Smart Thermostats for Homes 101: All the Basics You Need to Know
Are you considering purchasing a smart thermostat for your home? If so, you’re probably wondering what all the fuss is about. Smart thermostats have been gaining in popularity in recent years as technology has advanced, and for good reason – they can save you money on your energy bills! In this article, we’ll take a look at what smart thermostats are, how they work, and some of the benefits of using them. After reading this, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about whether a smart thermostat is right for you!
What Is A Smart Thermostat?
In a smart thermostat, you can adjust the temperature from your smartphone or computer. The smart thermostats allow you to set schedules for when you want the heater to come on and go off. In addition, they will show you how much energy is being consumed on an hourly basis which allows you to find areas where your smart thermostat is wasting money.
For example, some smart thermostats will alert you if it is raining outside and the smart thermostat has not yet turned on your heater this morning even though it has been cold enough outside. This type of information helps homeowners save energy by reducing their monthly utility bills while still maintaining a comfortable home environment.
What Are The Different Types Of Smart Thermostats?
There are smart or connected thermostats available in the market for all types of homes and they come with a lot of features. However, most smart thermostats fall within three different categories: smart programmable, smart Wi-Fi connected, and smart single zone.
A smart programmable thermostat is one that can be programmed indoors to automatically adjust the home temperature according to the user’s preferred settings. Smart programmable thermostats tend to have manual control options as well and they will allow you to override your pre-set settings if necessary.
Some smart programmable thermostats also come with real-time weather updates so that they can predict how much longer until you reach home based on current traffic conditions. This way users could make smart heating or cooling decisions to make sure they save energy.
A smart Wi-Fi-connected thermostat is one that can be managed by downloading an app on your smartphone and it will allow you to regulate the home temperature via smartphone even when you are away from home. A smart single-zone thermostat like Yonomi’s EGG can also be controlled through its smart app, but instead of controlling all zones, it will only control one zone at a time.
The smart single zone may not have the same control capabilities as smart programmable or smart Wi-Fi-connected thermostats because there could be limited options for changeability and manual overrides may not always work. However, depending on your location or preferences, this smart thermostat’s smart app or smart home integration could be what you need.
What Is The Difference Between Smart And Programmable Thermostats?
All smart Wi-Fi connected and smart programmable thermostats have settings that can be adjusted while the user is away from home. However, while both types of smart thermostats allow for this type of functionality, it was popularized by smart device companies such as Nest with smart programmable thermostats like their Learning Thermostat.
This means that smart programmable thermostats are more likely to use sensors and algorithms to automatically adjust the temperature in your home instead of having to pre-set all of your preferences before you leave. Depending on what you’re looking for in a smart home device, smart programmable thermostats might be the way to go.
Who Uses Smart Thermostats?
There are smart thermostats available for homeowners of all types and demographics. In fact, smart thermostats have been used more by older generations as they tend to focus more on comfort and economical heating rather than the newest technologies.
What Is The Most Important Feature Smart Thermostats Provide?
One of the main features smart thermostats offer is a smart home system. This means that you can control your smart devices through a single interface or app – allowing you to manage everything from your smart lock to your smart lights and smart speakers. Once you have an integrated smart home system in place, controlling all aspects of your home will be easier than ever before!
Are Smart Thermostats Expensive?
It varies on how smart they are. A smart thermostat with wifi and Bluetooth is mostly around $150-250, smart thermostats that work with your smartphone or tablet and allow you to control them wherever you go (so long as there’s cell service) will cost over $200 for a newer one.
On the high end of smart thermostats, those with voice activation like Amazon Alexa will run you closer to $300-400.
If all you want is what’s called a ‘programmable’ thermostat (one that lets you program times when it comes on and off), then even the cheapest smart model usually costs about $60 more than a comparable nonsmart thermostat, but you can find simple programmable smart thermostats for as low as $80.
Is A Smart Thermostat Worth The Cost?
If you don’t want to have to remember to change the thermostat setting from day to day, or if you’d like to be able to do it from your smartphone while away from home, then yes, smart is well worth it. Even a relatively cheap smart thermostat saves more money than its cost in just a few years.
Unfortunately, many people just keep adjusting their old non-programmable model until it inevitably fails and they need a whole new boiler system or AC unit. A smart one might pay for itself in 4 years by giving you better temperature control and preventing breakdowns of your ancient HVAC system.
If smart doesn’t sound like it will do much for you, there’s no smart thermostat on the market that can add smarts to a non-programmable model. If you want smart features, then smart features you shall have!
Who Makes Smart Thermostats?
You’ve undoubtedly heard of names like Nest and Honeywell, but have you heard of Carrier or Johnson Controls’ smart versions? You could also get a Tado thermostat, which is manufactured by Bosch. Some firms specialize just on heating systems, while others are more likely to sell air conditioners. Manufacturers make numerous smart thermostats, Wi-Fi thermostats, smart thermostats with voice activation, and smart smart-programmable smart thermostats.
You can find the best of all worlds in some brands like Nest. If you want something simple but effective that does everything you need it to do at a reasonable price point then check out Honeywell’s lineup or Carrier’s lineups.
Another smart thing about smart thermostats is that they’re expandable! So if you buy one smart device now and later decide that you would rather have just a smart programmable instead of an integrated system throughout your house don’t worry! Most smart devices are capable of being integrated down the road.
Smart thermostats are a great way to make your home more energy-efficient. If you’re looking for the best smart thermostat, we can help! Give us a call today so that one of our experts can answer any questions you have about how it works or if this is something that would work for you.
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