Keeping your Port St. Lucie house comfy can eat up a big chunk of change. The average household spends about $172 on monthly utility expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or around $2,060 each year. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
Most residences rely on programmable thermostats, but the majority of people don’t take the trouble to set them. The process is bothersome, involved and only gives you a few options for desired temperatures. When your residence is kept at an unchanging temp throughout the day, it requires gas and electricity and negatively affects your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats learn from your day-to-day activities and adapt the temp to accompany it. But can installing one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Utility Expenses
Independent studies have determined these devices can result in large savings.
These studies included home heating and cooling bills in 41 states before and after installing a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study found its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an average savings of $131 to $145 annually.
With the common smart thermostat running between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats as they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is installed, you’ll initially program it just like your previous thermostat. You’ll switch it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your desired settings. Then, it will start creating a program that helps you conserve more money, whether you’re at home or gone. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to put it on your list to adjust it when you leave or get back.
Pros and Cons of Installing a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned before, smart thermostats provide many perks to your home and heating and cooling bill, including:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will learn your routine, so you won’t need to spend time using programs or remember to change.
- Knows when you get home and take off—As a lot of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your house will go into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be comfortable when you get back.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your residence’s settings from nearly any location, because of an app on your phone.
- Watch heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats give in-depth data through their app, including how long you used heating and cooling on a certain day.
- Reminders—Select smart thermostats will let you know about essential maintenance tasks, like when it’s time to get a new air filter.
- Added savings—Most local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so call with yours for more info.
Cons
Having said that, there’s a few areas you should consider when considering adding a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Subject to the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not function with it. If you’re unsure, it’s advisable to contact an HVAC pro like Custom Air Systems Inc. We also advise having it professionally installed. This confirms that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s connected right. Some systems don’t have a common wire, which leads to compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire runs your thermostat, so if your house doesn’t have a C-wire, we can put one in.
- Housing situation—If you own your home and plan to reside there for a long time, it’s a wise investment to have a smart thermostat. If you plan to move soon or rent, we advise waiting unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to secure your landlord’s permission first before installing a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats cost more than programmable thermostats, and we recommend 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 regularly at the house? If that’s your situation, you might not see as many savings, but you’ll get the benefits of not having to program or adjust a thermostat.
Trust Custom Air Systems Inc for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Custom Air Systems Inc, our top goal is to keep your home comfortable while helping you conserve more utility bills. If you’re considering installing a smart thermostat, our specialists can help, from picking the right model to expert installation. Call us at 772-247-2283 today to learn more.