Is your home still rocking an old-fashioned manual thermostat? Or perhaps you have a programmable thermostat instead. Both are adequate, but time has marched on. Today, it is all about the smart thermostat. Do yourself a favor and learn about smart thermostats and how they work.
A smart thermostat is a type of programmable thermostat with extra features that make it smart. As an added bonus, it’s not a stretch to say that today’s smart thermostats are easier to use than yesterday’s programmable models. Seriously. Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat. You will probably not regret doing so.
Need some convincing? Here are for legitimate reasons for upgrading:
1. Improve Energy Efficiency
Let us set aside all of the smart features for one minute and just talk about programming. A programmable thermostat beats a manual thermostat any day in terms of energy efficiency. Programming makes it a snap to maximize efficiency based on the amount of time you spend in your home. Increasing efficiency saves money.
During the heat of the summer, it makes no sense to keep your home at the most comfortable temperature when you are not there. Likewise for the winter heating season. A programmable thermostat lets you set various temperatures based on your work schedule, when you sleep, etc.
Just remember that a modern smart thermostat is likely to be easier to program than a traditional programmable unit. If you are comfortable using a smartphone and its mobile apps, you should have no trouble programming a smart thermostat.
2. Smart Thermostats Can Learn
Smart thermostats take programming to a whole new level. For example, Vivint Smart Home explains on their website that manufacturers are building their devices with AI capabilities. Through a combination of AI and other sensors in your home, a smart thermostat can actually learn your routine. Why would that matter? Because it can self-adjust based on what it learns. You can program at once and leave it alone. It will take care of itself after that.
3. Open the Door to Remote Access
One of the things that makes a device smart is its remote accessibility. With a modern smart thermostat, you can control the temperature in your home from anywhere. Maybe you have programmed your thermostat according to your work schedule. But without warning, your boss puts you on a plane and sends you to meet a client. You are going to be late getting home.
Pull out your phone and bring up your thermostat. You can override the settings so that the thermostat does not begin warming the house on schedule. When you finally head home, you can use your phone to increase the temperature and restore programming.
4. Smart Thermostats Can Be Integrated
Finally, both manual and traditional programmable thermostats are isolated devices. They work independently of every other device in your home. A smart thermostat can be integrated with other devices throughout an entire smart home ecosystem. Why would you want to do that? Because integration allows you to establish a series of cascading events that can be triggered by just one thing.
Imagine programming your system so that a single tap on your phone turns out the lights, locks the door, and adjusts the temperature. What an easy way to end the evening. Right?
Today’s smart thermostats are leaps and bounds ahead of their older counterparts. If you haven’t yet jumped into the home automation pool, a good place to start is the thermostat. A smart thermostat can save you money, make your home more affordable, and introduce you to the wonderful world of home automation.