Keeping your Mechanicsburg residence comfy can require a lot of money. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly utility costs, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 each year. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
Many homes have programmable thermostats, but most people don’t bother to set them. The process is time-consuming, detailed and only provides you a few options for desired temperatures. When your house stays at an identical setting throughout the day, it requires gas and electricity and badly influences your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats adjust to your routine and regulate the temperatures to accompany it. But can getting one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Utility Bills
Independent studies have found these devices can lead to big savings.
These studies used home energy costs in 41 states before and after putting in a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study determined its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, producing an estimated savings of $131 to $145 each year.
With the common smart thermostat running between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And most local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats since they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is ready to go, you’ll first use it just like your previous thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can figure out your desired settings. Then, it will start making a program that helps you conserve more money, whether you’re at home or away. As 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 mentioned before, smart thermostats offer lots of advantages to your residence and heating and cooling costs, including:
- No need to adjust—Your smart thermostat will learn your activities, so you don’t have to waste time using programs or remember to adjust it.
- Knows when you come and go—As lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your home will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be cozy when you return.
- Remote temperature supervision—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your home’s settings from just about anyplace, because of an app on your phone.
- Supervise heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats give valuable data through their app, including how long you used heating and cooling on a certain day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will let you know about crucial maintenance tasks, like when you’re due to replace your air filter.
- Added savings—Many local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for more info.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a couple of areas you should take into account when thinking about installing a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not be compatible. If you’re unsure, it’s best to contact an HVAC pro like H & H Service Company. We also suggest having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the right number of wires and that it’s connected accurately. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which creates compatibility problems with a smart thermostat. This wire energizes 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 reside there for years, it’s a good investment to install a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move in the next year or rent, we recommend holding back unless you want to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to have your landlord’s permission first in advance of getting a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats cost more than programmable thermostats, and we recommend having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over its lifetime can help pay for itself.
- Lifestyle—Does a family member work from home, or is someone frequently at the house? If that’s your situation, you might not see as big of savings, but you’ll have the benefits of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on H & H Service Company for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At H & H Service Company, our main goal is to keep your residence pleasant while helping you save on heating and cooling bills. If you’re thinking about installing a smart thermostat, our pros can help, from picking the best model to expert installation. Call us at 717-220-4502 today to learn more.