Spring brings erratic weather that can require both heating and cooling in many climates. That makes it an excellent time to upgrade your home to a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat can improve your comfort and indoor air quality, while paying for itself over time through energy savings. Let’s explore the various features available and how they can benefit your household.
Remote Access and Control
The fundamental difference between a smart thermostat and a programmable thermostat is Wi-Fi capability. That allows your thermostat to connect to your home network and the internet. Many brands offer an app that lets you control your thermostat from your phone. You can, for instance, adjust the temperature while on the couch watching a movie. The app also lets you adjust temperatures while at your office or while travelling to the airport.
Automatic Temperature Scheduling
Scheduling is a fundamental feature of all programmable and smart thermostats. The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that it can save the average U.S. household up to 10% yearly on energy costs. To do that, your thermostat must adjust the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 8 hours a day. Most households can accomplish this overnight or while homeowners are away at work. The benefits of programming extend beyond a lower monthly energy bill. You’ll enjoy personalized comfort, a smaller household carbon footprint, and less wear and tear on your HVAC equipment.
Profiles
Many smart thermostats support profiles, which encapsulate unique schedules. For example, you can have a profile for weekdays and another for weekends. Profiles also allow you to choose settings for different seasons, heat waves, and cold snaps. This is particularly useful in spring, where you may experience hot weather one week and cold weather the next.
Vacation Mode
Whenever you intend to be away from home for 48 hours or more, you can save big through larger temperature adjustments. Many smart thermostats make this even easier with a built-in vacation mode. You can set your ideal away temperature and even the start and end times. This way, your home is already back to normal by the time you return.
Energy Monitoring
Energy monitoring smart thermostats track your energy consumption moment to moment. This is useful for many reasons. High energy consumption is among the earliest signs of an HVAC malfunction. With energy monitoring, you’ll be aware of high usage within hours rather than at the end of the month. Many smart thermostats with energy monitoring can also provide insights through custom reports. These reports can indicate when you’re maximizing energy efficiency.
Adaptive Learning
Adaptive learning refers to a thermostat’s ability to track performance, analyze that data, and adjust programming based on that analysis. These capabilities have become even more sophisticated in recent years. Onboard chips have become more powerful, and many manufacturers now leverage cloud computing. The newest smart thermostats can program themselves within 48 to 72 hours of installation. Another advantage is that they can track system performance and household behaviors and adjust accordingly. A common issue is that households never update their schedules and profiles, and with this feature, you don’t have to.
Occupancy Sensing
Occupancy sensing is an alternative to set schedules. This feature lets you have home and away settings that the thermostat activates automatically.
Geofencing
Geofencing is the most basic form of thermostat occupancy availability. It requires household members to pair their phones with the thermostat. The thermostat then knows when a paired device is within its boundary. Geofencing thermostats can even recognize when you’re on your way home and adjust accordingly.
Zone Control
Zone control is the most advanced form of thermostat occupancy available. These thermostats support remote sensors that an HVAC installer will strategically place throughout your home. Zoning also requires system upgrades, such as a variable-speed air handler and duct dampers. This allows the thermostat to make finer occupied and unoccupied adjustments. That can increase overall energy savings up to 30% a year.
Real-Time Weather Monitoring
Spring often brings sudden and large temperature changes. In some climates, a household can require heating in the morning and cooling in the afternoon. These swings affect energy consumption because it costs more to achieve a temperature than to maintain it. Real-time weather monitoring can help avoid large transitions over a short period. If a cold front is coming in, for instance, the thermostat can begin increasing the temperature well ahead of it.
Rate Awareness
Many utilities charge higher or lower rates based on the time of day or night. Electricity is often cheaper overnight than during peak demand periods. Another way a smart thermostat can save you money is by helping to avoid excessive usage during those higher-rate periods.
Utility Demand Response
Some utilities handle the rate awareness for their customers through demand response programs. Homeowners need a compatible smart thermostat and to opt in. The utility will adjust your thermostat automatically during peak usage periods. In return for your participation, you’ll receive bill credits and other benefits.
Peak Period Optimization
Instead of a local demand response program, you can opt for a smart thermostat with integrated rate awareness. A rate-aware thermostat can get your local rates from the internet and adjust the temperature based on thresholds you set.
Proactive Maintenance Alerts
Proactive maintenance is a hot trend in HVAC, one that the industry estimates can lower total consumer costs by up to 15%. Smart thermostats can provide “check filter” alerts based on the static air pressure in the system. The most advanced thermostats can monitor system performance and alert you to schedule diagnostics deviations.
Smart Home Integration
Smart thermostats are smart devices in every sense, meaning that they can integrate with your home automation network. A smart thermostat can adjust smart ceiling fans and window blinds throughout your home. A smart refrigerator can indicate to a zoned system that it needs additional cooling in the kitchen. Your smart thermostat can also integrate with your central smart hub, voice assistants, and many other smart devices.
ENERGY STAR Certification
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the DOE and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Through it, the EPA certifies energy-saving appliances and devices. When you purchase an ENERGY STAR thermostat, you do so with the confidence that an independent lab has tested it. Another advantage is that there are often rebates and other energy incentives available. A rebate can help you recoup your initial investment in a smart thermostat even sooner.
Smart Thermostat Installations in Paulding County and the Surrounding Areas
Since 1985, Precision Heating & Air has been a family-owned and -operated HVAC company based in Dallas, GA. We offer a wide selection of smart thermostats from trusted brands. Our NATE-certified technicians install smart thermostats. We’re also available for setup, maintenance, repair, and other smart thermostat services. To schedule a service appointment or in-home consultation, call today or contact us online.
