Do Women Understand Thermostats?

I used to think it was just my wife but, after talking with friends, I'm compelled to believe -- at the risk of sounding like a male chauvenist -- that women have no concept of how thermostats work.

My wife seems to think that if you set the thermostat to a ridiculously high or low temperature, then the heater/cooler will reach the desired temperature faster.

As much as I try to explain that the heater/cooler runs at full force -- no hotter, cooler, faster or slower -- until the desired temperature is reached, she constantly set the thermostat to an unattainable temperature in the hope of cooling down or heating up faster. Very frustrating.

Is this true of all women or just my small circle of friends?

Thank God and Honeywell for automatic "setback" thermostats.

Comments: 11

Vic M. May 31, 2007, 5:07pm EDT

Let's see... how can I put this. No. It's not all women. Not only do I understand thermostats, the first thing I do when I buy a new house is install a programmable one. Myself. Your question is on a par with: Can any man crack an egg with one hand AND get it in the bowl, or is my man particularly clumsy?

Different folks have different skills. Most are not sex-linked.

I can also wash my car and change my oil. However, when I was married, I was very happy to let my husband do those things. He enjoyed them more than I, and consequently did a better job. The only negative result was that he didn't believe me the day I told him there was transmission fluid running down the drive and, no, it wasn't anti-freeze. Perhaps division of labor builds it's own kind of contempt?

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Dan (open minded conservative) K. May 31, 2007, 5:15pm EDT

Vic ... thanks for the comment.

I do know that women are at least as intelligent as men. This was just a lame attempt to be humorous about stereotypes (similar to yours about men) that I've noticed.

By the way ... I can crack an egg with one hand ... sometimes before I drop it even!

Be well!

Hope I didn't offend you.

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Nana to Seven Cutiepies May 31, 2007, 5:19pm EDT

LOL. Any two people in the same household will fight about touching the thermostat. It's a given. Maybe a prenup should be drawn up before marriage stating who is in control of it.

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Dan (open minded conservative) K. May 31, 2007, 5:28pm EDT

Kind of like the TV remote, right Nana?

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Rob Appell May 31, 2007, 6:03pm EDT

You mean you can actually use that little box on the wall to make homes warmer or cooler? I thought that just made my bills increase...the reason I never turn them up.

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Dan (open minded conservative) K. Jun 1, 2007, 10:54am EDT

Not even in the summer time Rob?

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Amy B. Jun 19, 2007, 12:50pm EDT

I'm one of those women who know how to use (and program) thermostats, but I thought our office admin was the only one who thought putting a thermostat at 50 would cool it down faster! She says her husband always yells at her when she does that, but she still keeps doing it. If she only did it at home that would be fine, but every time she gets a hot flash she puts the office thermostat down to 50 and then tells the rest of us to just put on a sweater.

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Genine Hopkins Jun 23, 2007, 6:28pm EDT

It's my kids who find this way of reasoning to be true, more so with my SON! I finally caught him at it and chewed his hiney out!

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Sarah (I want points) Jul 4, 2007, 2:43pm EDT

well, how sad... I'm a woman and I understand this! Although I constantly have thermostat wars with my husband because he wants it cooler and I want it warmer... I'm sure that's very common.

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Austin Cushing Jul 7, 2007, 1:07am EDT

Congratulations, you've reached over ten comments and in accordance with the rules of our group your article has been removed from Comment Speedway!

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Elise w. Feb 4, 2008, 9:47pm EST

We have a heat-pump and keep our thermostat on 69 year round. Nobody messes with that thing. I too can change my oil, check the fluids in my car, change a tire, yadda yadda yadda.....so in answer to your question, not all women are re-tards. It's just your circle of friends. Then again, some women play the dumb game so they won't be expected to do certain things - like you men do sometimes. LOL :-)

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Do Women Understand Thermostats?

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