Keeping your Eastland home comfortable can eat up a good amount of money. A typical household spends about $172 on monthly utility expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or about $2,060 each year. At least half of that goes to heating and cooling.
Most houses rely on programmable thermostats, but the majority of people don’t take the time to program them. The process is bothersome, detailed and only provides you a couple of options for temperature settings. When your residence is kept at an unchanging temp throughout the day, it consumes gas and electricity and badly impacts your monthly costs.
Smart thermostats pick up on your schedule and adapt the temperatures to match it. But can using one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Reduce on Heating and Cooling Costs
Independent studies have determined these devices can result in large savings.
These studies included home energy costs in 41 states before and after installing a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study showed its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, producing an average savings of $131 to $145 annually.
With the average smart thermostat running 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 installed, you’ll at first use it just like any other thermostat. You’ll turn it up and down, so the thermostat can figure out your needs. Then, it will start creating a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at your residence or away. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to put it on your list to adjust it when you exit or come home.
Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about previously, smart thermostats offer a lot of pluses to your residence and heating and cooling expenses, like:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your schedule, so you don’t have to waste time adjusting programs or remember to adjust it.
- Knows when you arrive and go—Since lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your home will move into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be comfy when you return.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your house’s temperature from virtually anywhere, due to an app on your phone.
- Monitor heating and cooling use—The majority of smart thermostats provide great data through their app, such as how long you used heating and cooling on a specific day.
- Reminders—Some smart thermostats will alert you to crucial maintenance tasks, such as when you need to put in a new air filter.
- Added savings—Most local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for more information.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a couple of areas you should consider when thinking about adding a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Based on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you’re unsure, it’s recommended to check with an HVAC pro like J & J Air Conditioning. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This confirms that you have the proper number of wires and that it’s connected right. Some systems don’t have a common wire, which results in compatibility problems with a smart thermostat. This wire runs your thermostat, so if your home doesn’t have a C-wire, we can add one.
- Housing situation—If you own your home and want to live there for years, it’s a wise investment to get a smart thermostat. If you’re thinking about moving soon or rent, we recommend holding back unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often need to get your landlord’s permission first ahead of putting in a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are pricier than programmable thermostats, and we recommend 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 frequently at the house? If so, you might not see as many savings, but you’ll get the convenience of not having to program or adjust a thermostat.
Rely on J & J Air Conditioning for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At J & J Air Conditioning, our main purpose is to keep your residence comfy while helping you spend less energy costs. If you’re wanting to install a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from picking the right model to expert installation. Give us a call at 254-355-3833 today to learn more.