Keeping your Pflugerville residence cozy can eat up a good amount of money. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly utility expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or about $2,060 yearly. At least half of that is for heating and cooling.
Many homes have programmable thermostats, but the majority of people don’t bother to use them properly. The process is bothersome, involved and only provides you a couple of options for temperature changes. When your house remains at an unchanging setting throughout the day, it consumes utilities and adversely impacts your monthly costs.
Smart thermostats pick up on your routine and regulate the temperatures to accompany it. But can having one really conserve money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Energy Bills
Independent studies show these devices can produce big savings.
These studies used home energy expenses 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, resulting in an estimated savings of $131 to $145 annually.
With the common smart thermostat running between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats because they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is put in, you’ll first use it just like your previous thermostat. You’ll turn it up and down, so the thermostat can figure out your preferences. Then, it will begin developing a program that helps you conserve more money, whether you’re at your house or away. As it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to remember to adjust it when you leave or come back.
Pros and Cons of Using a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned prior, smart thermostats give many perks to your home and heating and cooling costs, like:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your routine, so you won’t need to waste time using programs or remember to change.
- Knows when you come and leave—Since lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your house will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you leave and be comfortable when you arrive.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to watch your home’s temperature from nearly anywhere, thanks to an app on your phone.
- Supervise heating and cooling use—The majority of smart thermostats give great data through their app, including how long you required heating and cooling on a certain day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will let you know about important maintenance tasks, including when you’re due to get a new air filter.
- Added savings—Many local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for details.
Cons
Having said that, there’s a few areas you should take into account regarding getting a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Subject to the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you’re not sure, it’s best to check with an HVAC pro like Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the right number of wires and that it’s hooked up correctly. Some systems don’t include a common wire, which results in compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire powers 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 many years, it’s a wise investment to have a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move shortly or rent, we recommend waiting unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to have your landlord’s permission first ahead of putting in a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are pricier 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 so, you might not see as big of savings, but you’ll enjoy the convenience of not needing to program or adjust a thermostat.
Trust Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Evenaire Heating & Air Conditioning, our main purpose is to keep your residence pleasant while helping you conserve more energy costs. If you’re considering installing a smart thermostat, our specialists can help, from picking the right model to expert installation. Call us at 512-355-1482 today to learn more.