Is a Smart Thermostat Upgrade Really Worth it?
Smart thermostats put the control over your house heating system right in your pocket, meaning you can control your central heating system from anywhere. These systems are great for improving household heating efficiency and offer a way of warming your home that works around your busy schedule, but they aren’t necessarily cheap. It’s worth looking at what a smart thermostat can do for your home and whether the upgrade is worth it.
How do Smart Thermostats Work?
Smart thermostats basically connect your heating system to the internet. What this means for homeowners is remote access to heating controls so you can turn your heating and hot water on and off from anywhere, so long as you have access to the internet.
Whether upgrading to a smart thermostat is worth it depends on your lifestyle and priorities. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help you decide:
The pros of smart thermostats
Smart thermostats offer a host of benefits to users from cost savings to increased flexibility.
1. Convenience
Being able to control your heating system from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet gives you increased flexibility over your home temperatures. This means you can pre-heat your home in winter, turn it off if you forget, and time your water heating effectively to avoid wasted energy.
2. Potential cost savings
Smart thermostats can learn your routines and automatically adjust temperatures when you’re away, saving energy and money on your bills. Simply being able to adjust your house temperature according to your needs means you have more control over where your money goes.
3. Scheduling
With smart thermostats, you can programme flexible schedules for different days and times, or let the thermostat adapt to your routine. For individuals with busy schedules or family households with lots of spinning plates, this means you can keep your house warm and hot water at the ready on a schedule that fits with yours.
4. Remote monitoring
Having control over your house temperature wherever you are gives you peace of mind that your central heating or boiler is only on when you want it to be. We have all had those days where we have left the house with the heating on and come back to a tropical climate – with a smart thermostat you never have to worry about wasted energy and money, or sweltering household temps again.
5. Additional features
Some smart thermostats offer features like geofencing (automatically adjusting temperature based on your location), room sensors (for multi-zone heating/cooling), and integration with other smart home devices.
The Cons of Smart Thermostats
Despites the great range of benefits offered by smart thermostats, there are some possible setbacks to consider before making the upgrade.
1. Cost
Smart thermostats can be more expensive than traditional thermostats. The range of tools and settings you can implement through these devices can change the way you heat your home, but they can be expensive to set up. The payoffs and savings might not be worth the initial cost if you have a very tight budget.
2. Installation
While some smart thermostats are DIY-friendly and easy to set up, installation of some of these systems might require an electrician depending on your wiring. This is an additional cost to consider as well as having to accommodate the appointment.
3. Not guaranteed savings
If you already have a regular schedule and keep your thermostat adjusted, the savings might be minimal. While there might be considerable savings to be made if you have a varied schedule or lots of different people coming in and out of the house, if you have a very regular schedule then the added flexibility might be of little use to you.
What to consider before getting a smart thermostat
While we have tried to provide a balanced view of thermostats to help you make an informed buying decision, we are huge fans of these devices over at Warmaway. Once you get used to controlling your central heating system from the tap of a phone button, it’s hard to go back.
That said, some final considerations to make before buying could include:
· How often is your schedule variable? If you work from home or have a consistent routine, a smart thermostat might not be necessary.
· Do you travel frequently? A smart thermostat can ensure your home isn’t heated or cooled unnecessarily while you’re away.
· How important is remote control to you? The ability to adjust the temperature from anywhere can be a big convenience factor.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to upgrade to a smart thermostat is a personal one. However, if you choose to upgrade to a smart thermostat system, you can reap the benefits of increased control over your central heating system and boiler. From cost savings to increased comfort and flexibility, the benefits of a smart thermostat can’t be understated.
Smart heating solutions from Warmaway
If you would like to learn more about smart heating solutions like smart thermostats or are ready to make the upgrade, get in touch with the team at Warmaway. We are household heating experts and are focused on providing our clients with heating solutions that save energy and money, including offering a host of renewable energy systems.
