Keeping your Litchfield Park house cozy can eat up a lot of money. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or about $2,060 yearly. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
The majority of houses rely on programmable thermostats, but the majority of people don’t take the time to use them properly. The process is bothersome, involved and only provides you a few options for desired temperatures. When your residence remains at the same setting throughout the day, it consumes energy and negatively affects your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats adjust to your day-to-day activities and regulate the temperatures to match it. But can installing one really save you money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Heating and Cooling Bills
Independent studies show these devices can lead to large savings.
These studies involved home utility expenses in 41 states before and after putting in a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study found its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an average savings of $131 to $145 each year.
With the average smart thermostat priced between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And most 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 ready to go, you’ll initially program it just like your old thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your preferences. Then, it will get to work developing a program that helps you conserve more money, whether you’re at your residence or gone. As it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to remember to adjust it when you go or get back.
Pros and Cons of Getting a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about previously, smart thermostats offer many benefits to your house and utility expenses, such as:
- No need to set—Your smart thermostat will learn your activities, so you won’t be required to waste time using programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you get home and go—Because a lot of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your house will move into an energy-efficient setting when you go and be cozy when you arrive.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to watch your house’s settings from just about anyplace, on account of an app on your phone.
- Supervise heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats offer valuable data through their app, such as how long you needed heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will alert you to important maintenance tasks, like when it’s time to put in a new air filter.
- Additional savings—Many local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats, so check with yours for more info.
Cons
Having said that, there’s a couple of things you should consider regarding getting a smart thermostat in your house:
- 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 ask an HVAC professional like Cooler Tymes LLC. We also suggest having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the right number of wires and that it’s hooked up right. Some systems don’t have a common wire, which causes compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire energizes your thermostat, so if your house doesn’t have a C-wire, we can put one in.
- Housing situation—If you own your residence and plan to reside there for years, it’s a good investment to get a smart thermostat. If you’re thinking about moving shortly or rent, we recommend holding back unless you want to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll typically need to secure your landlord’s permission first before installing 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 often at the house? If so, you might not see as large of savings, but you’ll have the perks of not having to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on Cooler Tymes LLC for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Cooler Tymes LLC, our top goal is to keep your home pleasant while helping you conserve more energy costs. If you’re considering installing a smart thermostat, our specialists can help, from choosing the right model to expert installation. Call us at 623-208-6444 today to learn more.