Are you tired of high energy bills? Would you like to reduce the amount of energy you use? If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, it may be time to install a smart thermostat in your home. Smart thermostats can help you regulate your home’s temperature while reducing energy waste and helping you lower your heating and cooling bills. They also have several features and connect to your home’s Wi-Fi for easy use and control. If you are interested in conserving energy while heating or cooling your home, a smart thermostat may be what you need.
Traditional vs. Smart Thermostats
A traditional thermostat is attached to the wall and used to control the heat and AC. It usually works by pressing a few buttons or turning a dial to select the proper temperature. During warmer weather, the thermostat signals the AC to turn on when it senses the air temperature has risen above the set temperature using a control panel. During the cooler months, it does the opposite. Although many traditional thermostats are now programmable, meaning they can be set to run at specific times without needing to adjust them manually, they do not have many functions. In older homes, traditional thermostats may not be programmable at all.
Although a traditional thermostat allows you to control the temperature, a smart thermostat can do the same thing and much more. Not only can smart thermostats give you more control over the temperature in your home, but it can allow you to adjust the temperature remotely from a smart device. Many smart thermostats consider various factors, such as which rooms you want to be heated or cooled or when you leave and come home from work, to keep your home set at an optimal temperature. You can even adjust your smart thermostat to factor in the number of people in your home.
In addition to such a high degree of customization, smart thermostats are great for energy efficiency. They can provide you with important details about your energy usage patterns and how much energy you must use to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. More advanced smart thermostats can even compare the amount of energy you use to heat and cool your home to the average home of the same size. Many thermostats provide regular updates to alert you to how much energy you are spending or saving, as well as a reminder to conserve energy.
Regularly programming a thermostat can be exhaustive and inconvenient. Luckily, most smart thermostats can adjust their settings after they learn your preferences and habits over time. This allows your smart thermostat to develop a schedule for you and help you conserve energy.
Smart thermostats are similar to traditional thermostats since you can adjust the temperature inside your home. However, unlike traditional thermostats, smart thermostats can be controlled using an app on your smart device. This means you can control the thermostat if you misplace your phone or lose Wi-Fi for some time.
Conserving Energy
As you probably know, reducing the amount of energy you use is excellent for the environment. If you want a greener home but don’t know where to start, installing a smart thermostat can be your first step. Keeping temperatures consistent throughout a home is one of the primary ways a smart thermostat helps conserve energy. This means your AC or heating unit doesn’t have to run all day. They also conserve energy by not heating or cooling empty homes, mainly because smart thermostats can detect when someone is not home.
Smart thermostats can also reduce energy waste by helping homeowners understand the habits that waste energy in the first place. For example, if a person leaves their house frequently, they may not give a second thought to their thermostat setting. This can result in them leaving the AC or heat running at full blast for hours. With a smart thermostat, you don’t have to worry about this happening.
Using a Thermostat With Room Sensors
Does your home have inconsistent temperatures throughout? For example, does one room get cold or hotter than the others? If you struggle with inconsistent temperatures from room to room, it is likely driving up your energy usage and, in turn, your energy bills. To combat this, you may opt for a smart thermostat compatible with a separate room sensor. In conjunction with the room sensor, a smart thermostat can sense if there is an occupant in a particular room and adjust the temperature properly. In other words, if one room is warmer than the other during the summer, there is no need to run the AC to cool down the entire house – you can adjust different settings for each room in your home.
How Much Does a Smart Thermostat Cost?
So, how much does a smart thermostat cost? The price of a smart thermostat will largely depend on the make and model. More expensive smart thermostats can exceed $500, but they have more advanced features. Conversely, less costly smart thermostats often cost around $100 but don’t offer as many features. If you don’t know how to install a smart thermostat, you may need to hire a professional from Simply Air Conditioning Heating & Plumbing in Las Vegas to assist. You should factor such installation costs in when estimating the overall cost.
Reducing Your Energy Costs
If you are like most homeowners, you are probably interested in reducing your heating and cooling bills. The size of your bill can increase significantly during periods of extremely cold or hot weather, and often, they can be a shock. Since smart thermostats reduce the amount of energy you use, they can often reduce your electric bill over time. Smart thermostats don’t continually cause your AC or heat to run, so you may immediately notice a difference in your electric bill.
What to Consider When Shopping for a Smart Thermostat
What should you look for when shopping for a smart thermostat? One of the most important things to consider is what type of HVAC system you have. Many smart thermostats are incompatible with all kinds of HVAC systems, so you must double-check before purchasing. For example, you may need to buy separate thermostats if you have different heating and cooling units. If you have a zoned system, you will need to find an HVAC-zoned compatible thermostat. If you are unsure about a programmable thermostat, don’t hesitate to contact an HVAC professional for additional guidance.
Many smart thermostats can be integrated with your smart home system to respond to Alexa, Google Home, or Siri. Before making a final purchase, you should check whether the thermostat you want to buy is compatible with your smart home system. This will prevent you from making the wrong purchase.
Contact Us
Simply Air Conditioning Heating & Plumbing offers a wealth of services to homeowners. We offer AC, plumbing, and heating services, and we can even be reached during an emergency outside of normal hours. Our ultimate goal is to ensure your home’s HVAC system and plumbing operate efficiently and effectively. Contact Simply Air Conditioning Heating & Plumbing in Las Vegas today.