Keeping your Albuquerque house cozy can eat up a lot of money. The average household spends about $172 on monthly utility bills, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 annually. At least half of that is for heating and cooling.
The majority of houses have programmable thermostats, but most people don’t take the trouble to program them. The process is time-consuming, complicated and only gives you limited options for temperature changes. When your residence is kept at an identical temperature throughout the day, it requires energy and adversely influences your monthly expenses.
Smart thermostats learn from your schedule and adapt the temp to accompany it. But can using one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Energy Bills
Independent studies show these devices can result in big savings.
These studies used home utility expenses in 41 states before and after adding a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study determined its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an average savings of $131 to $145 yearly.
With the average smart thermostat costing between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats since they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is installed, you’ll at first set it just like your old thermostat. You’ll switch it up and down, so the thermostat can determine your wants. Then, it will start developing a program that helps you save money, whether you’re at your residence or gone. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to put it on your list to adjust it when you go or come home.
Pros and Cons of Getting a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about previously, smart thermostats offer lots of benefits to your residence and heating and cooling costs, like:
- No need to adjust—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your routine, so you won’t need to spend time setting programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you arrive and leave—Because a lot of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your home will move into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be cozy when you return.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to see your home’s settings from virtually anywhere, due to an app on your phone.
- Supervise heating and cooling use—Most smart thermostats offer valuable data through their app, including how long you used heating and cooling on a certain day.
- Reminders—Certain smart thermostats will let you know about critical maintenance tasks, including when you need to get a new air filter.
- Additional savings—The majority of local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for more info.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a couple of areas you should contemplate when thinking about getting a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Subject to the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not be compatible. If you’re not sure, it’s recommended to check with an HVAC pro like I-Deal HVAC. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This confirms that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s hooked up accurately. Some systems don’t include a common wire, which results in compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire runs your thermostat, so if your residence doesn’t have a C-wire, we can put one in.
- Housing situation—If you own your home and want to reside there for many years, it’s a smart investment to have a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move soon or rent, we recommend waiting unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to secure your landlord’s permission first prior to adding a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are pricier than programmable thermostats, and we suggest 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 often at the house? If that’s the case, you might not see as big of savings, but you’ll get the perks of not needing to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on I-Deal HVAC for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At I-Deal HVAC, our main priority is to keep your house cozy while helping you spend less heating and cooling bills. If you’re thinking about installing a smart thermostat, our specialists can help, from picking the ideal model to expert installation. Give us a call at 505-445-1250 today to learn more.