Keeping your Sandpoint home comfy can require a good amount of money. A typical homeowner 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.
Many residences use programmable thermostats, but most people don’t take the time to program them. The process is time-consuming, complicated and only offers you a couple of options for temperature changes. When your house stays at an identical temp throughout the day, it requires utilities and badly affects your monthly costs.
Smart thermostats pick up on your day-to-day activities and modify the temperatures 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 Decrease on Energy Expenses
Independent studies have found these devices can produce large savings.
These studies used home utility bills in 41 states before and after adding a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study showed its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, producing an estimated savings of $131 to $145 each year.
With the average smart thermostat costing between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And most local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats as they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is installed, you’ll initially set it just like any other thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your needs. Then, it will begin developing a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at home or out and about. As it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you exit or get back.
Pros and Cons of Installing a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we covered prior, smart thermostats provide lots of benefits to your home and utility bill, including:
- No need to set—Your smart thermostat will pick up on your schedule, so you don’t have to spend time adjusting programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you come and go—Because lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you go and be comfortable when you arrive.
- Remote temperature supervision—You’ll be able to see your home’s temperature from just about anyplace, because of an app on your phone.
- Supervise heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats give great data through their app, like how long you used heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Certain smart thermostats will remind you of important maintenance tasks, including when you’re due to change your air filter.
- Extra savings—The majority of local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for details.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a couple of points you should take into account when thinking about installing a smart thermostat in your residence:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you’re unsure, it’s best to contact an HVAC pro like Age Heating & Cooling. We also advise having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the right number of wires and that it’s linked accurately. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which creates compatibility troubles with a smart thermostat. This wire energizes your thermostat, so if your house doesn’t have a C-wire, we can add one.
- Housing situation—If you own your home and plan to live there for a long time, it’s a smart investment to install a smart thermostat. If you plan to move shortly or rent, we advise waiting unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll typically need to have your landlord’s permission first prior to installing a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are more expensive than programmable thermostats, and we suggest having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over time can help pay for itself.
- Lifestyle—Does a family member work from home, or is someone often at the house? If so, you might not see as large of savings, but you’ll have the perks of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Trust Age Heating & Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Age Heating & Cooling, our main goal is to keep your house cozy while helping you spend less utility costs. If you’re thinking about installing a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from picking the ideal model to expert installation. Call us at 208-578-4258 today to learn more.