Here’s How a Smart Thermostat Can Benefit Your Home

As with a conventional thermostat, a Smart Thermostat allows you to control the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in your home. However, a Smart Thermostat allows you to do this remotely from virtually any location via your mobile device. Additional features can also help you save energy and reduce your home’s heating and cooling costs. Read on to learn more about the benefits of switching over to a Smart Thermostat.

HVAC Compatibility

The first thing to do when shopping for a Smart Thermostat is to make sure it’s compatible with your home’s HVAC system. Not all thermostats will work with every type of system, and some HVAC systems may even require a Smart Thermostat from a specific manufacturer. Check the compatibility information on the product label or website before making a purchase.

Smart Thermostat Features

Smart thermostats, also called Wi-Fi thermostats, can vary in price depending on the features they include and how easily they can integrate with other smart technology in your home. Look for the features that will work best for your home and lifestyle.

Remote Control

Your Smart Thermostat will include a mobile app that gives you complete climate control of your home no matter where you’re located. In winter you can keep the heat low all day to save energy, then turn it up before arriving home. You can do the same with your AC in the summer. Your Smart Thermostat can communicate with your mobile device through your local Wi-Fi network, or through your home’s existing network hub. If your Wi-Fi is spotty, consider investing in a range extender or Wi-Fi mesh technology to improve the signal throughout your home.

Voice Control

All Smart Thermostats come with a voice control feature, and most newer models are compatible with popular voice technologies like Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. This allows you to make conversational commands. For example, instead of pausing a movie to manually turn up the heat, you can request it from the comfort of your couch.

Smart Response Technology

One of the most innovative aspects of a Smart Thermostat is smart response technology. This allows the device to monitor and learn your behaviors and create a temperature schedule around your patterns. This automated feature removes some of the burdens of climate control from you and your family.

Geofencing

A thermostat with geofencing technology uses the location data on your smartphone to help you conserve energy. The thermostat will automatically adjust the temperature when you’re away from home or close to returning. It’s a great benefit if various members of the family keep irregular hours. However, if everyone is on a set schedule you may want to skip this feature.

Smart Alerts & Notifications

Smart alerts can let you know if there’s a sudden change in temperature in your home. This could be due to a door left ajar, a broken window, or a maintenance issue with your HVAC system. Notifications are also useful. For example, you can receive reminders that let you know it’s time to change your furnace filters.

Insight Reports

Your Smart Thermostat takes in a lot of usage, consumption, and temperature data. You can use this information to better manage both your thermostat and your HVAC equipment.

Smart Temperature Sensors

Many Smart Thermostats can work with temperature or room sensors to better regulate your home’s temperature. Room sensors can be a real benefit in older homes that have inconsistent airflow, where some areas get more or less heating and cooling than others. By placing sensors in specific rooms your Smart Thermostat can use the temperature readings from each room and adjust the heating and cooling accordingly.

Smart Home Integration

If you already have other Smart Home devices you should look for a Smart Thermostat that is compatible with your current set up. This allows you to control all your smart devices from one app, including Smart Lighting, Smart Switches & Outlets, Smart Locks and your Smart Home Security System.

Smart Thermostat Installation

Before installing your Smart Thermostat, take a good look at the existing wiring. In fact, it’s a good idea to take a picture of the wiring so you refer back to see how everything is connected. In addition to the two standard low-voltage wires, many Smart Thermostats also need to be connected to a common wire, or “C-wire”, for continuous power. Not every model requires a C-wire, and some models may include power adapters or extenders that let you add a C-wire to your system. In general, here’s the steps to follow:

1. Turn off the electricity to the thermostat on your circuit breaker.

2. Remove the old thermostat.

3. Look for a wire labelled “C-wire” on the panel behind your existing thermostat. 

4. If you don’t see it, check for a wire labelled “C-wire” inside your furnace. 

5. If present there, it likely means the C-Wire is just hidden from view and can be accessed in the wall behind the thermostat panel. 

6. Once you’ve located the C-wire you can install the new wall plate, connect the wires, mount your new Smart Thermostat, and turn the power back on. 

7. If you can’t find your C-wire either behind the wall or inside the furnace, you may not have one. In this case you should consult a qualified HVAC professional, or find a smart thermostat model that will work without one.

If you’re thinking about turning your home into a Smart Home, a Smart Thermostat is a great place to start. Installation is relatively easy, and with heating and cooling costs on the rise it’s a good way to lower your monthly expenses.