Winter is Here!
And with winter comes a drop in temperatures. Soon you’ll find yourself reaching for that thermostat that you haven’t looked twice at all summer.
For many homeowners, a thermostat is something they don’t give a lot of thought to. But maybe that should change!
Several years ago, “smart” thermostats arrived on the scene – and thermostats haven’t been the same ever since.
The new smart thermostats allow you to replace your old-school thermostat with one that can help you keep heating and cooling costs in check.
Smart thermostats allow you to program your systems to turn the heat up or down when you’re asleep or away. And the really elaborate ones can “learn” your patterns and/or allow you to make changes remotely.
Let’s take a look at some of the options!
The Nest Learning Thermostat – $249
When Nest was launched in 2012, it changed the landscape of the thermostat world. Nest learns how you live in your home after you set it manually for the first week. It can then automatically adjust your temperatures to match your lifestyle. It also can turn off lights when it knows you’ve left the house!
There’s even an option of adding the Nest Protect Smoke + CO Alarm, Nest can even shut off your heating system in the event of a fire.
Ecobee – $249
The Ecobee relies on sensors in multiple rooms to customize the heating experience. For example, a drafty room will receive a message from Ecobee to send more heat to that area.
The latest version, Ecobee4, has built-in voice control and connects with Amazon’s Alexa product.
Honeywell Lyric T5 – $150
Honeywell has been around a long time. If you have an old-style thermostat in your home, odds are it is a Honeywell!
The Lyric is an affordable option and it offers “geo-fencing” technology. That’s just a fancy way of saying that Lyric knows your location and turns up the heat as you get close to home.
Soon, Lyric will work with opt-in programs offered by some utility companies – allowing homeowners to conserve energy use when costs are highest. When that happens, Lyric will dial down the temperature during times of peak demand, saving you money!
The bottom line? Smart thermostats can improve your bottom line.
Installing a smart thermostat can be a cost-saver, particularly if done in concert with other winterization projects such as checking and improving insulation and weather stripping, and ensuring your windows are double-paned.
Smart thermostats also add value should you decide to sell your home. It’s one of the features we’re hearing more and more buyers request when searching for their new home.
If you’d like to add a smart thermostat, but are unsure about installing one, just reach out. We may know just the person to help!
