Have you entertained the thought of purchasing a smart thermostat but can’t convince yourself to make the switch? Smart technology not only adds unique features to your house, but it may also help you save money and energy.
According to the EPA, adopting a smart thermostat can save you around $150 annually. Smart thermostats are alternatives to traditional thermostats, providing a high-tech improvement to your HVAC system without sacrificing its functions.
Most smart thermostats include a control unit connected to your heater and a wireless or wired thermostat installed in the center of your home. Many necessitate a hub linked to your router for phone or online-based functions. Smart thermostats are available from various manufacturers in a variety of designs, sizes, costs, and capabilities.
What Does a Smart Thermostat Do?
Although smart thermostat features vary by manufacturer or model, many allow you to remotely control your heating and air, boiler, and hot water system from your phone app. Unlike a manual thermostat that must be programmed from the display, smart thermostats make it convenient to use a phone app and devices such as Google’s Assistant smart speakers or Amazon’s Alexa to set your timings, change temperatures, and turn your heating and air system on or off from any location.
It is much easier to establish a precise routine whenever you require the heating to turn on and off via an app than on the clunky interface of a classic timer. And most smart versions will also let you change the routine straight from the thermostat’s display.
Like Google’s Nest thermostats, some will automatically monitor your behaviors and alter your heating cycle to save energy if you’re not using it. Others even understand how quickly your house heats up, so they can switch on at the proper time to reach a specific temperature at a particular time. The top-tier models also consider the temperatures outside your home and the sun’s impact on your structure, so you don’t waste money heating your home when you don’t have to.
How Smart Thermostats Help You Save Money
There are several ways that a smart thermostat can help save you money. These include the following.
Studying Your Behavior
One of the reasons smart thermostats are so beneficial is their ability to study and monitor your behavior. You will need to program your preferred settings and temperatures at the time of installation.
The smart thermostat uses algorithms to “learn” your temperature preferences and daily routines. The system will ensure your home is warm by the time you arrive after being away by automatically altering your settings to ensure that your home is at the ideal temperature. Some will even adjust depending on humidity levels.
Monitoring Your Usage
Smart thermostats with two-way communication constantly analyze your usage, gather data, and send it to you. They have a remote interface that can show the amount of energy you are consuming and predict your cost.
You can manually change your settings or allow your thermostat to do it for you based on this information. The data is where the magic happens. The more information the smart thermostat gathers, the easier it will be to adjust your settings and see how they affect your electricity costs. Smart thermostats provide you with the data you need to make informed decisions about how to save energy and money.
Automatically Turning off While You’re Away
When you leave home for work or a random weekend away, most systems will automatically shift to an eco-mode, allowing you to save energy. Smart thermostats use their sensors to detect people’s presence or absence in the house for this feature to work.
They could also employ geo-tracking to determine when your phone is no longer within your home’s range, indicating to your system that it is safe to switch to eco mode. You may turn off your system when you’re gone for an extended period, such as on vacation. Your smart technology will only switch it on if temps become critically high or low, averting problems such as frozen pipes.
Zoned Temperature Control
Various smart thermostats are connectable to smart thermostatic radiator valves, allowing you to manage the temperature in specific rooms if you use a boiler to heat your home. They can adjust the temperature of each radiator and boot up the boiler as required.
They aim to boost comfort and energy conservation by only warming the spaces requiring it. However, these sophisticated systems aren’t inexpensive, and because they must be installed on each radiator, the expenses quickly accumulate.
Factors to Consider When Finding a Good Smart Thermostat
If you’re considering purchasing a smart thermostat, there are a few crucial features to consider. Be sure to pay attention to the following when shopping for your device.
Compatibility
First of all, you need to check if your new gadget is compatible with your existing heating and air system. You also want to check compatibility with your “hub” device, such as a Google Nest or an Amazon Echo Dot. No one wants to buy and install a thermostat that isn’t compatible with the rest of their home’s electronics.
Energy Efficiency
It is important to verify whether your smart thermostat is Energy Star certified. Most common models are certified, including those from Google, Honeywell, and Ecobee, but it’s always a smart option to double-check. These Energy Star-certified brands will save you the most money on your utility bill.
Cost
It is good to consider the price and ensure it fits your budget. Most of these smart thermostats should not exceed $300 in price. Anything above that is probably for the brand’s “cool” status rather than convenience or energy efficiency.
Are Smart Thermostats Worth It?
Smart thermostats are more costly than your standard programmable units. Two of the most popular ones, Ecobee’s smart thermostat and Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat, cost up to $300 for different models. They are, nevertheless, well worth it when you consider their benefits.
A smart thermostat, when utilized correctly, can save you a lot of money. Heating and cooling costs account for half of your energy bill, so installing advanced equipment that can study your behaviors and develop a strategy to help you save money is well worth the initial financial investment.
However, it is important to note that the amount of money you stand to save depends entirely on you. Whether you utilize the loaded Google Nest or a blank customizable version, you must find the heat settings that work for your family. If you program temps that make your HVAC operate too hard in the summers and winters, you will not save money.
If you have a regular routine, programmable thermostats are a good choice. On the other hand, smart thermostats use sensors, applications, automatic modes, and energy reporting to account for constantly changing patterns. These functions and accessories give you more control over your heat settings, whether you’re home or away, with some making automatic changes that save you energy, time, and money.
If you need a smart thermostat or have questions, Honest Air Conditioning in Mesa, AZ can help. Our team of HVAC technicians offers a full range of heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services and solutions. Contact us at Honest Air Conditioning for more information or to set up an appointment.