You may be wondering if a smart thermostat is really necessary. Doesn’t it function just the same as a standard thermostat? The short answer is no. A smart thermostat functions completely differently from a standard thermostat and offers a variety of benefits that a manual thermostat does not.
Keep in mind that just because a thermostat is digital, doesn’t mean it is “smart.” A smart thermostat connects to Wi-Fi and has the capability of learning your heating and cooling patterns to suggest energy-saving measures. If you want to learn more about smart thermostat installation, give our team a call. We can answer your questions and talk to you about how a smart thermostat would work with your particular heating and cooling systems. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about the benefits and why so many homeowners are making the switch to a smart thermostat.
Accuracy
If your thermostat still has a little knob that you push back and forth to select a temperature printed on the front of your thermostat, it’s definitely time to upgrade. You may not realize it, but getting a precise temperature is nearly impossible with that little dial. You could be off by a few degrees or more, which can cost you a lot on your energy bill each month.
A smart thermostat eliminates the guesswork and allows you to choose a highly accurate temperature for your home. Don’t settle for a temperature that is close enough. The energy savings that a smart thermostat can offer through its accuracy can even help pay for the up-front investment completely.
Energy Savings
We already mentioned the energy savings you’ll gain through an accurate temperature. But you can also save energy by changing your heating and cooling habits. If you set your thermostat to a temperature that is 7° to 10° lower during the day while you’re away, you can save as much as 10% on your energy bills over the course of a month. Sure, you can do this with a regular thermostat, but will you really remember? Or will you forget to change the setting before you walk out the door for the day?
Here are some examples of how a smart thermostat can automate this process for you.
- You can set the temperature to go down in the winter at a particular time when you plan to leave for the day.
- You can do the same thing in the summer, and raise the temperature by 7° to 10° so that you aren’t heating or cooling your home while you’re away.
- If you plan to arrive home early and would like to have a comfortable home when you get there, you can simply access an app on your phone and override the settings yourself to make changes.
Evolution
A smart thermostat doesn’t just take orders. It also learns from your energy use and makes suggestions. This is why they’re called “smart.” If you lower the temperature by 7° when you’re away, the thermostat may suggest that you lower it by 10° instead. If you don’t already lower the temperature when you go to bed at night, the thermostat may do this for you.
Lowering the temperature by a few degrees while you’re asleep can make a huge difference in your energy bill while not impacting your comfort. A smart thermostat takes away the guesswork so that you can squeeze every last dollar out of your energy bill each month.
Contact Meyers Heating & Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment with our professionals.