How a Smart Thermostat Can Help You Save More on Heating and Cooling

December 7, 2020

Keeping your St. Cloud residence cozy can require a good amount of money. A typical family spends about $172 on monthly energy expenses, according to ENERGY STAR^®, or approximately $2,060 yearly. At least half of that goes to heating and cooling.

The majority of residences have programmable thermostats, but the majority of people don’t take the time to use them properly. The process is time-consuming, complicated and only gives you a couple of options for temperature changes. When your residence is kept at an unchanging setting throughout the day, it requires utilities and badly affects your monthly bill.

Smart thermostats adjust to your day-to-day activities and adapt the settings to match it. But can installing one really save you money on heating and cooling? Yes, and here’s why.

Studies Show Smart Thermostats Save on Utility Costs

Independent studies have found these devices can produce large savings.

These studies used home heating and cooling costs 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, resulting in an estimated savings of $131 to $145 yearly.

With the typical smart thermostat running between $100–$250, those savings can help it pay for itself. And many local energy companies offer rebates for smart thermostats since they’re ENERGY STAR^® certified.

How Does a Smart Thermostat Work?

After your smart thermostat is ready to go, you’ll first set it just like any other thermostat. You’ll set it up and down, so the thermostat can determine your desired settings. Then, it will get to work creating a program that helps you conserve more money, whether you’re at your house or away. Because it geofences with your smartphone, you won’t have to put it on your list to adjust it when you leave or come back.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Smart Thermostat

Pros

As we talked about before, smart thermostats provide many benefits to your residence and energy expenses, like:

No need to set—Your smart thermostat will pick up on your routine, so you won’t be required to spend time using programs or remember to adjust it.
Knows when you come and leave—Since a lot of smart thermostats geofence with your phone, your home will be put into an energy-efficient setting when you go and be cozy when you get back.
Remote temperature control—You’ll be able to keep an eye on your house’s temperature from nearly anyplace, thanks to an app on your phone.
Monitor heating and cooling use—Many smart thermostats offer valuable data through their app, like how long you needed heating and cooling on a particular day.
Reminders—Certain smart thermostats will remind you of essential maintenance tasks, such as when it’s time to put in a new air filter.
Added savings—The majority of local energy companies have rebates for smart thermostats, so contact with yours for more information.

Cons

However, there’s several things you should take into account when considering adding a smart thermostat in your house:

Compatibility—Based on the type and age of your heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat might not be compatible. If you’re not sure, it’s advisable to check with an HVAC professional like Osceola Air, LLC. We also recommend having it professionally installed. This ensures that you have the correct number of wires and that it’s hooked up correctly. Some systems don’t have a common wire, which leads to compatibility issues with a smart thermostat. This wire runs your thermostat, so if your house doesn’t have a C-wire, we can install one.
Housing situation—If you own your house and want to reside there for a long time, it’s a good investment to have a smart thermostat. If you’re thinking about moving shortly or rent, we recommend holding back unless you plan to take the thermostat with you. If you rent, you’ll usually need to have your landlord’s permission first prior to adding a new thermostat.
Cost—Smart thermostats cost more than programmable thermostats, and we suggest having yours professionally installed. However, the energy savings over its lifetime 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 big of savings, but you’ll get the convenience of not being required to program or adjust a thermostat.

Depend on Osceola Air, LLC for Your Smart Thermostat Needs

At Osceola Air, LLC, our number one purpose is to keep your house pleasant while helping you spend less heating and cooling expenses. If you’re wanting to install a smart thermostat, our specialists can help, from selecting the right model to expert installation. Contact us at 407-954-8626 today to learn more.