Keeping your Muldrow residence comfy can require a lot of money. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly utility expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 each year. At least half of that goes to heating and cooling.
Most residences rely on programmable thermostats, but most people don’t bother to use them properly. The process is annoying, involved and only gives you limited options for temperature changes. When your residence stays at an identical setting throughout the day, it wastes gas and electricity and negatively affects your monthly expenses.
Smart thermostats adjust to your schedule and change the temp to coordinate it. But can getting one really save you money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Reduce on Heating and Cooling Bills
Independent studies show these devices can produce large savings.
These studies included home heating and cooling costs in 41 states before and after adding a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study found its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating 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 as they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is ready to go, you’ll initially use it just like your old thermostat. You’ll switch it up and down, so the thermostat can figure out your needs. Then, it will begin making a program that helps you save money, whether you’re at home or gone. Since it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you leave or return.
Pros and Cons of Using a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we covered before, smart thermostats give many pluses to your residence and heating and cooling expenses, like:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will learn your schedule, so you don’t have to spend time adjusting programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you arrive and take off—Since many smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your house will move into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be comfy when you return.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to see your residence’s temperature from nearly anyplace, because of an app on your phone.
- Watch heating and cooling use—Most smart thermostats give valuable data through their app, such as how long you needed heating and cooling on a specific day.
- Reminders—Some smart thermostats will let you know about important maintenance tasks, including when you need to change your air filter.
- Extra savings—Most local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats, so check with yours for more information.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s several areas you should take into account when thinking about adding a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not function with it. If you don’t know, it’s recommended to check with an HVAC pro like Air Service Co.. We also advise having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s hooked up correctly. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which results in compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire energizes your thermostat, so if your home doesn’t have a C-wire, we can install one.
- Housing situation—If you own your home and plan to be there for a long time, it’s a smart investment to have a smart thermostat. If you plan to move in the next year or rent, we advise delaying unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to have your landlord’s permission first ahead of getting a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats cost more than programmable thermostats, and we advise 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 regularly at the house? If so, you might not see as big of savings, but you’ll get the perks of not needing to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on Air Service Co. for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Air Service Co., our main purpose is to keep your residence cozy while helping you spend less energy expenses. If you’re wanting to install a smart thermostat, our pros can help, from picking the best model to expert installation. Give us a call at 918-212-8943 today to learn more.