Smart thermostats are energy-management devices that leverage advanced technology to monitor, regulate, and optimize the temperature of households. Sometimes referred to as “connected thermostats” or “communicating thermostats,” these smart devices use innovative tools like proximity sensors, machine learning, and feedback data to automate your heating or cooling routine. In addition, most smart thermostats enable you to adjust the temperature and settings of your home via connection to a mobile app, virtual assistant, or voice-command technology.

Since the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that heating and cooling bills account for nearly half of residential energy costs, it makes sense for homeowners to look for devices that make their households more energy efficient. But do smart thermostats live up to the hype? A look at the facets of upgrading to a smart thermostat provides insight into ways in which this investment can benefit your home.

How Do Smart Thermostats Work?

Smart thermostats contain a visual interface, a processor, stored memory, and a motherboard. For most thermostats, you can request that a technician connect it to your home’s pre-existing wiring while leaving a backup battery in place for power outages. Smart thermostats connect to your Wi-Fi network and allow you to program the device remotely to match your schedule or temperature needs. But what makes a thermostat “smart” is that this device can use features like geolocation data, weather and climate data, motion sensors, and past heating and cooling routines to determine the most efficient temperature adjustments for your home.

Through a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, you can “teach” a smart thermostat the best settings for your home. This can help reduce the waste of excessive HVAC cycles and save you money in the long run. It can also reduce your carbon footprint by eliminating the extra power used on unnecessary HVAC operation. In addition, it reduces the wear and tear on HVAC units by turning on heating or cooling only when needed.

In addition, smart thermostats also have special consideration under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s EnergyStar program. According to the EPA, smart thermostats that meet EnergyStar criteria can save homeowners an average of 8% to 10% on utility bills. Homeowners can also use the rebate finder on the EnergyStar website to save on the cost of the thermostat itself as well as locate tax incentives for switching to a more energy-efficient device.

According to a joint study from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the EPA, if every U.S. home switched from a conventional thermostat to an EnergyStar-certified smart thermostat, the energy savings would translate into 56 trillion BTUs each year. Households would collectively save $740 million annually from making the switch.

How Do Smart Thermostats From Programmable or Wi-Fi Thermostats?

Home thermostats fall into four general categories: manual, programmable, Wi-Fi, and smart. Manual thermostats are also known as standard, conventional, or transitional thermostats. These devices require you to change temperature settings by hand and then wait several minutes for your HVAC system to adjust to your preferences. In contrast, Wi-Fi thermostats use a wireless internet connection that let you change settings through a browser or app. Programmable thermostats let you preset the device based on your daily or weekly schedule, home occupancy status, and household needs.

Smart thermostats have the capabilities of both Wi-Fi and programmable devices. And they go a step further to learn your temperature preferences and the HVAC patterns of your home. Unlike other devices, smart thermostats use automation that can instantly adjust to energy-saving temperatures. For example, a smart thermostat may use an algorithm to automatically lower the temperature while you are asleep or geofencing tools to turn off the HVAC system while you are away from home. The longer you have the smart thermostat, the better it becomes at using AI to conserve energy within your home.

What Are Other Benefits of Smart Thermostats?

These devices have additional, notable benefits. These include simplicity of usage and professional installation, integration with other smart-home devices, energy reporting, and potential increase in home value.

Easy Usage

Smart thermostats are easy to use and require minimal interference after the initial installation. These devices allow you to select settings directly from your mobile screen with a swipe of your hand. If you do need to adjust the unit itself, most smart thermostats also have intuitive touchscreens with clear display icons. An HVAC technician can also periodically check the thermostat during routine maintenance sessions.

Professional Installation

Qualified HVAC technicians can install your smart thermostat by wiring the device into your home system. This is a straightforward process that does not require downtime or long-term disruption of your household activities. Since the installation can require cutting wiring, however, you need to have a trained professional complete the process. DIY errors can result in safety hazards.

Convenience

Another benefit of installing a smart thermostat is increased convenience. The device learns your routines, monitors outdoor weather, and can usually keep track of recommended upgrades. You’ll have one less thing to worry about when running your household.

Connectivity With Other Smart-Home Devices

Many smart thermostats connect easily to other smart-home devices. Examples of popular devices that you may integrate with your thermostat include Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Siri, and HomePod. In this way, you can use virtual home assistants to monitor temperature with your voice or pre-existing app. These devices help create a seamless smart-home ecosystem.

Energy Reporting

Smart thermostats can give real-time alerts about the status of your system’s performance. They can also provide a history of your household’s power usage patterns. This can help make it easy to identify waste and reduce excessive energy usage. Other alerts or notifications may include power outages, severe or inclement weather changes, or HVAC system failure. These notifications can keep you up-to-date and may help prevent unexpected emergencies that could otherwise result in costly repairs.

Potential Increase in Home Value

If you plan to eventually put your home on the market, upgrading your property with the latest technology can make it more attractive to potential buyers. Smart heating and cooling equipment is a selling point for both convenience and long-term energy savings. Smart technology also signifies attention to detail within your home. It is a practical investment that distinguishes your house from others available for sale.

Are Smart Thermostats Worth Buying?

Smart thermostats are worth it for any homeowner who wants to improve energy efficiency throughout the year. These devices complement heating and cooling equipment to ensure a comfortable indoor environment regardless of seasonal weather extremes. The machine learning process of smart thermostats uses your household’s patterns and habits to help reduce utility costs year after year, and these devices offer the flexibility of adjusting your HVAC hardware’s settings from any location. These devices are worth it for anyone who wants to capitalize on the latest developments in home technology.

Contact Us Today

Installing a smart thermostat is a great way to streamline and simplify energy management. Precision Heating & Air offers smart thermostat services for homes in Dallas, GA and surrounding areas. Our technicians can install thermostats with advanced features like wireless capability, seven-day programming capacity, preset schedules, touch-screen display, and automatic temperature settings. We can even help program thermostats that include maintenance reminders and automatic notifications for updates.

In addition to thermostats, we offer installation and repairs for HVAC equipment such as air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, and mini splits. Ask about our indoor air quality services or maintenance agreements to keep your equipment in excellent condition. No matter the issue, we can help.

Contact our team at Precision Heating & Air for all your HVAC needs in and around Dallas.

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