Technological advances happen in all fields. The HVAC industry, too, has made tremendous refinements and made our lives easier. One such improvement was the advent of smart thermostats. Although many naysayers claimed it to be an expensive and useless device, yet more and more people are now shifting to them. Obviously, there is something special they offer. Otherwise, smart thermostats would have fizzled out like other useless inventions.
Today, we aim to show you both sides of the coin. Hopefully, with complete information on hand, you will be able to draw your own conclusions about whether smart thermostats are worth the time and investment or not.
What Are Smart Thermostats?
Smart thermostats are programmable thermostats that can be hooked to the internet. The advantage of doing so is that they can be controlled from anywhere as long as the device from which you are controlling it, too, has internet access.
With smart thermostats, you no longer have to go back and forth to make changes for different times of the day or every time you leave the house. The program you have set will take care of it all, and the rest you can do over the internet.
Pros Of Smart Thermostats
1. Easy To Use – Smart thermostats are pretty easy to use. Setting a program is a self-explanatory step-by-step process. The thermostat will guide you through the complete process. In fact, if you feel more comfortable, you can check on the internet to become more familiar with the process. One can kick back, sit on a comfortable lounger and program the thermostat using their laptop, tablet, or smartphone. If you are tech-savvy, you can also link the thermostat to Alexa or Google Home and control it through voice commands. All in all, there are several options, and you can use whatever makes you feel more in control and less frazzled.
2. Learns Your Routine And Gives Energy Efficient Program Option – A smart thermostat has learning capabilities. Using the program you set as the baseline and monitoring the energy usage, the thermostat can work out the most energy-efficient program. You can also compare your past energy usage with the new program and see what is more to your liking. The hard work of figuring out the best program where you get both comfort and savings is no longer your headache. The smart thermostat takes care of it and presents you with the results.
3. Can Sense Whether The Home Is Occupied Or Not – The sensors of a smart thermostat are very advanced. Almost all of us have a smartphone that we carry with us. The smart thermostat senses their signal to know whether the home is occupied or not. When it senses the home is empty, it sends the heating and cooling system into energy-saving mode. Essentially, the HVAC system is still on but working the least and consuming minimal power.
Cons Of Smart Thermostats
1. Expensive – Smart thermostats are expensive as compared to regular programmable thermostats. Nevertheless, considering the price you pay for it, the benefits outweigh the expense. In truth, spending a bit more now to rake in savings later is a sensible move. So instead of looking at how expensive it is better would be to do a cost-benefit analysis. You will be surprised to know that the local government and many utility companies offer rebates when you install a smart thermostat. Therefore, it takes less time to break even. Also, we recommend you ask your utility company if they have any similar offers or rebates. In the long haul, everyone can recover the money invested in smart thermostats fairly quickly.
2. Installation Might Be Problematic – Technology brings unique issues and quirky problems. Smart thermostats, too, have them. They have a peculiar requirement for a particular set of wires. To be specific, they require a C-wire or a Common wire. If your HVAC systems wiring does not have one, you may have to look for alternative solutions. An experienced HVAC technician can help out in such situations with innovative solutions. When all else fails, there is always an option to change the HVAC wiring to match the thermostats requirements. Nonetheless, this is not a very big concern as there are ways to mitigate it.
3. Security Concerns – Many devices are connected to the internet in every home. In all of these homes, the owners or occupants are most concerned about security. Today’s hackers can glean information from anywhere and use it to their advantage. So being anxious about what information these malicious people steal from the smart thermostat is a genuine concern. Sadly, there is no foolproof way to avoid them. But yes! Companies regularly update their apps and make them more sound, making it difficult for hackers to steal any information.
Does It Make Sense To Invest In A Smart Thermostat?
To answer this question, let’s revisit the cons of a smart thermostat:
1. They are expensive…but government and utility companies offer rebates presenting an opportunity to get a steal deal. Even more, the money saved from energy savings helps pay for the money you actually invested in purchasing it. So initial expense is not a significant setback.
2. Problematic Installation… but that’s why there are professional HVAC technicians. They will take care of it.
3. Security concerns… There are several other devices in your home connected to the internet, and none of them have a foolproof remedy for handling the threat. Yet you still use them.
The Verdict
The disadvantages of smart thermostats are more about how you perceive them. It is because these so-called disadvantages can be easily overcome. So what you really need to think about is the actual upfront cost of the smart thermostat, as this is the amount you have to bear. If it is affordable, you should go for it. If not, wait for some time to gather the necessary funds and then invest in a smart thermostat. In the long run, your home, pocket, and HVAC system will all thank you for this wise move.
