Smart Heating and Cooling Technology
The thermostat is the brain of the HVAC system, detecting temperature gradients and instructing the system to turn on and off to achieve the desired temperature. Today’s smart thermostats can help prevent you from overworking your HVAC system, wasting money, and reducing your carbon footprint.
With smart technologies becoming a member of the family in your home, why not give your thermostat a 21st-century upgrade, too?
Smart Thermostats Make HVAC More Efficient
Smart thermostats connect via Wi-Fi to the internet and can, therefore, be programmed from afar. Say you’re arriving home on a cold day and want the house warmed up for your arrival: just instruct the thermostat. Better yet, some smart thermostats synch with your phone to detect your arrival and regulate the temperature accordingly, turning up the heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. About half of the major brands available have motion sensors, geo-fencing or both to detect people entering the home.
You can also program the thermostat to keep the house cooler during some hours and warmer at others. For example, you might want the air conditioner to keep the house cooler during the summer while you sleep but to take a break when you’re away.
Smart thermostats also detect the arrival and departure from rooms and adjust the heating and cooling as needed. They work with home pods and networks, so Siri or Alexa can pass along your desired temperatures. Smart thermostats can be used with just about any HVAC unit; if your HVAC is connected to a traditional thermostat, it can work with a smart version.
Other Smart Devices for Your HVAC
Connecting a smart thermostat to smart radiator valves in each room allows for the discreet control of temperatures from one room to another. Some smart radiators don’t even need thermostats; they can be connected to a building-wide smart hub that controls temperatures independently in each room.
All this technology probably sounds like it would cost an arm and a leg, but in fact, a smart thermostat costs $300-$400 upfront. If you choose to hire an HVAC professional, like our team, to install it for you, it may be another couple of hundred dollars.
Controlling the heat and AC for the exact conditions of your home makes for a significantly more efficient heating and cooling system. Reducing your power bill by the amount spent on smart technology within a year or two is possible. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that reducing your heating during the summer and cooling during the winter for eight hours daily – those hours you’re at work, for example, can slash utility bills by approximately 10% here in Aiken. Keeping heating and AC use to a minimum also reduces your carbon footprint and extends the life of your unit.
Consumer Reports has tested 50 models and determined that smart thermostats generally save money on utility bills. “The secret to the energy savings is pretty simple: Smart thermostats turn off the heat and AC more often than regular thermostats, without sacrificing comfort,” Consumer Reports said.
It’s a win-win, which is the smartest move of all.
At Holley Heating & Air Conditioning, your comfort is our #1 concern. Air conditioning system maintenance is the key to keeping your system up and running efficiently and cost-effectively. You can trust our experienced team to keep your system running smoothly in all seasons. Call us to schedule an appointment today.
