Keeping your Reinholds house comfy can eat up a big chunk of change. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly utility bills, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 each year. At least half of that goes to heating and cooling.
Most houses rely on programmable thermostats, but most people don’t take the time to program them. The process is bothersome, detailed and only gives you a few options for temperature changes. When your home is kept at the same temp throughout the day, it requires gas and electricity and negatively impacts your monthly costs.
Smart thermostats learn from your day-to-day activities and adapt the settings to match it. But can using one really conserve money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Reduce on Heating and Cooling Bills
Independent studies have found these devices can lead to large savings.
These studies included home heating and cooling bills in 41 states before and after installing a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study found its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an estimated savings of $131 to $145 yearly.
With the average smart thermostat priced between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And most local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats as they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is put in, you’ll first set it just like your old thermostat. You’ll switch it up and down, so the thermostat can determine your desired settings. Then, it will begin making a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at your residence or away. As it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to remember to adjust it when you leave or get back.
Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about prior, smart thermostats give many pluses to your residence and utility expenses, like:
- No need to adjust—Your smart thermostat will pick up on your schedule, so you won’t need to waste time adjusting programs or remember to change.
- Knows when you come and take off—Because a lot of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your house will move into an energy-efficient setting when you go and be comfortable when you arrive.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your home’s settings from nearly any location, due to an app on your phone.
- Watch heating and cooling use—The majority of smart thermostats give detailed data through their app, including how long you required heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will alert you to important maintenance tasks, like when you’re due to change your air filter.
- Additional savings—Many local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for more information.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a couple of things you should take into account when considering getting a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not be compatible. If you don’t know, it’s best to check with an HVAC pro like County Line Mechanical LLC. We also advise having it professionally installed. This confirms that you have the right number of wires and that it’s linked right. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which causes compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire runs your thermostat, so if your home doesn’t have a C-wire, we can put one in.
- Housing situation—If you own your residence and are planning to be there for many years, it’s a good investment to get a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move soon or rent, we recommend waiting unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to get your landlord’s permission first before installing a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are more expensive than programmable thermostats, and we suggest having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over time can help pay for itself.
- Lifestyle—Does a family member work from home, or is someone regularly at the house? If that’s the case, you might not see as large of savings, but you’ll get the convenience of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on County Line Mechanical LLC for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At County Line Mechanical LLC, our number one priority is to keep your home comfortable while helping you conserve more heating and cooling costs. If you’re wanting to install a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from selecting the best model to expert installation. Give us a call at 717-216-0846 today to learn more.