Advantages of Smart Thermostat Worth Taking Into Consideration

One of the latest introductions in the HVAC realm is the smart thermostat. This is a thermostat that does things we once thought impossible, including being able to set your thermostat using your smartphone as you commute home. In addition, your thermostat senses you are close to home and calibrating the optimal time it will need to make your home cozy and warm for you. These are just some of the unique features of a smart thermostat.

Your thermostat will have a significant impact on your electricity bills. By the end of this post, you will have answers to the advantages of a smart thermostat, is it worth getting a smart thermostat and do smart thermostats save you from spending money on unnecessary ac or furnace repair in Toronto services?

What is a Smart Thermostat?

Also referred to as a communicating or connected thermostat, a smart thermostat is a digital thermostat that is connected to Wi-Fi and controls the heat and AC of a home. Suppose you are wondering about what features do smart thermostats have. In that case, the first thing you must understand is that the thermostat does everything a traditional thermostat does, only with added features. As to how does smart thermostat work, the main difference is you can control and check your thermostat remotely using an app. Some smart thermostats also use machine learning to improve energy usage based on your temperature preferences.

Difference between Smart Thermostat And Standard Programmable Thermostat

Does a smart thermostat make a difference? Yes. Unlike traditional thermostats, which are set manually, smart thermostats learn household patterns and adjust temperatures to your preferences. This helps drive the bills down. Remember that standard thermostats only save energy when programmed correctly as you review the differences between smart thermostats and programmable. This table will help answer the question of is smart thermostat better than a programmable thermostat?

Features		Programmable thermostat	Smart thermostat
Comfort	Programmable to preferred temperatures
	May sense when you get in a room and adjust temperatures to comfortable levels
Convenience and control	Adjusts temperatures automatically to personalized preset levels and schedules
	May sense when somebody is home or away and adjust accordingly to conserve energy
	Gives the option of scheduling events like vacation
	Offers added information like monthly energy use, maintenance reminders and system operation
	May reduce runtime by using system performance and weather data
Communication with other devices	Wi-Fi enabled to allow remote control using a smartphone

Why You Want to Consider Installing Smart Thermostat

Smart Thermostats Are Energy Sufficient

Energy cost saving is probably the main reason why you should upgrade to a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats enable you to schedule the HVAC to run less when nobody is home and to maintain comfortable temperatures when family members are home. This helps reduce energy wastage because the system will not need to work hard to maintain comfortable temperatures when nobody is around. In addition, you will be able to schedule the thermostat to start when your family members are scheduled to start getting home. That way, the temperatures will be adjusted to a comfortable 72 degrees by the time you walk through the doors.

In regards to cost-saving, manufacturers report varying data. For example, with the Nest Smart thermostat, the manufacturer states you will save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling. With Ecobee, the manufacturer reports combined savings of up to 23% on both cooling and heating costs.

You Will Be Able To Control Your Smart Thermostat Remotely

One thing you will never get with a standard thermostat is the ability to monitor and control it remotely. Wi-Fi thermostats make it possible for you to get the house in the right temperatures before you arrive. If you are not sure you set the thermostat properly, you can check that too. All you need is to open the thermostat app on your smartphone and adjust the temperatures accordingly. When on vacation, you can change the cooling schedule so that the HVAC doesn’t use up too much energy while you are gone.

Do you have a vacation home? With the help of a smart thermostat, you will get notifications whenever the temperatures go below or rise about the set limits. This helps you know if the HVAC is working optimally.

Smart Thermostats Are Easy To Install

With the right thermostat wiring, installing a new smart thermostat is quite easy. The first step is to remove the cover of the old thermostat and inspect the wiring. You will require a thermostat C wire. If what you see is a wire marked ‘Common’ or ‘C’ and with the other wires marked W, R, Rc, or Rh, then installing the new smart thermostat will be easy. After that, you simply need to follow the guide from the manufacturer.

Start by disconnecting power to the thermostat. Next, disconnect the current thermostat and start connecting the wires to the smart thermostat. Install the faceplate before you restore power to the thermostat. The manufacturer’s instructions will include steps on how to program the smart thermostat. Follow these steps to set up the thermostat.

You don’t need to worry about high energy bills which are incurred when cooling your home during summer. A smart thermostat will help achieve amazing levels of control and save you money.

Smart Thermostats Are Equipped With Movement Sensors

Smart thermostats have sensors that detect when people are active in the house. This helps with machine learning. The thermostat will know what time you are at home and when you go out. This is very important in scheduling. When nobody is home, the thermostat will slow down the HVAC to use less power to maintain comfortable temperatures. It normalizes the temperatures before you get home.

You Create Schedules Straight From The App

You no longer have to be standing next to the thermostat to schedule heating or cooling. Smart thermostats come with brand apps that you install on your phone. The app lets you check your thermostat from anywhere so long as your phone and the thermostat are online. You will be able to change your schedule from work or while on vacation and also get in-depth temperature management data.

With Smart Thermostat You Will Be able to Control Temperature Better

Smart thermostats are designed to reduce power consumption while improving comfort levels in a house. When you look at the design of these thermostats, you will notice large and stylized temperatures. The user interface is quite straightforward. There is no more straining to see the small numbers on a poorly lit screen. Every button is well labelled, and if you want, you can make changes using the mobile app.

Smart Thermostats Are Compatible With Other Smart Devices You May Have

Having a smart home is the new goal for homeowners. The best news is if you have smart devices already installed in your home, the smart thermostat will be compatible with most of them. Smart thermostats link up and exchange data with a variety of smart home devices. You can control smart air purifiers and smart humidifiers with your thermostat if they are on a compatible platform.

Smart Thermostat Can Be Controlled With Your Voice

Do you use voice command technologies like Amazon’s Alexa? If you do, then you will definitely fall in love with smart thermostats. Instead of having to punch in what you want, you can use your voice to control your thermostat. You simply need to link the smart thermostat with Alexa. Then, when you want to change the temperature, you can say something like, “Alexa, lower the temperature to 65 degrees”.

Smart Thermostats Are Able To Track The Weather

Smart thermostats like Ecobee have a feature that helps them track the weather reports. They then use this data to make suitable changes whenever the temperatures start to rise or fall. This feature is important because the smart thermostat will predict weather changes and make adjustments without ever straining your HVAC system.

Is it Worth Getting a Smart Thermostat?

Now that you know what are the advantages of a smart thermostat, you can now understand why it is a worthy investment. The benefits of a smart thermostat make it one of the best investments you will make in your home. However, to truly appreciate why smart thermostats are worth it, you have to get them installed by a professional. AirMakers is the most awarded Toronto HVAC contractor specializing in installing, repairing, maintenance, and cleaning HVAC systems. If you need a smart thermostat, you will get over 40 years of expert advice from our team. Call us today to find out more.