Have you been thinking about a thermostat upgrade? Today, there is a lot of talk about smart devices. But, what is a smart thermostat and how does it work? Moreover, does a smart thermostat have any advantages over more traditional past versions?
Your home’s thermostat is a critical component of your heating and cooling system. If it is damaged, it can cause your system to run improperly or not at all. However, it is also something that homeowners rarely put much thought into. We typically just set it and forget it.
A smart thermostat is a device connected to your home’s network, with access to the internet. It can be used by itself or as part of a complete home automation system. Nevertheless, a smart thermostat will allow you to access your home’s heating and cooling system from anywhere in the world, usually through an app on your phone.
A basic version of a smart thermostat will simply connect to WiFi, empowering you to raise or lower the temperature from anywhere in your home. There are no dials or remote control. All you need to do is download an app to your phone. However, more advanced smart thermostats will actually learn your habits and preferences, making automatic adjustments accordingly.
Additionally, as part of a home automation system, there may be even more advanced features. For example, you can set your home’s temperature any time get close to home, using the GPS in your phone. Or, it can automatically adjust the indoor temperature anytime the outside temperature rises or drops past a certain point. If the home has motion detection, the thermostat can override the device’s programming, and set the temperature accordingly.
Overall, a smart thermostat may be a good investment for those still using older thermostats or those with busy schedules and need to make changes on-the-fly. Your heating and cooling system is the number one consumer of energy in the home. A smart thermostat has the potential to create significant energy savings by ensuring your system is not running on high when your not home, but also providing superior home comfort.
What haven’t we covered yet that is important to you? If you would like to talk about smart thermostats or a related topic, please contact us.