What Is a Smart Thermostat, and Is It Worth the Money?

Many people today are wondering what exactly a smart thermostat is. Only 15% of the population utilizes smart thermostats in their homes, which is considerably less than the number of people who have a smart home setup. Considering that they are so easy to integrate, it is incredible that more people haven’t started using smart thermostats.

Heating and air conditioning are the most significant part of the energy use in your home. They account for over half of the bill, meaning heating and cooling your home takes up more energy and money than everything else you do. Because of this cost, many people are looking for ways to save money on their power bills, and a smart thermostat will help do that.

While they have a high up-front cost, the benefits, capabilities, functions, and long-term savings of installing a smart thermostat in your home outweigh the initial investment. To learn more about smart thermostats and other ways to save on your energy bill, contact Professional Services, your Saukville HVAC service specialists.

What Is a Smart Thermostat?

A smart thermostat is similar to a regular thermostat because it controls the temperature setting of your AC and heating unit. The similarities stop there, however.

A smart thermostat is capable of much more than just your regular AC thermostat. Apps on your phone, tablet, computer, and other smart devices control a smart thermostat. They learn your particular energy needs and help you schedule temperature changes inside your home. They also automatically adjust to optimize the performance of your AC and heater for maximum efficiency and energy savings.

How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?

Smart thermostats come with so many functions that it is easiest to understand how they work once you know how a regular thermostat works.

Regular Thermostats

You probably have a regular thermostat in your home. Older models were analog, with tiny numbers, dials, levers, and switches, while newer models incorporate some digital aspects for ease of use. Either way, that small box on the wall controls every element of your home’s temperature.

All you have to do with a thermostat is adjust the temperature. Once you do, the air conditioner or heater will turn on and run until it reaches the desired temperature, at which point the unit turns off. The unit stays off until the temperature changes above or below the desired temperature of your home.

Smart Thermostats

While they perform the same functions, smart thermostats bring a host of other capabilities. They account for factors that a regular thermostat can’t comprehend, such as scheduling, weather, and efficiency. It’s like comparing the old calculators from grade school to a TI-84 calculator used in calculus or an old Ford Model T to a Tesla. They are two very different machines.

What Are the Benefits of a Smart Thermostat?

A smart thermostat is a substantial upgrade from a regular thermostat. You and your home benefit so much from what a smart thermostat is and does.

Remote Access

Imagine returning from a long trip or a vacation. You are sitting on a plane, ready to get back home. The first thing you want to do is lay down and take a long nap. No one was home while you were away, so you left the thermostat off. Unfortunately, it’s a lot colder than where you just came from. 

If you had remote access to your thermostat from your phone and tablet, however, you could turn on your heater through a Wi-Fi or cell signal. The smart thermostat would follow whatever directions you give it through the app. That way, your home would be toasty and warm for you when you walk through the door.

Preference Learning

A smart thermostat learns your habits, preferences, and schedules over time. After a week of manual settings, it generally knows what you like. After a month of fine-tuning those preferences, you rarely have to touch it again.

It saves those preferences, and you will only have to change it for occasional outliers in your behavior. These periodic changes do not affect your general preferences.

Movement Sensors

While learning your preferences, it also learns your activity levels. With movement sensors, a smart thermostat learns what rooms you are in, what times someone is there, and when you are active in the house. This knowledge will adjust your preferences and energy usage.

Energy Savings

A smart thermostat tracks energy usage and compiles it into a profile of how much energy you use and when. This report breaks down what your air conditioner uses and how much it will cost you based on rates in the area.

It also shows you ways to help save money on your power bill, like changing the temperature when you are home or turning the system off when you are not.

Voice Control

Your smart thermostat is compatible with most smart home devices. Your Alexa or Google Home device will change the temperature on your command. If your phone is missing or you don’t want to get off the couch, issue a voice command, adjusting the temperature.

Higher Screen Quality

What is difficult for those with poor eyesight, a smart thermostat makes easier thanks to its intuitive design. It has a brightly lit screen and large font, making reading much less of a hassle.

Is a Smart Thermostat Worth it?

A smart Thermostat costs anywhere from $100 to $500, depending on the make, model, brand, and functionality. Still, despite the initial costs, a smart thermostat saves you more money in the long run than a regular thermostat. It brings an unparalleled level of convenience and so many functions that you won’t know how you lived without it. Smart thermostats are worth every penny you spend on them.

Call Professional Services at (262) 218-2636 if you want to save money by installing a smart thermostat in your home. Visit here to  learn more about how new air conditioners are more efficient.