More and more people are installing smart thermostats in their homes. In addition to making your life easier, smart thermostats offer consumers flexible solutions for their heating and cooling needs and have the potential to save you money over time. But how do you get the most out of your smart thermostat? At Donmar Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing, we are well-versed in a wide variety of smart thermostats, and we are here to answer all your questions.
Below we review three of the most frequently asked questions about smart thermostats and provide tips on maximizing their features for your home.
Is It Better to Keep Your Thermostat at a Constant Temperature?
We are often asked if it is better to keep your thermostat at a constant temperature. The idea behind this is that keeping your home at a constant temperature potentially saves energy. However, setting your thermostat to a constant temperature doesn’t stop your HVAC system from turning on and off. Instead, it will likely have to run more often to maintain that temperature.
Spend Some Time Teaching Your Thermostat Your Preferences
Instead, if you are looking for a way to save on energy and utility costs, you should utilize your smart thermometer’s intuitive learning features. Teaching your smart thermostat your heating and cooling preferences is remarkably easy and only takes a week or two of you actively adjusting your thermostat as needed.
If you already have a smart thermostat, you likely already have this feature, as most smart thermometers have a self-learning feature built into them. They track when you adjust the temperature, as well as when you are away from home. Doing so creates an intuitive automatic schedule that automatically adjusts the temperature in your home to suit your preferences while maximizing your energy efficiency.
Should I Turn My System Off When I’m Not at Home?
Do you let your HVAC system run while you’re at work all day? What about when you are out of town? In many cases, leaving your system on is necessary, and you don’t have the option to turn it off when you’re away from home. For example, during the winter, you will need to leave your heating system on to avoid freezing pipes. You may also have pets that need to be kept comfortable. However, keeping your system running as if you were home could be costing you a lot of money in energy costs and contributing to wear and tear on your system.
Use Your Smart Thermostat’s Remote Features for Ultimate Control
Most smart thermometers have an app that allows you to not only view the current temperature in your home but to make changes to your settings from afar. Instead of turning your system totally off or leaving it set to the same temperatures, you would if you were home, you can use your system’s scheduling and remote-control features to keep your home at an appropriate temperature.
If you are out of town or gone longer than expected, you can tap into your home’s system and adjust as needed to avoid your system running when you don’t need it to. You can also check on the current temperature to ensure your pets are safe and comfortable.
Will a Smart Thermostat Help Me Reduce My Energy Usage?
Another question we are often asked is whether installing a thermostat will help them reduce their energy consumption and be more environmentally friendly. The answer is yes! Some of the biggest selling points for smart thermostats are their energy-efficiency features. From intuitive learning and smart scheduling to “eco mode,” your smart thermostat can help you make a measurable difference in the amount of energy you’re consuming (which will, in turn, save you money on your utility bills).
Enable “Eco Mode” Instead of Turning Your Thermostat Off
The eco mode on your smart thermostat is designed to heat and cool your home in a way that prioritizes energy savings. To achieve this, it utilizes heating and cooling settings that aren’t excessively warm or cool but which still keep you comfortable.
When your thermostat is set closer to the temperature outside, your system doesn’t have to work as hard or run as long to come to temperature. For example, instead of cooling your home to 70° or 72° in the summer, the eco mode will set your temperature to a slightly warmer temperature that is cooler than outside and still comfortable, such as 76° or 78°.
Smart thermometers offer many convenient features that make your home run more efficiently and save you money. If you are interested in installing a smart thermometer or need help with the one you have, reach out to Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. We are here to help.