Let me go straight to the point – yes, they are. Read on to learn more about them.
A smart thermostat is another technology innovation for your home. By now, you're either annoyed that you have to buy everything with the word "smart" on it or you're curious as to how life-changing these devices can be.
Whether you're trying to buy any smart device or not, knowing about smart thermostats is worth your time and here's why - a huge portion of your electricity bill comes from the use of a thermostat.
Regular Thermostats vs Smart Thermostats
The best way to appreciate a smart thermostat is to compare it with a regular thermostat. A regular thermostat is the small control panel on your wall that controls the temperature in your home.
It is connected to the air-conditioning unit and the heater, so you can easily adjust the temperature as you see fit. Usually, it is composed of a dial and a few switches.
On the other hand, the smart thermostat is a temperature control panel that you can control with your phone. Yes, you read that right. You no longer have to get up and adjust the temperature every now and then. Just set the temperature just enough to keep you warm, and throw those wrap blankets away!
All you have to do is pick up your phone, adjust it from there and let your room cool or heat up on its own. Smart thermostats don't even stop there. Most devices have other features like automatic temperature adjusting, notifications on appliance maintenance, and many more.
Why Would You Want a Smart Thermostat?
Okay, so a smart thermostat is the more sophisticated version of a regular thermostat. But apart from that, why would you want to buy it? Here are some advantages of having this installed in your home.
1>Monitor your home's temperature wherever you are
The problem with regular thermostats is that you have to adjust it manually. Think about it, if you're coming from work on a freezing night, you might arrive in a chilly home.
That's when you have to adjust the thermostat, wait for the heater to kick in, and then finally warm up.
With a smart thermostat, you don't have to be home to activate your heater. All you need is to go to the app, check the temperature of your home, and adjust it to the temperature that you want by the time you come home.
So the next time you reach your house, you're ready to take off your coat and relax on the sofa.
2> Save on energy bills
What people don't realize is that adjusting the temperature in your home uses a lot of energy. If you expect the AC to cool down a warm area suddenly, then you're going to use a lot of electricity to do that.
With a smart thermostat, you can gradually increase or decrease the temperature, which is a lot more energy-efficient.
If you're worried about how much a smart thermostat costs, these energy savings might convince you that it's not all that bad.
3>No more manual adjusting
Picture this-you're watching TV with pyjamas on, Chinese takeout in your hands, and watching the most intense scene of Game of Thrones when you realize that it's so hot, you're starting to sweat.
Instead of focusing on whether Jon Snow is going to kill Daenerys, you are noticing the beads of sweat forming in your neck. Instead of sweating through your pyjamas, you run to your thermostat and then run back again and realized you missed the scene.
This is just one instance of how inconvenient it is to get up and walk to your thermostat.
Sure, it's not so bad when you look at it since people get up and turn things on and off all the time, but when you have a better option, why settle for that?
4>Easy to use
New technology can be daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll ask yourself why you didn't use it in the first place. Aside from having an app that you can use easily, a smart thermostat is very user-friendly.
It's not like your usual thermostats that have a number of switches where you don't know which one does what. The app is very easy to understand, and you can even do a little exploring in it once you get the chance.
5>Long-term investment
It doesn't seem like it, but a smart thermostat is a long-term investment. Obviously, you won't be able to see why during the first year, but isn't that the point of long-term investment?
If you are meticulous enough, you can compare your old electricity bill to your new bill just to get an idea of how much you've saved. Ideally, you get 10%-20% lower than your usual. If not, then it's either you're using it wrong, or your consumption has increased.
Is a Smart Thermostat Worth It?
At the end of the day, you want to know if buying a smart thermostat is worth it. The short answer to this is yes. It's worth it, and it can save you a lot of money in the long run.
First, it lets you know the condition of your AC and your heater. You'll know if there's a problem with those appliances so you can act on them right away.
Malfunctioning appliances lead to more energy consumption, so it's essential that you take advantage of this feature.
Second, you can control your temperature anywhere, any time. People don't realize this too much, but just the fact that you can time it with your schedule is already a big plus.
You don't have to rush in to drop or increase the temperature (which obviously increases your electricity bill).
Of course, when buying a smart thermostat, you have to take into account both the cost and the right usage for it. If you buy an expensive model with a lot of features, then you'll definitely have to wait for a longer period to get your money's worth.
However, there are good models there that don't require you to pay $500. Just make sure that you use it right or else all we be a waste.