Keeping your Front Royal residence comfy can consume a lot of money. The average homeowner spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling costs, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 yearly. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
Most residences have programmable thermostats, but most people don’t bother to program them. The process is annoying, complicated and only provides you a few options for temperature settings. When your house stays at the same setting throughout the day, it consumes gas and electricity and badly impacts your monthly expenses.
Smart thermostats learn from your routine and adjust the settings to coordinate it. But can installing one really conserve money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Reduce on Utility Expenses
Independent studies show these devices can result in major savings.
These studies involved home utility expenses in 41 states before and after putting in a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study found its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, resulting in an approximated savings of $131 to $145 each year.
With the common smart thermostat running between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats as they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is installed, you’ll initially program it just like your previous thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your desired settings. Then, it will begin making a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at your house or away. As it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to put it on your list to adjust it when you leave or get back.
Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned prior, smart thermostats offer lots of pluses to your house and heating and cooling bill, such as:
- No need to set—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your routine, so you won’t be required to waste time adjusting programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you come and leave—Because a lot of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will go into an energy-efficient setting when you leave and be comfy when you arrive.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your house’s temp from nearly anyplace, because of an app on your phone.
- Watch heating and cooling use—Most smart thermostats provide detailed data through their app, like how long you used heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will remind you of important maintenance tasks, like when you’re due to get a new air filter.
- Added savings—The majority of local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for more info.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a few areas you should consider when considering adding a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Subject to the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you’re unsure, it’s advisable to contact an HVAC pro like Dave's Diversified Services. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This ensures that you have the right number of wires and that it’s connected right. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which results in compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire powers your thermostat, so if your home doesn’t have a C-wire, we can install one.
- Housing situation—If you own your house and want to reside there for a long time, it’s a smart investment to install a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move soon or rent, we advise waiting unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often need to secure your landlord’s permission first prior to putting in a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are more expensive than programmable thermostats, and we advise having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over time can help pay for itself.
- Lifestyle—Does a family member work from home, or is someone frequently at the house? If so, you might not see as many savings, but you’ll have the convenience of not needing to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on Dave's Diversified Services for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Dave's Diversified Services, our main purpose is to keep your house comfortable while helping you spend less heating and cooling bills. If you’re considering installing a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from selecting the right model to expert installation. Give us a call at 540-636-3396 today to learn more.