Keeping your Menomonie and western Wisconsin home comfy can eat up a good amount of money. The usual homeowner spends about $172 on monthly energy expenses, according to ENERGY STAR®, or around $2,060 yearly. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
Most residences have programmable thermostats, but the majority of people don’t take the trouble to use them properly. The process is annoying, complicated and only gives you a couple of options for temperature settings. When your residence remains at an identical temperature throughout the day, it wastes energy and adversely influences your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats learn from your day-to-day activities and adapt the temp to match it. But can getting one really conserve money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Energy Expenses
Independent studies have determined these devices can result in big savings.
These studies included home energy bills in 41 states before and after putting in a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study showed its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, generating an average savings of $131 to $145 each year.
With the average smart thermostat costing between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many 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 put in, you’ll at first program it just like your old thermostat. You’ll turn it up and down, so the thermostat can figure out your wants. Then, it will begin creating a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at home or away. As it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to remember to adjust it when you exit or return.
Pros and Cons of Using a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we mentioned prior, smart thermostats offer lots of perks to your residence and heating and cooling bill, including:
- No need to set—Your smart thermostat will learn your activities, so you don’t have to spend time setting programs or remember to adjust it.
- Knows when you arrive and take off—Since lots of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will go into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be comfy when you get back.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to watch your residence’s temperature from nearly any location, thanks to an app on your phone.
- Monitor heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats provide valuable data through their app, such as how long you needed heating and cooling on a specific day.
- Reminders—Certain smart thermostats will remind you of essential maintenance tasks, including when it’s time to replace 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 points you should take into account when thinking about installing a smart thermostat in your house:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not function with it. If you don’t know, it’s recommended to contact an HVAC professional like Halverson Brothers Inc. We also suggest having it professionally installed. This confirms that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s linked right. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which causes compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire energizes your thermostat, so if your home doesn’t have a C-wire, we can install one.
- Housing situation—If you own your residence and want to be there for many years, it’s a good investment to have a smart thermostat. If you’re thinking about moving in the next year or rent, we suggest waiting unless you want to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often need to have your landlord’s permission first prior to getting a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are pricier 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 that’s the case, you might not see as large of savings, but you’ll get the perks of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.
Depend on Halverson Brothers Inc for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Halverson Brothers Inc, our top goal is to keep your home pleasant while helping you conserve more heating and cooling costs. If you’re wanting to install a smart thermostat, our specialists can help, from selecting the best model to expert installation. Give us a call at 715-352-4052 today to learn more.