If you’re looking for a way to save money on your energy bills, improve your home’s comfort, and reduce your environmental impact, you might want to consider upgrading your old thermostat to a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat is a device that connects to your HVAC your needs.
What to Look for in a Smart Thermostat
Before we dive into the specific models, let’s go over some of the features and factors that you should look for when shopping for a smart thermostat. Here are some of the most important ones:
Compatibility
Not all smart thermostats are compatible with all types of HVAC systems, especially if you have an electric heating system or a heat pump. You should check the compatibility of the smart thermostat with your existing wiring and equipment before you buy it. Some smart thermostats require a constant power source, which means you need a c wire (a common wire that delivers 24V of electricity) in your wall. If you don’t have a c wire, you might need to install one, or use an adapter kit, which can add to the cost and complexity of the installation. You can check the compatibility of your system with different smart thermostats on their websites, or contact a professional HVAC service provider, like Morehart Air Conditioning and Heating, for assistance.
Ease of Use
A smart thermostat should be easy to use, both on the device itself and on the app or web interface. You should look for a smart thermostat that has a clear and intuitive display, with basic controls for adjusting the temperature, switching between heating and cooling modes, and accessing the settings. You should also look for a smart thermostat that has a user-friendly app or web interface, that lets you monitor and control your home’s temperature from anywhere, and access features like scheduling, geofencing, energy usage reports, and alerts. You should also check the reviews and ratings of the smart thermostat’s app or web interface, to see how reliable and bug-free it is.
Learning and Automation
One of the main benefits of a smart thermostat is that it can learn from your behavior and preferences, and adjust the temperature accordingly, without you having to program it manually. Some smart thermostats, like the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, use algorithms and sensors to learn your schedule, your preferred temperature settings, and your presence at home, and create a personalized schedule for you. Other smart thermostats, like the Emerson Sensi Touch and the Wyze Thermostat, use geofencing, which means they use your smartphone’s location to determine when you’re home or away, and adjust the temperature accordingly. You should look for a smart thermostat that has a learning and automation feature that suits your lifestyle and preferences.
Voice Control and Smart Home Integration
Another benefit of a smart thermostat is that it can integrate with other smart home devices, and be controlled by voice commands, using a smart speaker or a voice assistant. For example, you can use Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit to control your smart thermostat with your voice or create routines and scenes that involve your smart thermostat and other smart home devices. You should look for a smart thermostat that is compatible with the voice assistant and the smart home platform that you use, or plan to use in the future.
Energy Savings and Efficiency
A smart thermostat can help you save money on your energy bills, by reducing the amount of energy that your HVAC system uses, and by making your home more energy efficient. Some smart thermostats, like the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, are Energy Star certified, which means they meet the strict energy efficiency standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some smart thermostats also provide you with energy usage reports, that show you how much energy you’re using, and how you can save more. You should look for a smart thermostat that has a proven track record of delivering energy savings and efficiency, and that provides you with useful feedback and insights on your energy use.
What Are The Best Smart Thermostat Options for Connected HVAC Systems?
Now that you know what to look for in a smart thermostat, let’s take a look at some of the best smart thermostat options available on the market, and how they compare in terms of features, performance, and price.
Nest Learning Thermostat
The Nest Learning Thermostat is one of the most popular and well-known smart thermostats, and for good reason. It’s a sleek and stylish device, with a round, colorful display, that shows you the ambient temperature, the target temperature, and the time. It’s also very easy to use, as you can simply rotate the outer ring to adjust the temperature, or press it to access the menu.
Learning and Automation
But the Nest Learning Thermostat’s main selling point is its learning and automation feature, which makes it one of the smartest thermostats on the market. The Nest Learning Thermostat uses algorithms and sensors to learn your schedule, your preferred temperature settings, and your presence at home, and create a personalized schedule for you. It also uses the local weather and your home’s characteristics to optimize the temperature and energy use. The Nest Learning Thermostat can also integrate with other Nest products, like the Nest Cam and the Nest Protect, and create smart home scenarios, like turning off the heating when the smoke alarm goes off, or turning on the cooling when the camera detects motion.
Compatibility and Integration
The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with most HVAC systems, but it requires a c wire for some systems, especially if you have an electric heating system or a heat pump. You can check the compatibility of your system on the Nest website, or contact Morehart Air Conditioning and Heating for professional installation. The Nest Learning Thermostat is also compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit, so you can control it with your voice, or with other smart home devices.
Energy Efficiency and Savings
The Nest Learning Thermostat is also Energy Star certified, and it provides you with energy usage reports, that show you how much energy you’re saving, and how you can save more.
The Nest Learning Thermostat has a list price of $249, but you can often find it on sale for less. It also comes with a two-year limited warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is another excellent smart thermostat option, that offers a lot of features and functionality. It’s a sleek and modern device, with a rectangular, touchscreen display, that shows you the ambient temperature, the target temperature, the weather, and the time. It’s also very easy to use, as you can simply tap the screen to adjust the temperature or swipe to access the menu.
Room Sensors
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium’s main selling point is its room sensors feature, which makes it one of the most accurate and versatile thermostats on the market. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium comes with a temperature sensor that you can place in any room of your home, and it will measure the temperature and the occupancy of that room, and adjust the temperature accordingly. You can also add up to 32 sensors to your Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, and create different comfort zones for different rooms, or for different times of the day. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium also uses algorithms and sensors to learn your schedule, your preferred temperature settings, and your presence at home, and create a personalized schedule for you. It also uses the local weather and your home’s characteristics to optimize the temperature and energy use.
Compatibility and Integration
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is compatible with most HVAC systems, and it comes with a power extender kit, which eliminates the need for a c wire in most cases. You can check the compatibility of your system on the Ecobee website, or contact Morehart Air Conditioning and Heating for professional installation. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is also compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit, so you can control it with your voice, or with other smart home devices.
Energy Efficiency and Savings
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium is also Energy Star certified, and it provides you with energy usage reports, that show you how much energy you’re saving, and how you can save more.
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium has a list price of $249.99, but there are numerous sales available on various shopping platforms. It also comes with a three-year limited warranty, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Wyze Thermostat
The Wyze Thermostat is a new and affordable smart thermostat option, that offers a lot of features and performance. It’s a simple and minimalist device, with a square, LED display, that shows you the ambient temperature, the target temperature, and the mode. It’s also very easy to use, as you can simply press the knob to adjust the temperature, or rotate it to access the menu.
Smart Features
The Wyze Thermostat’s main selling point is its smart features, which make it one of the most advanced and adaptable thermostats on the market. The Wyze Thermostat uses algorithms and sensors to learn your schedule, your preferred temperature settings, and your presence at home, and create a personalized schedule for you. It also uses geofencing, which means it uses your smartphone’s location to determine when you’re home or away and adjust the temperature accordingly. The Wyze Thermostat also uses the local weather and your home’s characteristics to optimize the temperature and the energy use. The Wyze Thermostat can also integrate with other Wyze products, like the Wyze Cam and the Wyze Bulb, and create smart home scenarios, like turning on the lights when the thermostat detects motion, or turning off the heating when it detects smoke.
Compatibility and Integration
The Wyze Thermostat is compatible with most HVAC systems, but it requires a c wire for all systems. You can check the compatibility of your system on the Wyze website, or contact [Morehart Air Conditioning and Heating] for professional installation. The Wyze Thermostat is also compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it with your voice, or with other smart home devices.
Energy Efficiency and Cost
The Wyze Thermostat is not Energy Star certified, but it claims to save you up to 15% on your heating and cooling costs, and it provides you with energy usage reports, that show you how much energy you’re using, and how you can save more.
The Wyze Thermostat has a list price of $80, which makes it one of the cheapest smart thermostats on the market. It also comes with a one-year limited warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Want To Upgrade?
A smart thermostat is a smart investment for your home, as it can help you save money on your energy bills, improve your home’s comfort, and reduce your environmental impact. But with so many smart thermostat options available on the market, how do you choose the best one for your home? In this blog post, we compared some of the most popular and highly rated smart thermostats and gave you some tips on how to find the right one for your needs.
If you’re ready to upgrade your old thermostat to a smart thermostat, or if you need any help with installing, configuring, or using your smart thermostat, you can contact us, Morehart Air Conditioning and Heating, a family-owned, locally operated company that offers HVAC services in Peoria AZ, and surrounding areas. We have the expertise and the experience to install any smart thermostat model and to ensure that it works properly and safely with your HVAC system. We can also help you with any questions or issues that you might have with your smart thermostat, and provide you with tips and advice on how to use it effectively and efficiently. You can visit our website, to learn more about our services, or call us at (623) 566-0005 to schedule an appointment.
Don’t miss this opportunity to make your home smarter, more comfortable, and more energy efficient, with a smart thermostat from Morehart Air Conditioning and Heating.
