Keeping your Columbus home comfy can eat up a good amount of money. The average household spends about $172 on monthly energy expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or about $2,060 yearly. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
Many residences use programmable thermostats, but many people don’t take the trouble to program them. The process is annoying, detailed and only gives you a couple of options for temperature settings. When your house is kept at the same temperature throughout the day, it consumes energy and adversely impacts your monthly expenses.
Smart thermostats pick up on your day-to-day activities and change the settings to match it. But can using one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Reduce on Heating and Cooling Costs
Independent studies have determined these devices can result in major savings.
These studies involved home energy expenses in 41 states before and after adding a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study determined its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, resulting in an approximated savings of $131 to $145 yearly.
With the common smart thermostat running between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And the majority of local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats because they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is installed, you’ll initially program it just like your old thermostat. You’ll turn it up and down, so the thermostat can determine your desired settings. Then, it will begin developing a program that helps you save money, whether you’re at your house or away. Since it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you go or come back.
Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about prior, smart thermostats offer lots of pluses to your residence and utility expenses, such as:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will learn your routine, so you won’t be required to spend time using programs or remember to adjust it.
- Knows when you come and go—As many smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be comfortable when you return.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to see your residence’s temperature from virtually any location, because of an app on your phone.
- Watch heating and cooling use—The majority of smart thermostats provide great data through their app, such as how long you required heating and cooling on a certain day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will let you know about important maintenance tasks, such as when it’s time to put in a new air filter.
- Extra savings—Many local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for more info.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s several points you should take into account regarding getting a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you don’t know, it’s advisable to ask an HVAC professional like Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling. We also advise having it professionally installed. This ensures that you have the right number of wires and that it’s hooked up right. Some systems don’t include a common wire, which causes compatibility troubles with a smart thermostat. This wire runs your thermostat, so if your house doesn’t have a C-wire, we can add one.
- Housing situation—If you own your house and plan to be there for a long time, it’s a smart investment to get a smart thermostat. If you’re thinking about moving in the next year or rent, we advise waiting unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often need to secure your landlord’s permission first before adding a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are more expensive than programmable thermostats, and we advise having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over the years can help pay for itself.
- Lifestyle—Does a family member work from home, or is someone frequently at the house? If so, you might not see as large of savings, but you’ll have the convenience of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Trust Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling, our top priority is to keep your house comfortable while helping you conserve more energy costs. If you’re considering installing a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from choosing the best model to expert installation. Contact us at 614-451-0846 today to learn more.