In the midst of the frigid winter months, our heaters are a major part of our everyday lives. But whether we want to reduce the temperature when we leave our homes or simply get a better idea of our energy use, a regular thermostat doesn’t offer a lot of benefits outside of climate control. Smart thermostats can give a homeowner a lot more control over their heating/cooling system.
A smart thermostat – also known as a connected, WiFi or communicating thermostat – is a device used to control a home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. But it goes beyond mere climate control. A smart thermostat gives you the ability to automate your settings. It can also adjust the temperature based on the weather and your household patterns.
Smart thermostats give you the option to change your settings from just about anywhere. Through an app, you can adjust your heating schedule to your liking while you’re away. This can be a useful function if you’re away on vacation or heading home outside of your normal schedule.
One of the biggest draws to a smart thermostat is its ability to help you save money. You can use it to plot out your heating schedule around when people are actually home. Depending on the manufacturer, you can save roughly 10% - 20% on your current heating bill.
A smart thermostat also gives you a snapshot of your energy consumption. Through the app, you can get a better look at how much energy you use to heat your home and possible ways to improve and save even more money!
Your smart thermostat can learn about your behaviors and adjust your heating and cooling costs accordingly. Some systems even come equipped with motion sensors to see when people are up and moving through the home. It will then determine when it needs to activate your HVAC.
A lot of smart devices are being engineered to make the user’s experience as streamline as possible. Smart thermostats are also following that trend. You can change your thermostat with your voice, making climate control that much easier. Hook up your Alexa to the new thermostat.
We may change our thermostats based on the daily forecast. A smart thermostat does that for you. If a cold snap hits, it will adjust to turn your normal scheduled temperature up by a few degrees.
Many homes have a smart device for every room. Some can work in tandem quite nicely. Your smart thermostat can connect with your other devices to make climate control even easier. It can connect with your humidifier or air purifier and incorporate them into your schedule.
Best of all, as high tech as they are, smart thermostats are actually quite easy to install. In fact, they’re installed just like a regular model in most cases. But if you do have any issues, be sure to consult a professional.
There are a few things to keep in mind before you commit to a smart thermostat. In order to learn your preferences and schedule, some systems will require you to manually adjust the temperature at least a few times. From there it will adjust the temperature based on your feedback.
You should also double-check to see if your HVAC system is compatible with a smart thermostat. Most newer systems will be compatible. But if your system is 10 to 20 years old it will likely not work properly.
And finally, smart thermostats require a paired smartphone or tablet. Your thermostat will likely have an affiliated app that will allow you to control your system while you’re away.
Some smart thermostats such as the Google Nest take HVAC maintenance to a new level. They give users the option to monitor their system right from their smart device. If an issue does arise, they’ll be notified immediately. Catching potential HVAC problems early can save a homeowner a lot of time and heatless evenings.
If you’re in the Central Pennsylvania area and you find yourself in need of a thorough HVAC inspection, WM Buffington is at your service! We offer a range of high-quality offerings to cover any potential issues with your home’s heating and cooling system.
