Keeping your Siloam Springs home comfortable can eat up a big chunk of change. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly energy costs, according to ENERGY STAR®, or about $2,060 each year. At least half of that goes to heating and cooling.
Many residences use programmable thermostats, but most people don’t bother to use them properly. The process is annoying, detailed and only provides you a couple of options for desired temperatures. When your house is kept at the same temperature throughout the day, it requires gas and electricity and badly influences your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats pick up on your routine and adjust the settings to accompany it. But can installing one really conserve money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Save on Heating and Cooling Bills
Independent studies show these devices can lead to large savings.
These studies included home heating and cooling bills in 41 states before and after putting in a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study found its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, resulting in an estimated savings of $131 to $145 yearly.
With the typical smart thermostat costing between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many 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 put in, you’ll at first use it just like any other thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your needs. Then, it will get to work creating a program that helps you save money, whether you’re at home or gone. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you go or come back.
Pros and Cons of Using a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned before, smart thermostats provide lots of perks to your house and heating and cooling bill, like:
- No need to set—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your activities, so you don’t have to use up time adjusting programs or remember to change.
- Knows when you arrive and go—As lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will move into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be comfortable when you arrive.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to see your residence’s temp from nearly anyplace, thanks to an app on your phone.
- Supervise heating and cooling use—The majority of smart thermostats provide detailed data through their app, including how long you required heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Some smart thermostats will let you know about essential maintenance tasks, such as when it’s time to change your air filter.
- Additional savings—The majority of local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for more information.
Cons
Having said that, there’s a couple of things you should take into account when thinking about adding a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not be compatible. If you’re not sure, it’s best to contact an HVAC specialist like Siloam Springs Heating & AC. We also advise having it professionally installed. This ensures that you have the proper number of wires and that it’s linked correctly. Some systems don’t have a common wire, which creates 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 residence and plan to be there for years, it’s a wise investment to install a smart thermostat. If you’re thinking about moving in the next year or rent, we suggest delaying unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often need to secure your landlord’s permission first before putting in a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats cost more than programmable thermostats, and we recommend having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over the years 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 convenience of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on Siloam Springs Heating & AC for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Siloam Springs Heating & AC, our number one priority is to keep your home comfy while helping you conserve more energy bills. If you’re considering installing a smart thermostat, our pros can help, from selecting the ideal model to expert installation. Contact us at 479-308-8176 today to learn more.