Keeping your Rock Hill residence cozy can eat up a good amount of money. The usual household spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling bills, according to ENERGY STAR®, or approximately $2,060 each year. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
Most residences use programmable thermostats, but the majority of people don’t take the trouble to program them. The process is annoying, detailed and only offers you a few options for temperature settings. When your residence stays at an identical temperature throughout the day, it wastes energy and adversely impacts your monthly bill.
Smart thermostats adjust to your day-to-day activities and adapt the settings to accompany it. But can having one really help you spend less money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Save on Energy Bills
Independent studies have found these devices can result in large savings.
These studies included home energy expenses in 41 states before and after adding a Nest smart thermostat. Nest said the study showed its thermostats can save up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling, producing an approximated savings of $131 to $145 annually.
With the common smart thermostat costing 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 program it just like your previous thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your desired settings. Then, it will start creating a program that helps you spend less money, whether you’re at your residence or away. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you exit or come home.
Pros and Cons of Getting a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about before, smart thermostats give lots of perks to your home and heating and cooling bill, like:
- No need to set—Your smart thermostat will learn your activities, so you won’t be required to spend time setting 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 home will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you take off and be comfy when you get back.
- Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your house’s settings from nearly any location, because of an app on your phone.
- Watch heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats offer valuable data through their app, including how long you used heating and cooling on a certain day.
- Reminders—Certain smart thermostats will remind you of essential maintenance tasks, such as when it’s time to replace your air filter.
- Added savings—Most local energy companies provide rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for details.
Cons
Having said that, there’s a couple of areas you should take into account regarding adding a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Depending on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not function with it. If you’re unsure, it’s recommended to check with an HVAC professional like US Air Heating and Cooling. We also suggest having it professionally installed. This confirms that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s hooked up correctly. Some systems don’t come with a common wire, which causes compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire runs your thermostat, so if your residence doesn’t have a C-wire, we can install one.
- Housing situation—If you own your home and plan to live there for years, it’s a wise investment to have a smart thermostat. If you’re thinking about moving soon or rent, we suggest holding back unless you want to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll often need to get your landlord’s permission first prior to getting a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats are more expensive than programmable thermostats, and we suggest 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 often at the house? If that’s the case, 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 US Air Heating and Cooling for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At US Air Heating and Cooling, our top priority is to keep your residence cozy while helping you spend less energy costs. If you’re wanting to install a smart thermostat, our specialists can help, from choosing the best model to expert installation. Call us at 803-220-0761 today to learn more.