Keeping your Payson house comfortable can consume a good amount of money. The average family spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or about $2,060 annually. At least half of that goes to heating and cooling.
Most houses use programmable thermostats, but most people don’t bother to program them. The process is time-consuming, involved and only offers you a few options for temperature changes. When your residence is kept at an identical temp throughout the day, it wastes gas and electricity and adversely influences your monthly costs.
Smart thermostats adjust to your schedule and regulate the temperatures to coordinate it. But can getting one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Reduce on Heating and Cooling Bills
Independent studies have found these devices can produce major savings.
These studies included home utility costs in 41 states before and after adding a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study found its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an approximated savings of $131 to $145 annually.
With the average smart thermostat priced between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And the majority of local energy companies offer 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 any other thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your wants. Then, it will start developing a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at your residence or out and about. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to put it on your list to adjust it when you leave or come back.
Pros and Cons of Installing a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned before, smart thermostats give lots of advantages to your house and utility expenses, including:
- No need to adjust—Your smart thermostat will pick up on your routine, so you won’t need to spend time setting programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you come and go—Since many smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your house will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be comfortable when you get back.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to watch your residence’s temp from virtually anyplace, thanks to an app on your phone.
- Monitor heating and cooling use—Most smart thermostats give detailed data through their app, including how long you required heating and cooling on a specific day.
- Reminders—Certain smart thermostats will remind you of crucial maintenance tasks, like when you’re due to replace your air filter.
- Additional savings—Most local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for more info.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s several areas you should take into account when thinking about adding a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not function with it. If you’re not sure, it’s advisable to ask an HVAC specialist like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling. We also advise having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the right number of wires and that it’s connected properly. Some systems don’t have a common wire, which leads to compatibility problems with a smart thermostat. This wire energizes your thermostat, so if your residence doesn’t have a C-wire, we can put one in.
- Housing situation—If you own your residence and are planning to be there for years, it’s a smart investment to get a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move soon or rent, we suggest delaying unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often need to get your landlord’s permission first before putting in a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats cost more than programmable thermostats, and we suggest 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 have the convenience of not needing to program or adjust a thermostat.
Rely on North Mechanical Heating and Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At North Mechanical Heating and Cooling, our number one purpose is to keep your home comfy while helping you save on heating and cooling 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 928-263-8570 today to learn more.