Believe it or not, smart thermostats have been on the market for over 10 years—but they’re anything other than old news. While the first smart models to come out had features like smart scheduling and app-controlled wireless communication, today’s models are doing so much more to improve the comfort, convenience, and efficiency of the homes they’re installed in.
Keep reading to learn more about these devices, what they can do, why you should consider one, and which features may or may not fit your lifestyle.
What is a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi-enabled device designed to control a home’s heating and cooling system. Unlike the older, outdated thermostats (cue the fond memories of the bronze dial installed in hallways across the country for literally decades), these models use wireless technology to communicate with phones, tablets, and other devices inside or outside of the home. Their goal is to improve the comfort, balance, timing, and efficiency of the home’s heating system.
The majority of the control comes from smartphone apps. The homeowner installs the thermostat and downloads the corresponding app, through which they can adjust the home’s temperature in real time, set schedules, and even set up voice control.
Smart Features
Remote control, smart scheduling, and voice-enabled commands are just the basics of what these devices can do. More advanced features include:
- Geofencing: This technology detects when your smartphone leaves a preset radius (5 miles, for instance), and then it adjusts the temperature to reduce energy consumption. When you return, the thermostat returns to a more comfortable setting.
- Multiple Sensors: Modern smart thermostats can communicate with sensors set throughout the home. The sensors give the boiler or furnace a more complete picture of the home’s temperature and allow it to adjust the comfort and efficiency.
- Auto Scheduling: Auto scheduling (different and more advanced than smart scheduling) detects when people are home and when they’re not. This allows the thermostat to develop its own schedule without the need for user input.
- Smart Fan Activation: In systems with temperature imbalances, such as when one room is much warmer than another, newer smart thermostats can automatically activate the furnace’s fan, mixing the air in both spaces to balance the temperatures. Since only the fan is running (not the burner or the air conditioner compressor), smart fan activation can reduce energy consumption.
How Smart Thermostats Actually Improve Comfort and Efficiency
Traditional thermostats are reactive, kicking the heating or cooling system on once the home reaches a specific temperature. Smart thermostats can react, but they’re also designed to learn and anticipate. By using temperature sensor data, scheduling patterns, and occupancy data, these devices can make better decisions about when and how long heating and cooling systems run.
Smart thermostats can help improve comfort and efficiency by:
- Preheating or precooling the home so it’s comfortable at the right time, rather than blasting the system after you return home
- Reducing the heating or cooling during predictable low-need periods, such as when the home is empty or when you’re asleep
- Adjusting run times based on real-world conditions, including how long it actually takes a home to warm up or cool down during extreme weather
- Prioritizing heating or cooling in occupied rooms with data from remote sensors and zone control
- Reducing energy consumption during higher rate periods to reduce utility bills
Demand Response
Some smart thermostats can also support demand response programs offered by utility companies. Through these optional programs, utility companies can reduce the thermostat’s setpoint remotely during high-usage hours (such as in the evening when the majority of the workforce returns home). This often results in money back for the homeowner but also reduces the sudden surge on the grid.
How Much Can a Smart Thermostat Save?
Most of the newer smart thermostats cost between $75 and $300, so many homeowners are curious to know how much they can save with this not-so-insignificant investment.
Sources vary on the exact numbers, but even the low-end estimates are nothing to sneeze at. Energy Star claims homeowners can save around 8% on their annual energy bill. Independent blog Sustainability Directory states homeowners typically save 10% to 15%. Manufacturers often claim even higher, in the realm of 15% to 26%.
In most cases, a smart thermostat will pay for itself in a year or two. But, within that time frame, homeowners will experience more comfortable and convenient climate control.
What to Know About Smart Thermostats
Before you purchase a smart thermostat, there are a few things you need to know.
They Might Not Be Plug-and-Play.
Be aware that when upgrading to a smart thermostat, your old thermostat’s wiring might no longer cut it. Older thermostats required two wires to control the home’s temperature, while today’s models require five, including a C-wire for constant power.
This First House Call Out
Make sure to ask your home inspector if your wiring can handle a smart thermostat, and if not, consider that in your offer.
They Won’t Fix Insulation or Structural Issues.
A smart thermostat might make your home more efficient, but it can’t fix issues like drafty windows, air leaks around doors, or undersized HVAC equipment. If a home’s comfort issues are caused by these problems, there are projects to tackle before purchasing a smart thermostat.
Some Features Might Not Work for Every Household.
Households that don’t operate on consistent schedules might not benefit as much from smart thermostats. If the house’s occupants have different schedules, someone might be home too often for auto-occupancy sensors to improve output. Or, if schedules change from week to week, auto-scheduling might be more hassle than it’s worth.
Wireless Communication Always Comes with Privacy Risks.
Because smart thermostats rely on Wi-Fi and data from apps or sensors, homeowners should be comfortable using connected devices and managing app permissions. Data is generally limited to temperature, motion, and usage patterns, but homeowners should still check the thermostat manufacturer’s privacy and security policies.
Is a Smart Thermostat Right for You?
In most cases, moving to a smart thermostat is a good idea. If you have updated wiring (five wires instead of the standard two), it’s an easy swap. Otherwise, you’ll probably need the help of an HVAC contractor, at which point you need to decide if the expense is worth the convenience and energy savings. But, if your home is constantly occupied or already very efficient, you might not find upgrading to a smart thermostat to be the efficiency boost you’re hoping for.
On the other hand, if your home could use improved efficiencyt for its already modern heating and cooling, you want the convenience of remote adjustment, or you want to balance out your heating and cooling zone throughout the home, a smart thermostat could be the best purchase you can make for your home.