One of the most important aspects of owning a home is monitoring the monthly utility bills. Unlike other expenses that can affect the beauty and integrity of a home, monthly energy bills can fluctuate from each payment to the next. Depending upon the size of a home, the number of family members, and the time of year, energy consumption varies on a regular basis. With that in mind, a household’s HVAC system, composed of both the air conditioner and heating system, can easily dictate a homeowner’s overall energy costs. Luckily, there are numerous new solutions to help families keep their energy efficiency in a good range, no matter the time of year.
If you’re a homeowner concerned with how upcoming seasonal changes will affect your own costs, you may want to consider a new thermostat specifically designed for energy efficiency. For example, controlling the home’s HVAC with a programmable thermostat, or “smart thermostat,” has become a popular and cost-efficient choice for many homeowners. Here, we will look at some of the many benefits of a programmable thermostat, as well as some helpful tips in making the most of your installation.
How a Smart Thermostat Works
A common reason many homeowners face high monthly energy bills is the use of the household’s HVAC and individual family members. For example, one person may consider a comfortable temperature to be different than another, causing erratic temperature settings and unnecessary wear and tear on the HVAC unit itself. One of the benefits of installing a smart thermostat in your home is the consistency that the smart device can provide. Additionally, most programmable thermostats are compatible with the majority of HVAC designs, enabling you to control both your home heating and cooling with a single unit.
For those unfamiliar with the benefits of a smart thermostat, simply imagine a unit not unlike a traditional thermostat but with the functionality of preinstalled personal temperature preferences. Through the use of both your home’s WiFi and optional mobile device app, you can set specific times for changes in your home’s temperature. This function allows you to determine heating and cooling settings according to your family’s daily routine and energy bill budget. For example, if your family members are at work or school, your programmable thermostat can give your HVAC unit a rest until a predetermined hour when everyone is back home. Likewise, the smart thermostat’s app will notify your mobile device if anyone has tampered with your settings and the temperature changes, giving you full remote access to the household’s energy consumption.
Seasonal Benefits of a Programmable Thermostat
As mentioned, smart thermostat installation has the popular benefit of enabling a temperature schedule for each day. However, this is truly beneficial as the weather changes from season to season. During the winter, for example, a preinstalled setting can allow your heating system to remain stagnant until a given time when your family is expected back at the house. A half-hour before the first person arrives, the HVAC system can kick in, providing a perfectly comfortable temperature at the exact time everyone is together. Likewise, the smart thermostat can also shut down the unit in the morning after everyone leaves for the day. In that same way, your home’s HVAC system can be controlled and regulated throughout the summer, providing the same energy efficiency and convenience during the hottest months.
Many homeowners concerned about their energy usage will immediately consider HVAC replacement. However, as an environmentally conscious way of bringing those costs under control, and in providing the best comfort and well-being for the whole family, a programmable thermostat can be an ideal and affordable solution. Additionally, a smart thermostat can later be paired with additional components, such as a smart security system, for a full smart-home system.
