Many people do not consider replacing their thermostat unless something goes wrong, or until it becomes obsolete when they upgrade their heating and cooling systems. However, homes are becoming smarter with products that make our lives easier. One piece of technology that is taking the HVAC industry by storm is the smart thermostat. Are you wondering if a smart thermostat is right for your home and family? Read on to explore some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about smart thermostats and their answers.
1. What is a smart thermostat?
You may already be familiar with a programmable thermostat. According to the US Energy Information Administration, only 41% of homes have a programmable thermostat. This type of thermostat allows you to set up a daily schedule to heat or cool your home. You may program it to a lower temperature while you are at work and a more comfortable temperature while you are home.
Smart thermostats take programmable thermostats to the next level. They can connect to wifi or a smart hub. Many can be connected to smart home assistants like the Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit. Because a smart thermostat is connected to the web, you have the ability not only to program it to adjust at different times of the day, you can also control it remotely. Some smart thermostats detect patterns and adjust temperatures automatically based on factors like your schedule and the temperature outside, maximizing efficiency without you even having to think about it! They can also remind you when to change your HVAC filters or notify you if your system is due for service.
2. Will a smart thermostat work if you don’t have power or wifi?
Like other thermostats, if you do not have power because of an outage, your smart thermostat will not work – but neither will your heater or air conditioner. If your wifi is down, your smart thermostat will still work as a normal thermostat would: You will still be able to use it to control heating and air. However, the features that make it smart—like app connectivity, geofencing, scheduling, and live updates and alerts—will be disabled.
3. Can a smart thermostat measure humidity?
Most smart thermostats can measure humidity and display when your HVAC system is working to dehumidify the air in your home. You do not need to have a separate hygrometer to measure humidity in your home if you have a smart thermostat. If your wifi is down, this feature may be disabled.
4. Do smart thermostats work with heat pumps?
Smart thermostats do work with heat pumps, and they even automate the process of using one. These thermostats offer multiple program settings such as “custom,” “heat only,” “cool only,” and “heat/cool.” With the “heat/cool” setting, your thermostat will automatically switch between your pump’s heating and cooling modes.
5. Will a smart thermostat save you money?
YES – A smart thermostat will help save you money! You could lower your energy costs to heat and cool your home by up to 23%. These thermostats come with presets like “spring,” “summer,” “fall,” “winter,” and “energy-saving” that make it easier to save money automatically. Preset energy-saving modes keep your heat at a lower temperature or air conditioning at a higher temperature while you are away from home during the day. When you come back, the thermostat can have your home set to just the right temperature to ensure your comfort. At night while you sleep, your smart thermostat will also lower or raise the temperature according to your preferences. Not only that, but, as mentioned above, smart thermostats adapt to your schedules and preferences automatically, ensuring maximum comfort and energy efficiency.
It’s Time to Do the Smart Thing!
Now that you know the FAQs about smart thermostats, it is time to do the smart thing. Contact Snyder Heating & Air Conditioning and schedule an appointment to upgrade your HVAC system’s thermostat.
