Keeping your Chelan and Wenatchee residence cozy can eat up a lot of money. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling bills, according to ENERGY STAR®, or around $2,060 yearly. At least half of that is for heating and cooling.
Most residences use programmable thermostats, but most people don’t bother to set them. The process is time-consuming, complicated and only gives you a couple of options for temperature settings. When your residence stays at the same temperature throughout the day, it requires energy and adversely influences your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats learn from your schedule and adapt the temperatures to accompany it. But can having one really save you money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Reduce on Heating and Cooling Bills
Independent studies show these devices can lead to major savings.
These studies included home heating and cooling expenses in 41 states before and after installing a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study determined 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 common smart thermostat running between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And most local energy companies offer 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 initially set it just like your old thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can figure out your needs. Then, it will start creating a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at your residence or gone. Since it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you go or get back.
Pros and Cons of Installing a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned before, smart thermostats give lots of pluses to your home and heating and cooling bill, including:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will learn your routine, so you won’t be required to waste time setting programs or remember to turn it up or down.
- Knows when you get home and leave—Since lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will go into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be cozy when you get back.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to see your house’s temperature from just about anyplace, thanks to an app on your phone.
- Watch heating and cooling use—Most smart thermostats give valuable data through their app, like how long you required heating and cooling on a specific day.
- Reminders—Some smart thermostats will alert you to critical maintenance tasks, including when you need to replace your air filter.
- Extra savings—Most local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for more info.
Cons
In spite of that, there’s a few things you should consider regarding adding a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Based on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you don’t know, it’s best to check with an HVAC pro like Lakeside Heating & Air. We also advise having it professionally installed. This ensures 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 problems with a smart thermostat. This wire energizes your thermostat, so if your house doesn’t have a C-wire, we can install one.
- Housing situation—If you own your house and are planning to be there for a long time, it’s a wise investment to get a smart thermostat. If you plan to move soon or rent, we recommend holding back unless you will take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to have your landlord’s permission first before adding a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are more expensive 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 big of savings, but you’ll enjoy the perks of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on Lakeside Heating & Air for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Lakeside Heating & Air, our top goal is to keep your home comfy while helping you spend less energy expenses. If you’re considering installing a smart thermostat, our pros can help, from selecting the ideal model to expert installation. Contact us at 509-284-4265 today to learn more.