Keeping your Florissant home cozy can consume a good amount of money. A typical homeowner spends about $172 on monthly energy bills, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 each year. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
Most houses rely on programmable thermostats, but many people don’t take the time to use them properly. The process is annoying, complicated and only offers you a couple of options for temperature settings. When your residence stays at the same temperature throughout the day, it consumes utilities and adversely impacts your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats learn from your day-to-day activities and modify the temp to accompany it. But can getting one really save you money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Heating and Cooling Bills
Independent studies have found these devices can produce major savings.
These studies involved home heating and cooling costs in 41 states before and after installing a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study showed its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, resulting in 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 most local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats since they’re ENERGY STAR® certified.
How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?
After your smart thermostat is installed, you’ll first use it just like your old thermostat. You’ll switch it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your needs. Then, it will get to work creating a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at your house or gone. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to remember to adjust it when you go or come back.
Pros and Cons of Using a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about before, smart thermostats give a lot of pluses to your home and heating and cooling costs, like:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will adjust to your schedule, so you don’t have to use up time adjusting programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you get home and go—As lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will go into an energy-efficient setting when you leave and be comfortable when you get back.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to watch your home’s temperature from just about any location, because of an app on your phone.
- Monitor heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats give great data through their app, like how long you needed heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Some smart thermostats will remind you of essential maintenance tasks, like when you’re due to change your air filter.
- Added savings—Many local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for details.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a few things you should consider when considering adding a smart thermostat in your residence:
- Compatibility—Subject to the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you don’t know, it’s recommended to ask an HVAC specialist like B & B Heating & Cooling. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This confirms that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s connected correctly. Some systems don’t have a common wire, which creates compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire powers 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 plan to live there for many years, it’s a smart investment to install a smart thermostat. If you plan to move shortly or rent, we suggest waiting unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll typically need to get your landlord’s permission first in advance of adding 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 so, you might not see as big of savings, but you’ll get the perks of not needing to program or adjust a thermostat.
Trust B & B Heating & Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At B & B Heating & Cooling, our number one goal is to keep your home cozy while helping you save on energy expenses. If you’re wanting to install a smart thermostat, our pros can help, from picking the ideal model to expert installation. Contact us at 314-325-7552 today to learn more.