Today’s thermostats are more advanced than controlling your heater and Air conditioning. They come with Wi-Fi, sensors, and fancy algorithms.
Smart thermostats have been around for more than ten years, and people generally agree they can save you money on your bills and keep your home comfy.
They’re changing homes worldwide. But are these smart thermostats worth it for Australian homeowners? Do they give enough benefits compared to regular thermostats? We’ll explain it all to you.
How do Thermostats Work?
Traditional thermostats use basic science to control your home’s heating and cooling. They monitor the temperature around them and switch the HVAC systems on or off accordingly. It sounds complex, but it’s pretty straightforward.
Most thermostats made in the last twenty years are digital, but older homes might still have the non-digital kind. These often use a mercury switch—a tiny bit of liquid metal in a glass tube. The mercury conducts electricity and moves around like water.
Inside the glass tube, there are three wires. One touches the bottom of the tube, staying in contact with the mercury. Another touches the left side, and when the tube tilts that way, the mercury touches it, connecting the left wire with the bottom one.
The third wire touches the right side, and when the tube tilts that way, the mercury connects it with the bottom wire.
These connections signal the thermostat when to turn on the heat or the cool air. In the late ’90s, these old thermostats started getting replaced with programmable ones.
Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats are a step up in tech. They can automatically adjust your home’s temperature throughout the day based on your schedule.
For example, if you work from home, you set it to turn off while you’re working and back on before you get home.
Depending on where you live and how often you use your HVAC system, a programmable thermostat could save you a lot of money on energy bills each year. But then, there are.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats learn from your habits, let you control your home’s climate from afar, show you how much energy you’re using in real time, and can adjust based on things like humidity.
It’s a significant upgrade from the manual adjusting you have to do with regular thermostats.
Like programmable ones, smart thermostats can switch off when you leave and turn on before you return.
They can also tell you how long it takes to change the temperature so you know how efficient your system is. Plus, you can control them from your phone.
They even give you stats about your home’s climate management—like how long it takes to heat it and when you use the most energy. And they can suggest ways to save energy. Use a smart thermostat right now to see severe savings on your energy bills.
Different Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats come in all shapes and sizes, just like many others. Generally, there are two main types: ones that learn from your habits and adjust the temperature, and ones that connect to the internet and let you control them from far away.
These thermostats are costly. They can cost anywhere from $200 to $500, and installing them can also be pricey. It may take a while before the money you save on bills makes up for what you spent.
But if you’re into technology, smart thermostats have some cool features to offer. You can easily set schedules, they’re simple to use, and they can send you updates and alerts about the temperature on your phone.
With smart thermostats, you don’t have to change the temperature manually. They make your home comfy and help you save energy without much effort.
Comfort with A Smart Thermostat
While many ways to save energy mean being a little less cozy, smart thermostats can help you save energy without giving up comfort in your home.
Several reports found that people with smart thermostats usually kept their air conditioning at around 72 °F, just like those with regular programmable or manual thermostats.
So, if you have a smart thermostat, you can keep cool at home like before but save more energy when you’re not there because it does it automatically and is easy to use.
Some smart thermostats even come with extra sensors that you can put in different rooms. So, if you work upstairs and it gets too hot, you can put a sensor there.
It’ll ensure the air conditioning kicks in when you need it without having to do anything. It could use more energy because it’s running the air conditioning more often, but it’s an option.
Turning on the heating or cooling of your phone can be nice, too. Say you’re coming home from a trip, and it’s chilly inside. You can turn up the heat before you get there, so it’s cozy when you arrive.
So Are Smart Thermostats Worth it for Australian Homeowners?
Saving Money on Your Energy Bills
Since smart thermostats hit the market, all the companies making them claim you’ll save money—anywhere from $10 a month to 23% on your yearly bills.
How much you save with a smart thermostat depends on many things, like how much energy you usually use, how much your utilities cost, and how hot or cold it gets where you live.
Also, it depends on your home and your heating and cooling system. A smart thermostat could lower your bills if you use a lot of energy because you keep the same temperature all year. Some utility companies might even help pay for one.
The weather where you live also matters. In places like the Midwest, you might need heating for a big chunk of the year, but in the Pacific Northwest, heating is cheaper, and you might not even need AC much.
The size and shape of your home are essential, too. In bigger homes, heating and cooling costs more. And how well your home is insulated affects how often the temperature requires adjusting.
Deciding if a smart thermostat is right for you means thinking about which one to get, how much you’ll use its features, how well your home is insulated, and what kind of heating system you have.
For busy people, being able to program their thermostat is a plus. Some smart thermostats even learn your routine and keep your home comfy without you doing anything.
Controlling Your Thermostat from Your Phone
When you have a smart thermostat, you can download an app from the brand onto your phone or tablet. This app lets you check your thermostat from anywhere with Wi-Fi or data.
And if you need to change the temperature, you can do it right from your phone. This is super handy if you’re at work or on vacation.
Making Schedules with the App
Smart thermostats also let you make heating and cooling schedules straight from the app. It’s easier than messing with buttons on the thermostat itself.
And you can plan out your temperatures for the whole week. That’s why a smart thermostat can be an excellent gift for someone moving into a new home.
Detecting Movement
Learning Over Time
Tracking Energy Use
Clearer Controls
Working with Other Devices
Voice Commands
Energy Profiles
Tracking the Weather
Considering the diverse features, smart thermostats are definitely worth it. But at the end of the day, it depends on your requirements and budget.
However, smart thermostats are essential in our energy-conscious society to reduce energy consumption and utility costs.
Tech-savvy homeowners can program their HVAC for maximum efficiency and comfort.
Smart thermostats provide an excellent option for maintaining a comfortable environment with minimal effort.
For more smart products like smart thermostats, contact Cyanergy.
Get a free quote today, or talk to an expert!
