Keeping your Manassas home comfortable can consume a big chunk of change. The average household spends about $172 on monthly heating and cooling bills, according to ENERGY STAR®, or about $2,060 yearly. At least half of that is consumed by heating and cooling.
Many homes rely on programmable thermostats, but many people don’t bother to program them. The process is bothersome, detailed and only offers you limited options for temperature settings. When your home remains at an unchanging temp throughout the day, it wastes utilities and adversely impacts your monthly costs.
Smart thermostats pick up on your day-to-day activities and regulate the temperatures to match it. But can getting one really save you money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.
Studies Show Smart Thermostats Decrease on Energy Expenses
Independent studies have found these devices can produce big 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 each year.
With the common smart thermostat priced between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats as 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 previous thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can learn about your desired settings. Then, it will start making a program that helps you conserve more money, whether you’re at home or out and about. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to think about adjusting it when you exit or come back.
Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Thermostat
Pros
As we talked about prior, smart thermostats give many benefits to your residence and energy expenses, like:
- No need to program—Your smart thermostat will learn your schedule, so you don’t have to spend time setting programs or remember to change.
- Knows when you get home and leave—As many smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your residence will move into an energy-efficient setting when you leave and be comfy when you return.
- Remote temperature management—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your residence’s settings from just about anyplace, on account of an app on your phone.
- Monitor heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats give great data through their app, including how long you needed heating and cooling on a particular day.
- Reminders—Some smart thermostats will let you know about essential maintenance tasks, including when it’s time to get a new air filter.
- Additional savings—The majority of local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for more information.
Cons
Having said that, there’s a couple of areas you should consider when thinking about getting a smart thermostat in your home:
- Compatibility—Based on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not work. If you’re unsure, it’s recommended to ask an HVAC professional like Air-Right Energy Design, Inc.. We also advise having it professionally installed. This guarantees that you have the right number of wires and that it’s linked correctly. Some systems don’t include a common wire, which results in compatibility troubles with a smart thermostat. This wire energizes your thermostat, so if your house doesn’t have a C-wire, we can put one in.
- Housing situation—If you own your residence and want to live there for years, it’s a smart investment to get a smart thermostat. If you plan to move soon or rent, we recommend delaying unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll typically need to secure your landlord’s permission first in advance of installing a new thermostat.
- Cost—Smart thermostats cost more than programmable thermostats, and we suggest 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 frequently at the house? If that’s your situation, you might not see as many savings, but you’ll have the benefits of not having to program or adjust a thermostat.
Trust Air-Right Energy Design, Inc. for Your Smart Thermostat Needs
At Air-Right Energy Design, Inc., our main priority is to keep your home cozy while helping you conserve more heating and cooling bills. If you’re thinking about installing a smart thermostat, our pros can help, from selecting the right model to expert installation. Contact us at 703-260-1148 today to learn more.