Keeping your Bloomfield residence comfy can consume a big chunk of change. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling bills, according to ENERGY STAR®, or about $2,060 annually. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
The majority of residences rely on programmable thermostats, but many people don’t take the trouble to program them. The process is bothersome, detailed and only provides you a few options for temperature changes. When your house is kept at an unchanging temperature throughout the day, it consumes utilities and negatively influences your monthly costs.
Smart thermostats learn from your day-to-day activities and change the settings to coordinate it. But can having one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Save on Energy Bills
Independent studies have determined these devices can produce large savings.
These studies involved home heating and cooling costs in 41 states before and after installing a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study determined its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an approximated savings of $131 to $145 annually.
With the common smart thermostat costing between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats because they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is put in, you’ll initially set it just like any other thermostat. You’ll turn it up and down, so the thermostat can figure out your wants. Then, it will begin making a program that helps you save money, whether you’re at home or gone. Since it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to put it on your list to adjust it when you leave or come back.
Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned before, smart thermostats give many pluses to your residence and utility costs, such as:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your routine, so you won’t need to spend time setting programs or remember to change.
- Knows when you come and go—Because a lot of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you leave and be cozy when you get back.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your house’s settings from virtually anyplace, because of an app on your phone.
- Monitor heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats offer detailed data through their app, including how long you required heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will let you know about crucial maintenance tasks, like when you need to get a new air filter.
- Additional savings—Most local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for details.
Cons
Having said that, there’s a couple of things you should consider regarding adding a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Based on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not be compatible. If you’re not sure, it’s advisable to ask an HVAC pro like Stanford Heating & Cooling. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the right number of wires and that it’s linked properly. Some systems don’t include a common wire, which creates compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire powers your thermostat, so if your residence doesn’t have a C-wire, we can put one in.
- Housing situation—If you own your house and plan to live there for many years, it’s a wise investment to get a smart thermostat. If you plan to move in the next year or rent, we recommend waiting unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to have your landlord’s permission first in advance of putting in a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are pricier than programmable thermostats, and we suggest having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over its lifetime can help pay for itself.
- Lifestyle—Does a family member work from home, or is someone frequently at the house? If that’s the case, you might not see as big of savings, but you’ll get the benefits of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Rely on Stanford Heating & Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Stanford Heating & Cooling, our number one goal is to keep your house pleasant while helping you conserve more utility costs. If you’re thinking about installing a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from choosing the ideal model to expert installation. Call us at 812-825-8695 today to learn more.