With the summer season just around the corner, do you have what you need to stay cool? Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat.
A smart thermostat provides an efficient way to control the temperature of your home while also saving energy—and money. Here are the benefits of smart thermostats and what you should know as you’re browsing options.
What Are the Advantages of a Smart Thermostat?
There are five key benefits to owning a smart thermostat:
1 – Smart Thermostats Help You Save on Energy Costs
With a smart thermostat, you can better regulate your HVAC system and have it run less when you’re out of the house. This helps you save more energy while also lightening up your monthly bill.
Nest unveiled that their smart thermostat saves households about 10 to 12 percent on heating costs and 15 percent on cooling costs. In Salt Lake and Utah county, we found smart thermostats save about 15 percent on homeowners’ cooling bills.
2 – Smart Thermostats Are Programmed Around Your Life
Smart thermostats aren’t simply control panels. They have built-in movement sensors, which take note of your indoor lifestyle (are you most active at home during the mornings, afternoons, or evenings?) and when you’re not home. This information helps smart thermostats set up the right heating and cooling schedule.
You can also create a heating/cooling schedule via the app to have your thermostat run during specific times.
3 – Smart Thermostats Can Be Controlled Remotely
That’s right! You can control your smart thermostat whenever you need to from wherever you are.
Want your home to be cool upon your arrival? Using your laptop or phone, you can set the temperature before your commute back home.
Unsure if you’ve left the AC running? You can check the app on your phone and adjust accordingly.
4 – Smart Thermostats Help You Track Your Energy Usage
Smart thermostats offer an energy history report that keeps you informed on your cooling and heating usage. Having access to this data can help you and your family members make smarter decisions about your energy use.
5 – Smart Thermostats Can Qualify for Local Utility Rebates
Utility companies offer rebate programs that allow you to receive money back for buying and installing a smart thermostat. The savings you win ultimately help you offset the cost of your new equipment, making your new device affordable AND energy efficient.
How Much Does a Smart Thermostat Cost?
We all know what you’re thinking—how much does a smart thermostat cost?
Smart thermostat installation starts at $99. This can cost more if your current thermostat wiring isn’t set up to support a smart thermostat.
Sure, these can be higher up-front costs, but remember, these thermostats are a smart, long-term investment. A Nest Learning Thermostat can save you $131 to $145 a year in energy costs.
Not to mention with benefits like utility rebates, you can make back some of your investment. Of those who purchased a Nest Learning Thermostat, 89 percent were satisfied with their device.
A Smart Thermostat and a WiFi Thermostat: What’s the Difference?
As you’re shopping around for a smart thermostat, you’ll likely hear the term “WiFi thermostat.” What is a WiFi thermostat, and how is it different from a smart thermostat?
A WiFi thermostat is similar to a smart thermostat in that you can control it through an app/mobile device through an internet connection. Their key differences lie in capability.
While a smart thermostat learns your daily routine to set up customized schedules, a WiFi thermostat cannot do this. A WiFi thermostat only performs specific actions. In other words, it does not have automated or “smart” capabilities, which is why they usually cost about $100 less than a smart thermostat.
How Do I Choose a Smart Thermostat?
There are different types of smart thermostats available. How do you choose the right one for your family and home?
Here are three key questions to consider as you’re shopping around:
- Does your home have different temperatures in certain areas? If yes, you might want to choose one that offers portable sensors. You can place these sensors in specific areas of your home (particularly the areas that have distinct temperatures).
- How often are you home? If you follow a pretty consistent schedule, finding a smart thermostat with a learning algorithm embedded is helpful. That way, it can easily adapt to your lifestyle. If you travel quite a bit, make sure you get one that provides remote control or a “home away” feature.
- How’s the installation process? You don’t want to purchase a smart thermostat only to pull out your hair over the installation process. Get one that aligns well with your HVAC system or one that offers professional help to get the job done quickly. Brands like Google Nest offer helpful compatibility checks. You can also take a look at the instruction manual before your purchase.
Get Smart With Absolute Air
Interested in securing a smart thermostat this year? Contact the Absolute Air team today! We’re proud to offer multiple brands and models to help you select the right smart thermostat for your needs. As a Nest Pro Elite Dealer, we’re ready to assist you with questions and installation.