Smart thermostats are among the most popular trends in HVAC upgrades. These are precise digital thermostats with Wi-Fi capabilities and many other advanced features. Let’s explore how a smart thermostat can improve comfort and save money.
Improved Comfort
A smart thermostat lets you set your preferred temperature with accuracy. You can automate the system so your setting is perfect when you wake up and get home from work. Many thermostats let you control relative humidity (RH) in individual zones in HVAC systems that support it. Another popular feature is remote sensors. This makes the positioning of your thermostat less important and provides you with more accurate readings overall.
Enhanced Energy Efficiency
The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that you can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10% annually. To achieve this, the DOE advises scheduling a smart thermostat to lower or raise (depending on the season) your temperature by 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day. That suggests that the DOE estimate is rather conservative. Many households can easily achieve between 12-16 hours when asleep and away from the home. Many smart thermostats also have geofencing. These thermostats can help you save even more by using GPS to adjust your schedule dynamically.
The other benefit here is reduced energy consumption. Air conditioning is the largest contributor to the average household’s carbon footprint. Heating is a significant contributor as well. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends ENERGY STAR-rated smart thermostats, which an independent lab has tested for energy savings. The EPA estimates that if every American household upgraded today, we’d reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13 billion pounds annually.
Remote Monitoring and Control
Another reason to upgrade to a smart thermostat is to monitor and control it remotely. Many systems support voice commands. Many brands also provide an app. It lets you monitor or control the thermostat from the couch or away from home. Consider a scenario where you’ve already left on a trip but forgot to put the system in vacation mode. It isn’t a problem with a smart thermostat. Turn on the mode from your phone wherever you are.
A smart thermostat can communicate with you as well. Some thermostats provide messages through its app. Others send them via email or SMS text message. Your thermostat can send reminders about changing the filter and scheduling maintenance. It may also provide alerts about spiked energy consumption and incoming severe weather.
Lower Total Equipment Costs
A smart thermostat also helps you reduce your long-term HVAC equipment costs. Systems with smart thermostats don’t have to run as often or for as long. That reduces wear and tear on major components, like the air handler, condenser pump and heat exchanger. It also lowers the chance of needing an unexpected repair during the cooling and heating seasons.
Many modern systems have advanced features that a smart thermostat will help you benefit from. Some systems, for instance, can detect static air pressure and recommend a filter change, based on that information. Advanced systems can alert you to notable differences in power consumption. Systems with sophisticated analysis features can also predict the need for maintenance and repair long before an issue becomes a serious problem.
Smart Home Integration
Smart devices can communicate with other smart devices. It’s an integral feature of the Internet of Things (IoT) that’s already transforming modern homes. You can control your smart thermostat through your smart hub and various personal assistants. Smart thermostats can also coordinate with smart blinds, ceiling fans, refrigerators and more.
Energy Monitoring and Reporting
We mentioned how smart thermostats can monitor energy usage and alert you to spikes. It’s notable because increased energy consumption is often the first sign of an HVAC problem. Traditionally, this increased consumption could take a month or more to notice. A smart thermostat with this feature can recognize the problem in days or even hours. These systems can also provide reports that reveal where and when your HVAC system is efficient and inefficient.
Would You Like to Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat?
If you want to upgrade to a smart thermostat, Campo Heating & Air Conditioning can help. We’ve been installing and setting up smart thermostats throughout Carriere, MS, and the surrounding areas since 2015. Our HVAC technicians also install, maintain and repair furnaces, boilers, radiant heating, air conditioners, heat pumps, geothermal systems and ductless mini-splits. We install, repair and clean ducts and install and service air scrubbers, UV lamps, dehumidifiers and humidifiers. If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment for other HVAC services, contact us today!