Keeping your Des Moines home comfy can eat up a lot of money. The average household spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 each year. At least half of that goes to heating and cooling.
Most houses have programmable thermostats, but many people don’t take the trouble to use them properly. The process is annoying, involved and only provides you a few options for desired temperatures. When your house stays at an identical setting throughout the day, it consumes utilities and adversely impacts your monthly expenses.
Smart thermostats adjust to your schedule and regulate the temp to match it. But can having one really conserve money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Energy Bills
Independent studies have determined these devices can produce big savings.
These studies involved home heating and cooling bills in 41 states before and after adding a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study showed its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an approximated savings of $131 to $145 each year.
With the common smart thermostat priced between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And most local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats because they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is installed, you’ll at first program it just like your previous thermostat. You’ll switch it up and down, so the thermostat can determine your wants. Then, it will begin developing a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at your residence or gone. As it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you exit or come back.
Pros and Cons of Getting a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we covered before, smart thermostats offer many benefits to your residence and energy costs, including:
- No need to adjust—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your routine, so you don’t have to waste time setting programs or remember to adjust it.
- Knows when you get home and take off—As many smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you go and be comfortable when you get back.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your residence’s settings from virtually anyplace, due to an app on your phone.
- Watch heating and cooling use—Most smart thermostats provide detailed data through their app, including how long you required heating and cooling on a specific day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will alert you to crucial maintenance tasks, like when it’s time to replace your air filter.
- Added savings—The majority of local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats, so check with yours for more info.
Cons
However, there’s several things you should contemplate when considering installing a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not be compatible. If you’re unsure, it’s advisable to ask an HVAC pro like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s connected accurately. Some systems don’t have 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 add one.
- Housing situation—If you own your home and want to reside there for years, it’s a wise investment to get a smart thermostat. If you’re planning to move soon or rent, we advise holding back unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often need to have your landlord’s permission first ahead of getting 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 often at the house? If that’s your situation, you might not see as big of savings, but you’ll have the benefits of not needing to program or adjust a thermostat.
Trust Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling, our main goal is to keep your home pleasant while helping you spend less utility costs. If you’re wanting to install a smart thermostat, our professionals can help, from choosing the ideal model to expert installation. Contact us at 515-207-6569 today to learn more.