How Much is a Thermostat for a Household?
It’s a common thing for a house to have a thermostat. In fact, most people take the thermostat for granted because it’s already a given for your AC or your heater. But do you know why it’s so important? If you don’t have a thermostat yet, how much do you need to buy one?
If you’re asking these questions hoping that you could get started in buying a thermostat for your home, welcome to this post. Here, you’ll know more about the thermostat, why you need one, and how much it will cost you.
What is a Thermostat?
The first thing that enters anyone’s mind when they hear ‘thermostat’ is temperature. You’re probably thinking of the same thing - that it has something to do with temperature. You’re absolutely correct because a thermostat regulates temperature. It’s the switch or the knob you see on the wall that lowers or raises the temperature.
A thermostat is connected to an AC or a heater. It works by setting a desired temperature of the room and the AC or the heater will either turn off or on depending on the current temperature in the surroundings. Nowadays, thermostats have additional features. They can be Wi-Fi connected or smart, as the techies call it. They’re also more energy-efficient now.
Why Do You Need a Thermostat?
Sure, a thermostat regulates temperature but is it so important? If your air conditioning unit has a thermostat built-in, why do you need one?
The most important reason why you should get a thermostat is cost-efficiency. When you’ve set your desired temperature, the thermostat will work to reach that certain level of heat or coolness. And when the temperature has reached that, your thermostat can regulate how much heat or cold should be produced. It’s like turning on your heating system just to maintain the heat and without increasing the heat in the room.
What’s great about this is that it requires less and less use of your heater and AC. And you know what that means - cost savings!
There’s also the advantage of convenience. You no longer have to get up and adjust the AC whenever the room is turning too cold. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can easily set the time you won’t be in the house and the time you come back. Your thermostat will handle the temperature when you’re gone.
How Much is a Thermostat?
So those benefits have got you excited, and now, you’re ready to buy a thermostat. The average price in the US ranges from $145 to 230. The lowest rate you can get is less than a hundred dollars while the most expensive won’t reach a thousand. This already includes the actual thermostat and labour. Of course, there are a lot of factors affecting how much a thermostat is.
Factors Affecting Thermostat Cost
There are several factors that determine how much a thermostat is from the type of thermostat to the labour. Whether or not you’re on a budget, you should know the costs that are included so you can get the best price.
1. Type of Thermostat
For obvious reasons, the type of thermostat you buy determines the range of the total cost. There are four types of thermostats: manual, programmable, Wi-Fi, and Smart. The most affordable type is the manual thermostat (the one that you usually turn to the desired temperature). It costs at most $50 simply because there are no other features. There isn’t even a digital screen.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Smart thermostat that can reach up to $400. While it is the most expensive, it does have advantages over the more affordable types. It can adjust your thermostat based on your schedule. It can be controlled wirelessly (via phone, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant). And it can also give you analytics on your energy consumption.
2. Brand
Along with the type of thermostat is the brand. There are high-end brands, and there are low-end brands. Needless to say, high-end brands are more expensive because of the branding, functionality, and durability. Honeywell Smart thermostats cost around $299, and Google thermostat is about $179.
However, you have to take into account that just because a brand is affordable doesn’t mean it’s cheaply made. The same goes for expensive brands. When picking brands, make sure it’s a brand you trust. If it’s not, always look at the features, warranty, and customer service.
3. Kind of Service and Other Works
Another cost factor is the kind of services you’re going to ask the electrician to do. Installation costs are usually determined by the cost of labour, but if you are going to add other services, this can add up to the total cost. For example, you might need to have new wirings for your model or a wall repair if you want to move your thermostat to a different place. If you are repairing a wall, expect to pay an additional $60 at least on top of the labour and the rewiring. These do not include the materials the electrician needs.
4. Labor
Last but not least is the labour. If you can do DIY, then this will help save 20% of the costs. However, this isn’t recommended especially when you have to do some wiring work. Since you will be dealing with something electrical, it’s not ideal for you to go DIY if you do not have the necessary knowledge. Always keep in mind that it is best to hire a professional electrician to ensure that you do the installation properly.
On average, an electrician is paid around $70 an hour of work. This can increase depending on the complexity of the job. The more time they spend installing your thermostat, the higher their payment will be.
Overall, buying and installing a thermostat can either be affordable or expensive. This depends a lot on the type of thermostat, labour, kind of service, and the brand you’ll buy. Don’t forget to do a little bit of research on the best thermostats so you can pick which one would work best for you.