Keeping your Magnolia house comfortable can eat up a lot of money. The usual homeowner spends about $172 on monthly energy bills, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 yearly. At least half of that is for heating and cooling.
Many homes use programmable thermostats, but the majority of people don’t take the time to program them. The process is time-consuming, complicated and only offers you a couple of options for temperature settings. When your residence remains at an unchanging temperature throughout the day, it consumes utilities and negatively influences your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats adjust to your routine and change the settings to match it. But can having one really conserve money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Save on Utility Bills
Independent studies have determined these devices can produce major savings.
These studies included home heating and cooling expenses in 41 states before and after installing a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study determined its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, producing an approximated savings of $131 to $145 yearly.
With the common smart thermostat costing between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And most local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats since they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is ready to go, you’ll first set it just like your previous thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can determine your needs. Then, it will begin making a program that helps you conserve more money, whether you’re at home or out and about. As it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you go or get back.
Pros and Cons of Using a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about previously, smart thermostats give lots of perks to your house and utility expenses, like:
- No need to adjust—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your activities, so you won’t need to spend time setting programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you get home and take off—Since lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your house will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be cozy when you get back.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to watch your residence’s settings from virtually any location, on account of an app on your phone.
- Monitor heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats provide in-depth data through their app, like how long you used heating and cooling on a specific day.
- Reminders—Certain smart thermostats will let you know about important maintenance tasks, like when you’re due to put in a new air filter.
- Additional savings—Many local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats, so check with yours for more information.
Cons
However, there’s a couple of things you should contemplate when considering installing a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Subject to the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you don’t know, it’s advisable to contact an HVAC pro like JTech Mechanical. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This confirms that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s linked accurately. Some systems don’t include a common wire, which leads to compatibility problems 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 home and are planning to reside there for years, it’s a smart investment to have a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move in the next year or rent, we recommend delaying unless you want to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll typically need to get your landlord’s permission first ahead of adding a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are more expensive 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 frequently at the house? If that’s your situation, you might not see as large of savings, but you’ll enjoy the benefits of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Rely on JTech Mechanical for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At JTech Mechanical, our top goal is to keep your house comfy while helping you conserve more energy bills. If you’re thinking about installing a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from choosing the ideal model to expert installation. Contact us at 281-231-8768 today to learn more.