Over the past several years, smart technology has helped us do everything from track our personal workouts to vacuum our living rooms without lifting a finger. With all these possibilities, it is only fitting for smart technology to help us make our home comfort systems more efficient. If you’re in the market for a way to lower your energy bills and be able to regulate your indoor comfort, smart thermostats are a great place to start.
Smart thermostats run much like a programmable thermostat. Standard programmable models allow you to change temperatures to use less energy when you aren’t at home. Most of these thermostats let you set schedules for each day of the week, divide it between weekday and weekend programming or make everyday a constant temperature. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save up to 10 percent on your annual heating and cooling bill by using a programmable thermostat.
Smart thermostats allow you even more control over your heating and cooling system. Using your smart phone and a compatible app, you can change your home’s temperature wirelessly, regardless of where you are. That means you can adjust it if anything unforeseen happens—whether you’re gone longer than you thought or the weather suddenly changes. That control, combined with the energy usage reports your smart model provides, can help you increase your home’s energy efficiency.
If you are looking for additional benefits, there are smart thermostats that are even more advanced. Depending on what you would like your thermostat to be able to do, there are several options:
- Should it keep the temperature in your home as close as possible to your requested setting? iComfort® systems keep the temperature in your home within a half degree of what you set the thermostat to.
- Should it sense your location to automatically adjust temperatures when you’re away? iComfort’s Smart Away™ mode detects your location using your phone and adjusts the temperature when you leave. When you’re heading home, the system adapts again to make sure you’re comfortable when you get home.
- Should your device take the weather conditions into consideration? The iComfort Feels Like™ feature takes weather conditions like temperature and humidity into account while managing the comfort level in your home. That way, 72 degrees always feels like 72 degrees—regardless of what it’s like outside.
- Should it operate with your other smart devices? Some smart thermostats connect with Amazon Alexa and Apple Homekit. With voice commands, you can adjust your settings without getting up.
Ready to find a smart thermostat model that makes your life easier? The experts at Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating can help you find a solution. You can reach us us at 641-628-3621 to an appointment with us. We can answer any questions you have and walk you through the options for your home comfort system.