unlikely to affect most people, it is dangerous for expectant mothers. Pregnant women are advised to avoid eating fish and shellfish because ingesting mercury can cause developmental delays and behavioral problems for the child. Here in California it is illegal to throw away a mercury thermostat.

Mercury is dangerous for humans due to it becoming vapor at room temperature. Once vapor, it is an invisible, odorless gas that is very soluble in fats and oils. After it is inhaled, it can enter the bloodstream and make its way into the brain. The effects of mercury poisoning can be disastrous to the nervous system.

While results of eating or drinking mercury are less hazardous because it usually exits the body via the digestive system though still not a great idea , some mercury is often also inhaled in a vapor form while digested. Where mercury poses the biggest threat to your family is from broken mercury-containing elements.