How to Choose A Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat simply makes your life easier. This intelligent technology does the thinking for you – it can learn your routine, adjust the temperature when no one is home, and maintain ideal temperatures to make you more comfortable, all while helping you save money.

Sold? Here’s how to choose the right smart thermostat for your home.

Things to Know About Choosing a Digital Thermostat

Maintaining your HVAC system by cleaning it, regularly replacing the air filter, and scheduling regular tune-ups will definitely improve its energy efficiency, but your overall energy savings will be negligible if you don’t have the right thermostat (and if it isn’t in the right place). Of all the types of thermostats available today, a smart thermostat is the one most often recommended by HVAC pros.

This new generation of programmable thermostats is one of the simplest ways to improve your comfort and cut your energy costs by as much as 33%.

Here are some things to consider:

• Compatibility
  Despite their intelligence, smart thermostats aren’t universally compatible. Make sure the one you are eyeing works with all the features of your HVAC – to be safe, check the compatibility section of the brand’s website or talk to your trusted HVAC team.
• Geolocation
  For the biggest savings and max energy efficiency, turn on the geolocation feature, which will allow your thermostat to use your phone’s location to switch off your HVAC while you are away, and back on before you return.
• Remote sensors
  Remote sensors figure out what areas of your home are too hot or too cold. This feature ensures you create the ideal temps throughout your house.
• Control options
  Most smart thermostats are controlled with a smartphone app, but many have options that allow you to control them through other devices, such as Amazon Alexa.

Check Compatibility with your HVAC system

The first step in choosing your thermostat is to know what you’re working with so you know what you’re looking for. It’s important to identify which heating/air system you have in your home to make sure your new thermostat will be compatible. The most common type is the central heating and AC system, but people also use heat pumps, electric baseboards, and furnaces. Unsure? Get in touch with your local HVAC experts and they can help you choose the right system.

Anybody Home?

Programmable thermostats work most effectively by adjusting to your needs based on the settings you create. Implementing a schedule based on your routines will ensure you meet your energy use and cost savings goals. Smart technology allows you to create settings specifically for the work week, for example, and/or create custom settings for the weekends if you are expecting to be home. That gradual difference is easy on your HVAC system and your wallet. Once you set it, forget it. Resist the temptation to walk in the door and override those smart settings. Remember, they’re designed to save you money!

Stay in Control

Get the most bang for your buck by connecting your smart thermostat to your home’s Wi-Fi and installing the corresponding app on your phone or tablet. Without getting up, you can adjust the settings if you are too hot at night, for instance. Anticipating getting home from work early? Pump up the heat or air conditioning as needed. Smart thermostats are designed for ease of use and efficiency. Wondering how much energy you saved? Log in to the app and see the savings instantly.

Weekday/weekend

If your schedule is consistent from week to week, and you don’t want the hassle of programming a manual or Wi-Fi thermostat, a learning model may be your best bet. Learning thermostats spend a period of time tracking your preferences, monitoring movement and observing when you change their settings. This information is then used to create a custom schedule based on that information—they can then update temperature settings when there are changes to the season, your daily habits, or unexpected shifts in your routines.

Consider Aesthetics

Your new thermostat will likely stay on your home’s wall for the next decade. That said, you’ll probably want it to look good. Today’s smart models come in a range of different designs and can be chosen to fit your home’s style. Some prefer the classic, round look of Google Nest thermostats or the futuristic all-glass, rounded-square style of Ecobee models. Honeywell Home and Lennox thermostats offer a more modern, boxy look with large displays, while other models have the more traditional style that you’d expect from programmable thermostats.

Installation Matters

The easiest and safest way to install a new digital thermostat is to leave it to a professional HVAC expert.

An improperly installed thermostat can lead to:

• Malfunctions with your HVAC
• Interference with your comfort
• Require costly repairs
• Lead to unnecessarily high monthly energy bills

Hiring a pro guarantees that your thermostat will work with your system and that you won’t run into any unforeseen issues.

Need a New Thermostat?

Need help with a thermostat in the Phoenix Metro area? We’ve got you! Martin Air offers a wide range of thermostat services, including installation, maintenance, and emergency repair. Backed by decades of experience, our courteous and dependable service technicians are a trusted choice for home and business owners throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek area.

Get in touch to see how we can help!