HVAC systems have come a long way over the past few years. Gone are the days when you had to stand right beside your thermostat to increase or decrease the temperature in your home, and with the latest advances in technology, you might not ever need to touch your thermostat again.
Smart thermostats are changing the way people manage their heating and cooling needs. According to Consumer Reports, they often pay for themselves in energy savings each month. When used correctly, you will likely be able to increase the efficiency of your HVAC system all while decreasing your utility costs.
What Is a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat is connected to your home’s Wi-Fi and has the ability to learn and implement the optimal temperature in your home based on your preferences. The system records your temperature settings while you are home and active, while you sleep, and while you are away and automatically conforms to those settings on its own.
A smart thermostat can be controlled through an app on your phone, which is one of the ways the device detects when you are home or away. This is called geofencing. Additionally, the thermostat will learn your active and sleep times based on your daily routines and adjust the temperature accordingly. In addition to convenience, these devices offer a number of other benefits.
Maintain Stable Indoor Temperatures
As you know, Gilbert and the surrounding areas experience extremely hot summers. Temperatures can reach as high as 105 degrees during the hottest months, and the average temperature in the summer is a whopping 97 degrees.
Conversely, there are times when this area reaches below-freezing temperatures in the winter months. Extreme temperature ranges like this can wreak havoc on your HVAC system. Smart thermostats help to maintain consistent temperatures, which reduces stress on the equipment.
Smart thermostats also monitor outside temperatures so the system can automatically adjust for changes in weather patterns. The HVAC unit will not have to work as hard to reach a cooler or warmer temperature if it preemptively reacts to the weather outside.
Optimized Heating and Cooling for Maximum Efficiency
Because smart thermostats are constantly aware of your home’s occupancy, your HVAC system will only run temperatures for optimal comfort when you are in the house. Smart thermostats come equipped with sensors that can detect when and where occupants are moving around in the house. This lets the thermostat know that someone is in a certain room and the temperature should be adjusted. Any amount of time you can save your HVAC system from running will help to increase its lifespan and provide energy savings for your family.
If you occupy certain rooms in your home more than others, you can choose to heat or cool those rooms more than the areas you don’t use as much. This helps to prevent wasteful energy usage to heat and cool rooms you are not utilizing.
You can also choose to heat and cool rooms only at certain times of the day. For example, if you only want to heat your bedroom while you sleep, your smart thermostat will learn this behavior and increase the temperature in your bedroom right before you typically go to bed.
Shared Control for the Whole Family
Smart thermostats allow multiple users to control the temperature settings through an app. The application can be downloaded on more than one phone so that each member of the family can adjust the climate settings.
Save Energy During Peak Hours
Electricity usage often costs more during peak hours, which are typically late afternoon and evening when families use appliances for cooking, laundry, and showers. Running your HVAC system during these high-demand periods can increase utility costs in areas with time-of-use pricing. A smart thermostat can be programmed to recognize peak usage times and automatically adjust heating and cooling settings to help reduce energy consumption and save money.
Peak usage hours are often longer during the summer months because most homes use a great deal of electricity to keep cool during the majority of the day. This can be especially true for areas in Arizona that experience extreme heat in the summer. A smart thermostat could be very effective for homes like these to help maximize energy savings during peak hours.
Smart Thermostats Make Life Easier and More Comfortable
How many times have you left your home and wondered if you remembered to adjust your thermostat? With a smart thermostat, you don’t have to give your temperature settings a second thought. Your system has already adapted to your heating and cooling preferences and will handle temperature adjustments for you automatically.
Additionally, if you want to make an adjustment outside of the system’s established routine, you can access your thermostat remotely through your smartphone and make any necessary changes. This helps to reduce any wasteful heating and cooling.
The ability to have such control over the temperature settings of every area of your home means you and your family will be more comfortable. Increased comfort is quite important when it is 105 degrees outside.
Track and Analyze Energy Use
Smart thermostats allow you to run reports to track energy usage over various time periods. This will help to make adjustments to your system that will maximize energy savings while maintaining comfort. Smart thermostats can also come programmed with energy profiles that are based on the square footage of the home and the climate of the area. You can choose to run an energy profile that fits the size and environment of your home and make any necessary adjustments to fit your specific needs. In addition to tracking energy use, they can help keep track of wear and tear and when you need air filter changes, keeping you on top of maintenance for your AC and heating system.
Smart Integrations for a Connected Home
Smart thermostats can be programmed to integrate with other smart systems in your home. Certain air purifiers and humidifiers can be controlled through the smart thermostat if they are on similar platforms.
Your smart thermostat can also be voice-controlled by other smart devices such as Amazon’s Alexa. You can easily make adjustments to your thermostat by speaking simple voice commands.
Choosing the Right Smart Thermostat
With so many options out there, it can be difficult to choose the right thermostat for your home. Reaching out for professional assistance can ensure you have the perfect device for your specific needs. Our team will assist you in choosing the best thermostat brands and models that can work with your existing HVAC system. Not every thermostat will work with every system, and we will want to identify a device that will address every aspect that is important to you and your family.
Smart Thermostat Installation Services in Gilbert, AZ
At A/C & Plumbing Doctors, we work hard to make sure we are versed in all the cutting-edge technology available for HVAC systems, and we’ll do everything possible to make sure you are thrilled with your smart thermostat installation. You can count on us to be there to answer any questions you may have, and we will stand by the products and services we provide. Our team offers a full range of heating and cooling services. You can also turn to us for plumbing, indoor air quality, and commercial HVAC solutions. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable associates.
