Smart thermostats are all the rage… Yet, it’s not as if “dumb” thermostats are going obsolete. In fact, we’ll be the first ones to tell you that a programmable thermostat is all you need to run your air conditioner efficiently.
But that’s not to say programmable thermostats are infallible. There’s a lot you’re missing out on by not using a smart thermostat (in particular, we’re talking about money).
In this post, we’ll go over what the deal is with smart thermostats and why upgrading to one is a worthwhile air conditioning service in Maryland.
The Problem With Normal Thermostats
Thermostats with a basic digital display, a dial, and a slide will certainly allow you to adjust the temperature—but that’s about it. No programmable features mean you’ll need to keep 24/7 watch over your thermostat.
A programmable thermostat is a step up. You can set a schedule that cools and heats your home according to your energy saving strategy and your lifestyle.
However, where these thermostats fail is in the fact that they need your permission to make changes. They won’t adjust themselves without you doing it manually for them!
A smart thermostat, on the other hand, can adjust itself when it sees opportunities for saving money. That’s an invaluable feature that can really make a difference over time.
What’s So Special About a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat is essentially a thermostat that has a computer-brain and is connected to the internet. These are pretty significant qualities for a device that can directly affect how much money you spend on energy. This aspect, alone, is what makes a smart thermostat much more worthwhile than, say, the smart tea kettle (yes, that is a real thing).
The “smart” part of the smart thermostat will pick up the slack in all the areas where other thermostats fail. For example:
Programming for efficiency
You can run your smart thermostat to maintain comfort 100% of the time, but you can also program it for efficiency. They can do this by warning you when your desired temperature is inefficient, as well as adjusting itself to make smarter, more cost-effective usage.
Learning behaviors
The biggest contributor to inefficiencies in the HVAC system? Unfortunately, it’s you. We are only human, and we are prone to making decisions based on how we feel, and that includes adjusting the temperature when we shouldn’t. A smart thermostat is able to learn how to keep you comfortable while saving money at the same time (you just have to be good and not touch the dial!)
Avoids wasting energy
Have you ever made it home later than expected, only to find the AC blasting air into an empty house? Or maybe you stepped out of the home for, say, a week-long vacation, just to realize that the AC has been cooling the home according to your normal schedule?
Smart thermostats can detect when you’re not home, and even if they don’t, you can monitor their use through a smartphone. You can then manually adjust the schedule from your phone to save yourself from wasting all that energy.
To learn more about smart thermostats, contact Atlantic Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc. today!