If you are considering making your heating smart, now is the best time.
With gas prices at an all-time high and smart thermostat manufacturers claiming whopping percentages of energy savings, investing in a smart thermostat seems very appealing.
So, if you want to know how smart thermostats work to help you save money, keep reading.
What Is a Smart Thermostat?
Smart thermostats are one up from your old thermostats.
One major difference is that while you needed to physically change the controls in old thermostats, smart thermostats offer the flexibility of changing your heating control from anywhere.
So, whether you are in the office, or anywhere in the house, or off on vacation, a simple click on your mobile, computer, or tablet will change the thermostat setting.
The thermostat is connected to your smart device via an internet connection, so it typically has a Wi-Fi chip.
How Smart Thermometers Help You Save Money
Smart thermostats do not just offer a convenient way of regulating your house temperature; there are many other benefits as well.
Here are some of them:
Easy-To-Use Interface
The old thermostats are difficult to read and more difficult to program.
However, smart thermostats come with modern technology found in smartphone devices that make programming trouble-free.
An easy touchscreen panel and audio guide make setting the thermostats as easy as walking in a park.
They Learn Your Behavior
It can be a huge inconvenience to manually adjust your temperature settings every other day when you do not have a regular schedule.
However, with smart thermostats, you can wave this worry goodbye.
You just need to do the initial programming, after which the smart thermostat will learn your heating patterns and make the necessary setting adjustment then on.
Or, if you prefer a certain temperature during a different time of the day, your system will automatically adjust.
They Work Hard When You Are Not Home
Other learned behavior includes the home and away mode.
With this, the thermostat learns your home and away patterns and regulates the house temperature automatically.
So, if you work Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, your system will learn your behavior and shift to an away mode.
Other thermostats have an in-built occupancy sensor. This sensor senses when the home is occupied and heats accordingly.
Other sensors adjust the heating according to the humidity levels. Some others use geo-tracking to determine when your phone is out of range.
When the sensors detect that the home is unoccupied, it signals the system to go into eco-mode, thus saving energy.
These sensors are best for vacation homes and for people who have a very irregular schedule.
Track Your Energy Usage
Many smart thermostats do not just keep track of your heating preference; they also use the information to provide you with a detailed report of how much energy you have used.
So, if you feel you have crossed a mark, you can make manual adjustments or let your thermostat handle it.
The data is the key here; the information will help you adjust your central heating so you can save on your bill.
So, a smart thermostat allows you to be more energy efficient by helping you make smart decisions.
Remote Temperature Sensors Provide More Control
As boilergrants.org.uk explains certain rooms in your house run extra cold or hot, models with remote or separate temperature sensors will work best for you.
So, you can use the extra hot or cold room as a default temperature reading or the sensor occupancy detector to detect if the room is occupied and adjust the temperature accordingly.
So, the zonal heating or cooling will ensure you do not have to extra heat or cool the entire house.
Make Use of The App
This is the most basic function, but it is very useful. Although it offers the same function as manually adjusting the thermostat, it is way easier and more customizable.
Apart from letting your smart thermostat adjust the temperature automatically, you can also make changes right from your couch.
You can change schedules, set a preferred temperature range, view your energy reports, opt in and out of the setting, and set modes.
Automatic Reminders to Change Your Filters
You’ll need to change the filters in your HVAC system periodically to ensure an efficient working system.
With a smart thermostat, you can pre-set alerts reminding you to change your filters. A clean and efficient system means your system works for less time, saving you money.
Other Things Your Smart Thermostat Can Do
Apart from energy-saving benefits, smart thermostats have many other advantages.
Some of these features will help you save money but require extra setup or connection with other smart devices in your home.
Virtual Assistance
Besides connecting to your smartphone devices, you can also connect your smart thermostat with virtual assistants.
So, if someone in your house has limited mobility, a virtual assistant can come to great use.
Most thermostats are compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri. All you have to do is wake up the assistant and give verbal commands.
So, all you need to say is, “Hey Alexa, reduce the temperature,” “Hey Google, make it cooler,” or “Hello Siri, What’s the temperature?” to get the task completed.
Turn Off When a Window Is Open
Services like IFTTT (If This Then That) can enable compatibility with smart windows. This will switch off the system if someone opens the door, preventing wastage.
Turn On Fans to Help with Heating or Cooling
You can connect your ceiling fan’s smart switch with your smart thermometer.
So, if an adjustment of only a few degrees is required, the system will first turn on the fans to enable better dispersion of air and then the heating or cooling system.
Prepare Your Vacation Home for Your Arrival
You can feed in the designated date and arrival time in your smart thermostat several days before your arrival.
Smart thermometers store and activate heating or cooling on a pre-set schedule.
Who Can Save With a Smart Thermostat?
Considering the above points, smart thermostats help save energy.
However, the amount of savings will depend on your lifestyle, usage, and more.
People With an Erratic Routine
Programmable thermostats are good for people who have a routine schedule.
But if you have an erratic routine, smart thermostats have many features that help you adjust your system without having to manually change it every time.
People Who Consume a Lot of Energy
If your energy usage is at an all-time high, and you use a lot of energy, installing a smart thermostat will help you access your energy report detailing days when you use excess energy.
It will also adjust temperatures in rooms with minimum or no usage. So, it will help reduce your energy usage and give you a detailed report on it.
People Who Want to Make a lifestyle change
A smart thermostat helps you save energy and reduces your heating bill. Anyone who wants to make the switch to less energy usage must install a smart thermostat.
How Much Does a Smart Thermostat Cost?
To save money, you will have to shell out some first. Besides saving money, it will also add comfort to your home, adjusting the room to your liking.
The cost of a thermostat will depend on several factors, like the model and features but will generally fall between $150 and $300.
Conclusion
Using less electricity is not only good for your pocket but for the environment as well.
Making intelligent choices help you become a better citizen and enhances comfort.
Install a smart thermostat and reduce your energy bills and environmental impact simultaneously.
