Thermostats today are so much more than simple control panels for your heating and air conditioning system. Wi-fi thermostats, also known as smart thermostats, are the new HVAC kids on the block. These incredible products give you total control over your temperature and your energy expenditure. Some models can even remind you when it’s time to change your furnace filter.
Whether you already have a Wi-Fi thermostat and want to get the best from it or you’re considering upgrading to one in the near future, we give you the lowdown here. From remotely controlling your HVAC system to tracking energy use, these smart devices give you complete control and visibility over home heating and cooling. Let’s take a look at the benefits!
Reasons to Choose a Smart Thermostat For Your Home
A traditional thermostat allows you to change the temperature in your home via a switch or control panel on your wall. They work well and give you a degree of control over your heating and cooling. Smart thermostats, on the other hand, allow you to control so much more.
Control Your Thermostat From Your Phone
Smart thermostats allow you to monitor and control your thermostat(s) from your phone or tablet. From setting schedules and changing the temperature to viewing past historical heating and cooling data, you can do it all from your mobile device. Want to turn up the heating before you come home or monitor the temperature in your home while you’re on vacation? A smart thermostat helps you do that. It puts you in full control.
Great Tool if You Have Tenants
By remotely accessing the thermostat, you can help ensure your tenants are kept at a comfortable temperature. You willl be able to see what temperature the tenants set the temperature and at what time of the day. You can also set and program the temperature remotely. Some apps even have the ability to send you alerts if there’s any HVAC equipment issues such as the need to change the furnace filter or the HVAC equipment stops working. Overall, you’ll have better peace of mind.
Get Access to App-Based Scheduling
In addition to remote control with your mobile phone, smart thermostats allow you to set heating and cooling schedules directly from the app. Not only is this easier than setting schedules on a manual thermostat, but it also allows for more in-depth and precise temperature management.
Enjoy Serious Energy Savings
Smart thermostats are informative and highly accurate. They allow you to see when and where you use your heating and cooling and to make precise adjustments that could save you money. In fact, the average Energy Star smart thermostat could save you 8% on your heating and cooling costs every year. When coupled with an energy-efficient HVAC system, there are some serious savings to be made.
Clever Sensors and Built-In Learning
Some Wi-Fi thermostats are fitted with movement sensors. These detect when people are up and active in the household and when you go out. Armed with this data, your thermostat can adjust your schedule accordingly or present the data to you so that you can set schedules manually.
Track Energy Use
Another great thing about smart thermostats is that some will allow you to track how much energy you are using. Using the app, you can pull up energy reports that show you how your energy usage changes over time. For example, it’s quite handy to see the difference in heating and cooling usage throughout the year and across the seasons. Your app may also give you tips on how to adjust temperatures to save money.
Temperature Visibility at a Glance
Smart thermostats also give you clear temperature visibility at a glance and often without needing to press a single button. The Ecobee thermostat, for example, has a movement sensor that displays the temperature on the screen whenever you approach it or walk past. That means no more trying to read LED screens in low light or accessing different menus simply to see what temperature you are at.
Integration With Other Smart Devices
More and more smart devices are being launched on the market every year. This is great news for smart thermostat owners. From smart humidifiers to Wi-Fi air purifiers, many smart thermostats will be able to control them all. A connected HVAC system can make such a difference to your home comfort and your energy costs.
Voice Control Integration
Do you own a home assistant such as Amazon’s Echo or Google’s Home Assistant? These devices, once connected to your smart thermostat, allow you to control your heating and cooling with your voice. Simply give a voice command and your home assistant will contact your thermostat to make the change.
Get Smart With Your Home Comfort
If you’d love an easy way to control and track your energy usage and costs, speak to our team today about smart home thermostats. We can arrange installation and connection to your existing HVAC systems. If you’re also looking to upgrade your HVAC system, we can provide you with an estimate for HVAC and smart thermostat installation at the same time. Speak to our Pinnacle Group team today to find out more!