The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends dialing back your thermostat before going to bed in winter and raising your preferred temperature before turning in in summer. Even adjustments of just two to three degrees can save homeowners lots of cash. This same method also works when leaving home for work, school, or other outings.
Smart thermostats cut home energy bills by allowing for optimum temperature settings all of the time. If you’re looking for a way to cut the cost of heating and cooling your Troutdale, OR home, having a smart thermostat installed will help you reach your goals.
Smart Thermostats Provide Precise Temperature Control
Much of the energy waste that occurs in homes is the result of thermostat-related oversights, errors, and misuse. For instance, if you drop your indoor temperature before going to bed and rely on your pajamas and comforter for additional warmth, you might forget to turn the thermostat back up at a reasonable time of day.
Many people dash off to work with their heaters and air conditioners running, only to waste the conditioned air these appliances produce on unoccupied spaces. Others allow their living environments to reach freezing-cold temperatures that force their furnaces to work non-stop in the evening.
In large households, there’s always the risk of having someone adjust a standard thermostat when you aren’t looking. Teenagers, small children, and even other adults could be adamant about maintaining their preferred temperatures despite the impact that unplanned adjustments have on your energy bill.
Smart thermostats offer a simple, set-it-and-forget solution. You can program these devices to make multiple temperature adjustments throughout the day that perfectly reflect everyone’s schedule. Although you can always manually adjust your smart thermostat, you won’t have to worry about errors or oversights contributing to higher-than-necessary energy bills.
Smart Thermostats Are Learning Appliances
Among homeowners who’ve always used standard thermostats, smart thermostats are often confused with programmable models. While both smart and programmable thermostats can be programmed to make timed temperature adjustments, smart thermostats are also constantly learning.
These algorithm-driven devices track and record resident behaviors so that they eventually become adept at adjusting themselves. When integrated with other smart home features, smart thermostats can even make temperature adjustments for unplanned or irregular changes in occupancy, schedules, and indoor activities.
Smart Thermostats Are Wi-Fi-Enabled
Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi-enabled. Many come with branded mobile apps that homeowners can download on their laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. This way, if you’re at work and your kids are at home, you won’t have to worry about someone cranking your thermostat up to its highest setting and forcing your AC to run non-stop.
Eliminating this all-too-common type of thermostat abuse can also limit wear and tear on your HVAC equipment. Neither furnaces nor air conditioners are meant to create and maintain indoor temperatures as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit or as low as 50 degrees.
Another benefit of having a Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat is being able to accommodate sudden changes in weather or sudden changes in your plans. For instance, even if your smart thermostat is scheduled to turn your heater on as soon as you get home from work, you can maintain its lower and more modest setting to take a spontaneous trip out of town.
If the outside temperature plummets and you’re worried about your pipes or your pets freezing, you can easily make the necessary adjustments to keep your living space comfortable and safe.
Smart Thermostats Collect Data and Compile Helpful Reports
One of the best ways to assess the age and remaining viability of furnaces and air conditioners is by making side-by-side comparisons of current and past energy bills. Heating and cooling equipment invariably loses efficiency over time. Sudden spikes in heating and cooling costs that aren’t justified by changes in behavior, family sizes, or building layouts often mean that the time for replacement has arrived.
Unfortunately, few homeowners keep physical copies of their energy bills for long, and few utility companies make it easy to access dated summaries. With a smart thermostat, you can get the information you need by simply opening its app and downloading an energy report. The energy reports compiled by smart thermostats can also help you identify developing or hidden problems or the need for efficiency upgrades throughout the building.
Some models can track environmental conditions like ambient lighting, motion, and humidity so that homeowners can make adjustments or interventions in each of these areas that lower their carbon footprints and allow for less energy spending.
You Can Get Important Maintenance Alerts From Your Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats can even help you better maintain the heater, air conditioner, or heat pump you currently own. If you’re guilty of forgetting regular filter changes, you can count on this device to remind you. You’ll get timely alerts for monthly filter inspections so that these components are never so covered in debris that they inhibit airflow.
Having a thermostat that helps you stay up to date with HVAC maintenance provides a wonderful array of additional savings. For instance, you won’t have to worry about your equipment manufacturer’s warranty being voided due to non-compliance. You can also limit the stress on your heater and air conditioner by consistently maintaining optimal airflow for a longer lifespan and fewer repair issues.
For households with constant IAQ concerns, maintenance alerts can be especially helpful. With routine maintenance, you can look forward to fewer airborne allergens, pathogens, and contaminants that might otherwise exacerbate chronic respiratory illnesses.
Add to the Value and Appeal of Your Home With a Smart Thermostat
Homebuyers in Troutdale are increasingly seeking properties with modern, efficient upgrades. Installing a smart thermostat is a relatively low-cost way to add to the value and appeal of your property.
Smart home features like these are lauded for their convenience, their cost-effectiveness, and their ability to limit the impact that HVAC systems have on the natural environment. They’re an excellent selling point and a great way to get more enjoyment from your living space right now.
Smart Thermostats Allow for Zoned Heating and Cooling
Zoning your central heating and cooling system can cut your costs in several impressive ways. With HVAC zoning, building interiors are divided into two or more heating and cooling zones. Each zone gets its own smart thermostat, and each thermostat is set and adjusted independently of the others.
While standard HVAC systems heat and cool entire buildings uniformly, zoned HVAC systems allow for customized comfort. They make it possible to accommodate the unique preferences of building residents. They also eliminate the need to send conditioned air into spaces that no one is actively using. Heating and cooling only in occupied areas can cut your energy costs year-round. However, all zoning systems work best when they’re governed by smart thermostats.
Should You Invest In a Smart Thermostat?
Some smart thermostat manufacturers estimate that homeowners can save between $140 and $200 annually. Given that these are savings you can enjoy from year to year, smart thermostats are one HVAC upgrade that’s guaranteed to pay for itself.
Installing one of these devices will allow you to control the performance of your heating and cooling equipment even when you’re away. It will also give you important insights for better energy management and timely HVAC maintenance.
We keep Troutdale, OR homes at the cutting edge of industry innovations. Our smart thermostats help homeowners limit their spending and their carbon footprints. We also provide expert heating, cooling, and plumbing installation, repair, and maintenance services. To find out more about smart thermostats or to have one installed, contact Apollo Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning now.
