Keeping your Rockford residence comfortable can eat up a good amount of money. The average homeowner spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling costs, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 annually. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
The majority of residences have programmable thermostats, but most people don’t take the time to use them properly. The process is bothersome, detailed and only provides you limited options for temperature changes. When your house stays at an identical setting throughout the day, it requires gas and electricity and adversely impacts your monthly costs.
Smart thermostats adjust to your schedule and adapt the temp to accompany it. But can using one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Reduce on Utility Costs
Independent studies show these devices can produce big savings.
These studies included home energy expenses in 41 states before and after putting in a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study showed its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an average savings of $131 to $145 annually.
With the average smart thermostat priced between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many 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 program it just like any other thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can determine your wants. Then, it will begin developing a program that helps you conserve more money, whether you’re at your house or out and about. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you leave or get back.
Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned prior, smart thermostats provide a lot of advantages to your home and energy costs, like:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will learn your routine, so you won’t need to spend time adjusting programs or remember to adjust it.
- Knows when you arrive and take off—Since many smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will move into an energy-efficient setting when you go and be cozy when you get back.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to watch your home’s temperature from just about anyplace, due to an app on your phone.
- Monitor heating and cooling use—Most smart thermostats provide valuable data through their app, including how long you used heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Certain smart thermostats will alert you to important maintenance tasks, like when it’s time to get a new air filter.
- Added savings—Most local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for details.
Cons
Having said that, there’s several things you should contemplate regarding adding a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Based on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you’re not sure, it’s best to ask an HVAC pro like Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, Inc. We also suggest having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s hooked up properly. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which creates compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire powers your thermostat, so if your house doesn’t have a C-wire, we can install one.
- Housing situation—If you own your house and want to live there for many years, it’s a smart investment to install a smart thermostat. If you plan to move soon or rent, we recommend delaying unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often 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 advise having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over the years can help pay for itself.
- Lifestyle—Does a family member work from home, or is someone often 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.
Rely on Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, Inc for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling, Inc, our number one purpose is to keep your house pleasant while helping you conserve more utility expenses. If you’re thinking about installing a smart thermostat, our specialists can help, from picking the best model to expert installation. Call us at (815)914-6197 today to learn more.