Smart thermostats connect with many other household smart devices. We’re going to dive into what smart thermostats do and discuss whether they can make your HVAC more efficient and help lower your utility bills during the winter season.
What Is a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat is a device that uses Wi-Fi and is controllable from your smartphone or tablet device. This thermostat is capable of automatically adjusting the temperature in your home to better optimize the performance of your HVAC system. At its most basic, a smart thermostat allows you to control the temperature setting for both your heating and cooling systems.
Many different brands make smart thermostats. Each has different features and may connect with different smart home systems. Choosing the correct smart thermostat means considering the smart home software, if any, that you already use. You should also consider if you have additional systems like UV air purifiers, humidifiers or dehumidifiers that also need to be controlled.
Geofencing Technology
One of the most significant advantages of using a smart thermostat is integrated geofencing. This feature tracks the distance from your smartphone to your thermostat. When you cross a chosen radius distance, a smart thermostat will track common leaving and return times. If you travel longer distances, you can set a geofence to begin warming your home when you are approximately 30 minutes away and returning home. When you leave, you can use the geofence to automatically switch your HVAC to away mode.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Some smart thermostats offer data-driven decision-making. Newer smart thermostats will use local climate weather patterns, their understanding of peak energy times, and whether or not people are present in your home to determine its optimal temperature setting. This calculated decision-making will ensure that your heating system runs efficiently throughout the entire winter season.
Energy Saving Tip Suggestions
Many smart thermostats will monitor your system usage in real-time. It will then make suggestions on how to be more energy-conscious with your usage.
Energy Usage Insights
Another great feature of smart thermostats is they will provide usage data that you can break down by the day, week, or even month. This can allow you to learn more about your energy habits and be more creative in reducing your usage. Many homeowners can easily make adjustments to their HVAC system usage when they understand where the problems are with their existing usage.
Alert Notifications
With specialized alert notifications, you can be informed when there are unusual temperature fluctuations, when it’s time for filter changes and when there’s a malfunction with your system. By addressing these issues promptly, you can prevent your HVAC system from wasting excess energy.
Added Sensor Technology
Smart thermostats can come with smart sensors that you place throughout your home. These sensors will monitor the temperatures in different areas of your home. They can detect when a problem occurs, like exiting a room and leaving a window open.
Sensors can also be used to save money based on the rooms you occupy. If you live in a home with multiple stories but a single HVAC zone, it is common for the upstairs rooms to be warmer than the ground-floor rooms. Sensors can follow the sound of where you go and calibrate the desired temperature of the house to match the room you are in. When you are upstairs, your furnace won’t need to work as hard to maintain the temperature and the lower story can stay at a cooler temperature until you return there. If you have a zoned system, then your smart thermostat can set your occupied rooms to the temperature you want when you are at home. Unoccupied zones can be set to the “away” program.
Can Pair With Smart Ceiling Fans
Integrating your smart thermostat with smart ceiling fans can allow you to automatically take advantage of using your ceiling fans to reduce the runtime of your HVAC system. For example, if you want to increase the temperature by a few degrees, your smart thermostat could signal to your ceiling fans to turn on so they can recirculate hot air from the ceiling back down to the floor.
Tax Incentives
Many utility companies are offering tax incentives to homeowners who invest in smart home products as they know how much of an impact smart devices can have on lowering household energy usage. You may find that you’re eligible for some local tax incentives from your utility company when you invest in a smart thermostat for your home. This is money you can put towards your wintertime heating bills. If you have a professional install your thermostat, they can educate you on the available rebates. In some cases, they may even apply to them on your behalf.
Remote Access Control
If you’ve ever left home and forgot to turn down your thermostat, it can be frustrating to know that you wasted energy heating your home when no one was home. When you invest in a smart thermostat, you can easily access it remotely with your smartphone. If your thermostat geofencing is tied to your smartphone, you can also override it if you are away but have guests arriving at your home.
Top Features to Ensure Your New Smart Thermostat Has
If you believe a smart thermostat is a worthy investment for your home, there are many different features to look for when selecting the ideal one. First is an ENERGY STAR rating as this signifies that the thermostat meets standards of efficiency set by the EPA.
Another thing to consider is whether or not the thermostat is compatible with your existing HVAC setup. Some older units may not be designed to set up a smart thermostat. If you are concerned about this, work with a professional to see which systems may work or what upgrades may be necessary.
One other feature you may want your smart thermostat to have is smart sensors. They can allow you to take advantage of more energy-efficient features as well as more uniform heating throughout your home. Smart thermostats can seamlessly work with voice-controlled virtual assistance programs. If you plan to use Google Assistant, Apple Siri, or Amazon Alexa, check whether your new smart thermostat is compatible. Some smart thermostats may only be compatible with specific voice-controlled virtual assistance programs.
Lastly, one commonly overlooked feature is the display screen of the smart thermostat. It’s typically most convenient for homeowners to get a smart thermostat with a large, clear display screen. Make sure it has backlighting and an easily discernable font to read. This will make it easier to interact with your thermostat.
Helpful Smart Thermostat Service
Horizon Services offers helpful smart thermostat service for the entire Denver, CO region. We can assist with all your heating, air conditioning, plumbing, commercial, indoor air quality, garage door repair, and dryer vent cleaning needs. Contact us today to discuss your service options.
