During the 21st century, many of the more traditional home appliances have been enhanced to allow for smart functionality. This type of technology is designed to boost energy efficiency and add convenience to your living situation. Most smart devices are controllable from your smartphone or tablet. However, traditional thermostats also offer numerous benefits. Before choosing a thermostat for your home, you should compare them and their features to determine which one is best for you.
Understanding Traditional Thermostats
Traditional thermostats are relatively basic devices that are capable of controlling your heater and air conditioner. You can alter the temperature and a few settings by pressing some buttons or turning a dial. During the warm summer months, your air conditioner will turn on whenever the indoor air temperature rises above the preset one on your thermostat. Your thermostat also tells your HVAC system when to turn off.
Understanding Smart Thermostats
Standard thermostats in your home require you to interact with a control panel in one room to adjust the temperature. Smart thermostats, on the other hand, offer extensive customization options and allow you to make temperature changes from anywhere. You can control your HVAC system, set temperature adjustments for when you leave home or throughout the day, and even establish different temperatures for various rooms. Some smart thermostats can adapt based on the number of people in your home.
In addition to customization, smart thermostats provide detailed energy usage data, helping you understand how much energy you consume to keep your home comfortable year-round. They can even compare your energy use with other households in your neighborhood and offer energy-saving tips. These devices also feature learning capabilities. Over a few weeks, they learn your HVAC preferences and habits to create a tailored schedule. If you ever need to adjust your indoor air temperature, you can easily use the app to set it to your preferred level.
How a Smart Thermostat Works
Smart thermostats work like traditional ones, which means that getting used to the device shouldn’t be too challenging. Even though these devices are primarily controlled through an app on your smartphone, they still come with a physical system that you can position anywhere in your home. In the event that you lose your Wi-Fi connection or can’t find your phone, having physical controls ensures that you always have access to the device and its settings.
Reducing Energy Bills With Smart Thermostats
Likely the main benefit of obtaining a smart thermostat for your home is that it can help you save energy. There are several ways this type of thermostat reduces your energy bill, the primary of which is only possible if you properly program the thermostat. Many of these systems come with a home/away feature that you can use to effectively manage energy consumption. This feature will automatically increase or reduce the indoor air temperature based on current outdoor conditions. When you’re not at home, you can increase the system temperature by a few degrees, which will automatically reduce the amount of energy the unit uses.
With proper programming, a smart thermostat can save you hundreds of dollars every year. Over time, these savings will pay for the cost of upgrading to a new thermostat. Whether you’re planning to renovate your entire home with smart devices or make a single upgrade for now, you’ll benefit from immediate savings. You can expect smart thermostats to cost anywhere from $100-$500. Make sure you have the thermostat installed by an HVAC professional to avoid a costly mistake.
Selecting the Right Thermostat
There are numerous factors to consider when you’re choosing between a traditional thermostat and a smart one. For example, you should consider how a smart thermostat would impact your lifestyle. If you often have a busy schedule, smart thermostats give you the convenience of being able to control the device remotely and place it on an automated schedule. However, you might prefer to have a manual control system that always uses the same routine. In this case, a traditional thermostat is the way to go. You should also consider how comfortable you are with using modern technology.
If you already have experience with using smart and energy-efficient devices, you should be familiar with most of the settings that come with a smart thermostat. Traditional thermostats, on the other hand, come with a more straightforward setup that practically anyone can use without issue. There’s also a considerable difference between smart thermostats and traditional ones in regard to the upfront cost. Because of the many advanced features present in a smart thermostat, you’ll pay more for it.
Smart Thermostats vs. Traditional Thermostats: Feature Comparison
Before you select a new thermostat for your home, consider the features that these devices are often equipped with.
Traditional Thermostat Features
Even though traditional thermostats don’t have nearly as many features as smart ones, they still offer some key features that provide convenience. For example, a traditional thermostat can be equipped with a digital touchscreen that’s simple to use and allows you to control the device without dealing with finicky buttons. These devices also come with minor scheduling functionalities. For example, you can set the device to operate on a seven-day schedule or one that separates weekends and weekdays. You can create different settings that apply to four periods of the day. Some traditional thermostats offer service alerts to remind you that it’s time to schedule maintenance for the device. These units can also tell you when your HVAC system requires a filter change.
Smart Thermostat Features
As for smart thermostats, they provide a bevy of features that you might be interested in. For example, many of these devices will learn your preferences regarding the temperature, after which a schedule is made to instantly adjust temperatures when you’re asleep or not at home. The inclusion of the geofencing feature makes it possible for the thermostat to determine when you’re not at home.
Most ENERGY STAR smart thermostats come with a standby mode that switches to low power when the device isn’t being used. Over time, you’ll receive temperature and equipment data that you’re able to track. This data gives you insight into how to save energy and maintain your system. These devices should also accommodate software updates, which makes it possible for improvements to be made to the technology that powers the unit. If you have smart speakers in your home, you can connect them to your thermostat, which allows you to control the device with your voice.
If you need to have a new thermostat installed in your home, seek assistance from our team at Precision Plumbing Heating Cooling & Electric. Our collective experience allows us to install every brand and type of thermostat. Whether you’re interested in a traditional or smart thermostat, we provide efficient installation services to keep HVAC downtime as low as possible. You should also consider our plumbing, electrical, and drain cleaning services. Call Precision Plumbing Heating Cooling & Electric to schedule our thermostat installation services for your Boulder, CO home.
