In 2019, nearly 1/3 of US consumers bought a smart product for their home. As technologies continue to improve and advance, the percentage of people who rely on smart home devices is likely to increase. One of the most popular and prevalent of these new gadgets are smart thermostats.

These energy-efficient devices work in much the same way as a traditional in-home thermostat. But smart thermostats connect to WiFi and can be controlled via smartphone apps. Some types of smart thermostats can even learn repetitive user behaviors. These types of thermostats need zero (direct) user input from users and instead, rely on collected data to decide when to heat and cool a home.

Still, the average smart thermostat costs anywhere between $200 and $300. And professional installation typically costs about $420. This begs the question—Are smart thermostats worth it?

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How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?

To understand how smart thermostats work, it’s helpful to start with traditional thermostats. Most homes already contain some type of heating and cooling system. A thermostat allows homeowners to adjust the dwelling’s temperature.

The thermostat uses internal sensors to detect the current temperature of the surrounding air. If there is a difference between the set temperature and the current temperature, the thermostat will react. It alerts the corresponding system to cool/heat the home’s air.

Contacting your local HVAC service provider can help answer any questions about these systems. Some smart thermostats aren’t compatible with some homes. Houses with both an air conditioning system and a furnace can be tricky. So, it’s always best to seek professional guidance before investing.

Are Smart Thermostats Worth It?

Smart thermostats can be more than worth it, for the right tenant or homeowner. They can help save money and energy, they can be completely customized to the user’s needs, and they can be controlled remotely.

Yet, smart thermostats may not be right for everyone. Read on to find out more.

Pros:

Here are some positive qualities of smart thermostats. These benefits may make switching to a smart system worthwhile for many homeowners.

Energy Savings

The average homeowner can expect to save around $180 each year by using a smart thermostat.

Convenient Customization

Users can adjust desired temperatures and even customize schedules based on their habits. This allows homes to remain comfortable and cool while people are present. When the inhabitants leave, the home can adjust to a predetermined “absent” temperature. This feature saves a reasonable amount of energy and money over time.

Worry-Free System

The smart thermostat can function on a user-set schedule. Or, it “learns” the habits of the users and generate an algorithmic temperature schedule. Either way, the result is the same: a worry-free system that affords tenants and homeowners a little peace of mind.

Cons:

A smart thermostat might not be right for everyone. This is especially true of tenants who rent.

Someone’s Got to Go

For a smart thermostat to function at peak efficiency, the home must be void of tenants for at least part of the day. Otherwise, the thermostat never gains the opportunity to adjust to a lower, less energy-consuming state. That is, of course, unless homeowners are willing to suffer through periods of slightly uncomfortable heat in the name of saving energy.

Nomads Might Not Benefit

Individuals who often move from home to home and those who rent may not benefit from installing a smart thermostat. After all, the thermostat is not going to travel from home to home. In addition, a landlord may not approve of the smart thermostat installation.

May Require Professional Installation

Complicated HVAC systems can be tricky to work with, with or without a smart thermostat. Before choosing a product, it’s important to contact a reputable service provider to ensure that your preferred thermostat functions with the pre-existing cooling and heating system. It’s important to remember the professional installation services can add several hundred dollars to the overall cost of a smart thermostat, though (due to compatibility concerns) there may be no way to avoid this.

Things to Look For in an Energy-Saving Thermostat

There are several features to look for when choosing a smart thermostat. Of course, the importance of each of these features is bound to vary from buyer to buyer. Price, capability, software style, and ease of installation are only a few things to consider before making a final purchasing decision.

Compatibility

First and foremost, it’s vital to choose a thermostat this is capable with the current system. Otherwise, homeowners can expect to spend several hundred dollars on complex compatibility work.

Price

The budget naturally restricts a buyer’s options, and those who don’t intend to remain in a particular home for a very long time may not want to invest in one of the more expensive models. $200 smart thermostats are incredibly common and popular, and they are often just as effective as the $500 models.

Software

Some smart thermostats allow users to adjust parameters and settings via a smartphone app. Others track the behaviors and patterns of tenants to formulate a software-generated schedule of heating and cooling. Of course, both of these types of software depend on at least some user interface and interaction.

Ease of Use

A tool is only as useful as the worker who wields it, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to smart devices. If homeowners are unfamiliar with smartphones or apps, they may be unable to successfully set home temperatures. Similarly, confusing user-interfaces can become frustrating for users, which is why it’s important to familiarize yourself with your preferred product’s app and system before making a final decision.

The Best Home Thermostat Is One That Works for You

The best WiFi thermostat is the one that best fits your budget, expectations, needs, and preferences. It’s also crucial to choose a smart thermostat that is compatible with your existed HVAC system. The ideal cooling and heating thermostat should be user-friendly, affordable, and practical.

Are smart thermostats worth it? That answer is: Absolutely! Contact our HVAC specialists today to discover which smart thermostats work best with your home!