Keeping your West Valley City house cozy can eat up a lot of money. The average family spends about $172 on monthly energy expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or around $2,060 each year. At least half of that is for heating and cooling.
The majority of houses rely on programmable thermostats, but many people don’t bother to set them. The process is bothersome, detailed and only gives you a few options for desired temperatures. When your residence remains at an identical setting throughout the day, it requires gas and electricity and adversely impacts your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats pick up on your routine and adjust the settings to match it. But can getting one really save you money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Save on Heating and Cooling Bills
Independent studies have found these devices can lead to big savings.
These studies involved home utility 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, resulting in an approximated savings of $131 to $145 annually.
With the common 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 put in, you’ll at first set it just like any other thermostat. You’ll switch it up and down, so the thermostat can figure out your desired settings. Then, it will begin developing a program that helps you save money, whether you’re at your house or gone. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to put it on your list to adjust it when you leave or return.
Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we covered previously, smart thermostats provide lots of advantages to your house and heating and cooling costs, such as:
- No need to adjust—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your activities, so you don’t have to spend time setting programs or remember to change.
- Knows when you get home and leave—As a lot of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will go into an energy-efficient setting when you leave and be comfy when you arrive.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your house’s temp from nearly anywhere, on account of an app on your phone.
- Supervise heating and cooling use—The majority of smart thermostats offer in-depth data through their app, such as how long you used heating and cooling on a certain day.
- Reminders—Some smart thermostats will let you know about critical maintenance tasks, including when you’re due to change your air filter.
- Added savings—Many local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for more info.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a couple of areas you should take into account regarding installing a smart thermostat in your residence:
- Compatibility—Based on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not be compatible. If you’re not sure, it’s recommended to ask an HVAC professional like Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning. We also advise having it professionally installed. This ensures that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s connected correctly. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which creates compatibility problems with a smart thermostat. This wire powers 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 a long time, it’s a smart investment to install a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move in the next year or rent, we suggest delaying unless you want to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to have your landlord’s permission first prior to getting a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are more expensive than programmable thermostats, and we advise 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 that’s your situation, you might not see as large of savings, but you’ll get the benefits of not needing to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Select Comfort Systems Heating & Air Conditioning, our number one goal is to keep your house comfortable while helping you save on heating and cooling costs. If you’re considering installing a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from choosing the right model to expert installation. Give us a call at 801-305-4777 today to learn more.