Many advancements have been made in thermostats since the Electric Tele-Thermoscopes hit the market in 1883. Gone are the old coil and mercury switches your grandparents had. Programmable thermostats or so 1980’s, and digital is yesterday’s technology. The latest technology in cooling and heating your home or office is the smart thermostat. How the New Kid on the Block Works There are two types technologies in smart thermostats. Geolocation fencing uses your cellphone’s location to adjust the temperature in your home of office.
When the phone leaves the area, the thermostat switches to the preset temperature, and when your phone is within a few miles from the location it begins heating or cooling to your comfort level. The learning algorithm software learns your behaviors over a period of weeks, adjusting automatically to the desired temperature when there is likely to be activity in the house or office. Things to Consider Before Deciding the Pros and cons Before you can weigh the pros and cons of installing a smart thermostat, there are a few things to consider.
Homes with only and AC unit and a furnace may require a more sophisticated set up, and compatibility could be an issue. How long you plan to say in your house or office space is something to consider. If you plan to move next year, or you’re renting, installing a smart thermostat may not be a good investment for that property. Placement of the thermostat is important. In a hallway means it can only register the temperature in that small space. Next to a electrical or fire burning heating device can affect performance as well as next to a door to the outside elements.
Some smart thermostats require professional installation. Pros of Installing a Smart Thermostat Multiple Settings Smart Thermostats are programed with multiple settings. You can program the thermostat to turn on the heat or air conditioning an hour before you return or adjust the temperature throughout the day from anywhere. You can control the temperature in individual rooms with zoning, and program to adjust based on conditions like high humidity. Lowering the heat or turning up the air conditioning when you’re not at home or work, conserves energy, and that saves you money.
Set It and Forget It A smart thermostat lets you be energy-conscious without a lot of effort. Set the days, times and temperatures then forget about it. Once you have the unit programmed for your specific needs, you can leave it to do all the work. Fun for Techies If you have fun with all the technology and enjoy playing with all the buttons and programs then a smart thermostat is for you. Compile the in-depth data and track how much energy you use in real-time daily, weekly, monthly and yearly for an analysis of your consumption.
Monitor and control the temperature remotely from you cellphone or computer with a connection to the Internet. Most come with an app for your smartphone, iPhone, iPad, Android and computer. Saves Energy Smart thermostats, when programed and used properly for the space, lower energy consumption. Saving energy means you cut carbon emissions and leave a smaller carbon footprint. They minimize temperature swings by cutting on or off closer to the desired temperature than manual thermostats. Informs You of
Maintenance Needs A smart thermostat will alert you when it’s time to change the filter in your air conditioner and furnace. Find out when the last maintenance check was done with the push of a button. You can choose to receive a text, an email or have the thermostat beep when it’s time to perform preventative maintenance or call a qualified technician. No more worries about costly repairs if you forget to change a filter. Cut Your Energy Bill Once everything is set up and programmed, you can save up to $180 a year on heating and cooling costs.
Cons of Installing a Smart Thermostat Someone Is Always Home If you work from home, or there is always someone there then programming the thermostat is tougher. You won’t want to lower or raise the temperature if you run a business twenty-four hours a day. Adjusting to other family member’s or co-worker’s schedules may not be cost-effective in the long run. Compatibility Your existing heating and cooling unit may not be compatible with a smart thermostat.
Cost Smart thermostats are more expensive to install. Some units require professional installation. Complex Programming The software and touchscreen display panel can be tricky to learn. If you’re not into reading a manual and figuring out all the buttons and software, then a smart thermostat may not be for you. If the smart thermostat system is not installed and set up properly, you may not see any savings. Check with a professional first, estimate your cost and savings and research your options.