Keeping your home comfortable isn’t always easy. Between changing seasons, daily activities, and the occasional major event such as a house show or wedding, you’ll likely change your thermostat multiple times throughout the year. Each setting change might take only a few minutes, but by the end of the year, you may have spent days waiting for your HVAC system to do its thing.
Fortunately, there’s a solution to this steady waste of time: a smart thermostat. Learning how smart thermostats work and whether you should get one of your own is the first step toward saving time and money.
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How Do Smart Thermostats Work?
A smart thermostat is an electronic device that pairs with most central HVAC systems to automate their functions. This automation means you can set your home’s temperature directly from your smartphone or another electronic device instead of manually adjusting the thermostat each time. The thermostat uses your phone’s location to determine when you’re away from home, and it will automatically adjust the temperature to save energy.
It might sound like a frivolous purchase, but over time, a smart thermostat can save you quite a bit of money on your energy bill.
Features of Smart Thermostats
A smart thermostat adapts to your home’s activity using temperature transmitters and proximity sensors. It will start cooling or heating as soon as you walk in the door and stop when no one is active in the room.
Some smart thermostats also save energy by adjusting their settings based on your habits, including when you typically leave for work and come home. Additionally, you can configure these devices to respond to preprogrammed commands and external events. For example, you can set your thermostat to raise the temperature at 8:00 a.m. on a Monday or lower it when the local weather forecast predicts rain.
Certain smart thermostats also have additional features that make them unique from one another, including touch screens, voice control capabilities, and learning algorithms.
Should I Get One?
The real question at hand: Is a smart thermostat really for you? The benefits of using one may outweigh the cost of buying one if you live in an area with severe weather or if your home has less-than-ideal insulation. If your utility bills are high, the initial investment may be worth it, saving you money in the long run. Ultimately, only you can decide if a smart thermostat is right for your home. Take some time to figure out exactly how much energy this device could save you.
A smart thermostat might sound like an unnecessary purchase, but it could save you time and money in the long run. The option to control your home’s temperature from anywhere means you can avoid waiting for the HVAC to catch up and adjust your home’s climate based on your daily habits. Run the numbers and decide if one of these smart thermostat devices is suitable for your home.
