Although you are most likely familiar with the types of HVAC systems currently available, you may be unaware of the energy usage-efficient, new advanced touchscreen thermostats now on offer, such as Amazon Smart thermostat or ecobee, that manufacturers have designed with home health and safety in mind. These smart thermostats, by using wifi connectivity, connect to your HVAC system to ensure the temperature and humidity you have set is maintained according to your schedule and preferences, similar to how a bird maintains its nest. With the help of an app, you can easily track energy use and adjust temperatures over different times of the day. The touchscreen allows for a smoother interaction with the device’s settings and features, paving way for a user-friendly experience that can provide warmth to your apple pie baking in the kitchen or cooling for your living room, just as you order.
At The Cooling Company, the majority of smart thermostats we’ve seen in Las Vegas need additional electric power and heating accessories. This means you are unable to use regular batteries, but they are often energy star rated for efficiency, with updates being constantly implemented to enhance their ability to regulate room temperatures according to your desired times.
Taking into account that most smart thermostats do not require enough power where an electrical outlet is necessary, these thermostats can be powered by your system with their smooth wireless connectivity, boosting their compatibility with various HVAC setups and location-based adjustments. Or you can use a dedicated C wire.
In some instances, an R power wire is necessary. We do not recommend using this type of wire because it may cause permanent damage to your unit. If you do not have a C wire, we can easily install one for you.
Interestingly, you may already have a C wire hidden within your wall that has not been connected. Our issue with a typical thermostat is you do not receive the benefits of a smart model, like the flexibility of temperature settings, voice-command features with an assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant and their continual updates.
Truly effective, a smart thermostat, like Amazon’s smart thermostat, can adapt automatically to your daily routine. This means the device aims to learn when you are home or away. With this integrated technology and advanced settings, you won’t need to constantly change the temperature on your voice-enabled smart thermostat.
Motion Sensor Smart Thermostats
The result is a lot more control over the temperature in your house, like a nest controlled by the birds within. There are three main smart thermostat types: motion sensors, geofencing, and learning algorithms. Each thermostat offers different features, such as integration with your Wi-Fi and mobile apps, voice command compatibility with Amazon Alexa, and easy-to-use touchscreen controls. There are even sensors available that can determine if anyone is home and adjust the temperature accordingly.
This type of smart thermostat uses sensors to detect both proximity and motion. When a person is sensed in your house, the thermostats like the ecobee will activate the home mode. When your residence is empty, away mode is activated, reducing energy consumption by adjusting the temperature settings.
We have found this type of thermostat to be effective. For more accurate readings and home-wide compatibility, consider installing remote sensors in the busiest areas of your home, such as the kitchen or living room, to keep a close check on heating, humidity and overall health of the living environment.
Geofencing Smart Thermostats
With impressive wireless and wifi connectivity, you’ll be able to set the temperature for both your home and away modes from the touchscreen interface of Amazon smart thermostat or even control it using the app on your apple device. This means as soon as someone comes home, your smart thermostat will heat or cool your rooms to your preferred temperature without any additional accessories needed. So when you time your energy use effectively, everyone can enjoy comfort at home and you can save money when everyone is away.You can set the temperature higher during the summer and lower in the winter while maintaining your comfort levels. This can also help in reducing the cost of energy consumption, making your smart home systems like Homekit and Android-operated devices a worthy investment.
By employing your phone’s GPS chip and an application, the geofencing smart thermostat creates a perimeter surrounding your home – a feature you’d pick for optimal control. You can set up personalized schedules using an android application, syncing it with the thermostat for enhanced automation. Once you’ve exited this perimeter, the system judiciously adjusts temperature levels to eliminate using unnecessary energy, fully optimizing your Amazon Smart Thermostat’s energy usage, and helping you save on utility bills.
Upon your return home, the system detects the shift in location, fine-tuning the temperature to ensure you are comfortable once again. This incredible functionality, which we regularly detail in our newsletter, could very well be worth the cost of investment, considering the incentives it offers in terms of energy conservation.
This smart thermostat is right at home with the majority of central HVAC units. If you are using a different type of system such as radiant or baseboard, it’s cardinal to ensure your thermostat’s compatibility with your unit by testing it initially. With remote access options like Amazon Alexa or Google Home, or even Apple’s Homekit for iOS users, adjusting the temperature in your house remotely becomes a breeze. So whether you’re using a smartphone or an office computer, you can modify the settings, getting all the prime deals in terms of temperature control.
Geofencing models have the bonus of using your phone to determine if you are home or away, and adjust the heating or cooling system accordingly. You can set your preferred range using a friendly Android app or, speculatively, Apple’s upcoming Homekit update. If you opt for a 500-foot range, once you exit, your thermostat’s assistant, like Amazon Alexa, will, via a voice command routed through the c-wire, automatically revert the system to away mode, ensuring you consistently get the right price-quality balance.
The device operates using home mode when you’re within range. The aim is to ascertain your property is always at your desired temperature level, promoting a lifestyle of convenience while also conserving energy. If going phone-less is your style, no worries! With advances in technology, devices such as Google’s voice control speakers or Amazon’s Alexa can be operated from anywhere in your home, without having the need to pick up a device. This setup may cost a bit more initially but can be particularly useful for homeowners, helping them manage their monthly utility bills more efficiently.
Learning Algorithms Smart Thermostat
Working close to home? We recommend setting your preferred range higher. A good example is if your place of work is roughly one mile from your residence. In this case, your workstation might be within your smart home network range. You should set your smart thermostat, like a Honeywell design fitted with an integrated speaker for voice control, to cover a range of two miles. This strategy prevents any accidental triggering of home mode while you’re still at the office. Accurately timing and coordinating these settings using intuitive Android or Homekit-based schedules can be an investment that leads to significant energy savings.
Some smart thermostats harness the power of algorithm-based learning, a method enriched by continuous research. This is parallel to a programmable thermostat since you can set specific temperatures conforming to your lifestyle. The distinctive feature is that your smart thermostat has the capacity to adapt to alterations in your daily routine or the tools you use to operate it. It conserves energy and, over time, can even lead to rebates on your bill.
Certain brands have integrated an auto-away feature into their design. The thermostat employs a wide range of both light and motion sensors, vital instruments in running a well-regulated household and reducing energy expenses. Suppose you’re at home unexpectedly and no sensors are crossed. In that scenario, your thermostat defaults to away mode to conserve energy, but should your patterns deviate, it learns and adjusts accordingly. To stay abreast with the latest developments on these features and many more, consider signing up for our informational newsletter.This feature makes smart thermostats, like the well-known Nest Learning Thermostat, a popular pick among homeowners perpetually striving to ensure their homes are energy efficient. The data it provides can help you understand the pattern of your energy bill and come up with ways to reduce it.
If you are home because you are ill, you may be remaining in bed. In this instance, you will not be crossing any of the occupancy sensors typically placed in many American homes. But with products like Google’s voice control speakers, you can still have control over something as important as your environment without having to move. These devices can answer your questions and provide you with information on everything from news to utilities usage. You simply have to ask, and your commands will be processed! The entire network lends to a seamless living experience within your budget, while also considering your individual temperature preferences.
Installing a Smart Thermostat
To maintain your comfort in every corner of your place, all that is necessary is making a manual adjustment to reach your preferred temperature. You can do this using your phone or through your smart thermostat, like the Nest Learning Thermostat. This will let your entire system know you are inside the house. Its data processing feature, along with others, especially comes in handy for those with smart speakers helping them maintain a comfortable environment anywhere in their domain.
Unless you have training in this area, we recommend professional installation to ensure optimal insulation. The energy bill, and overall performance, are all influenced by the placement and wiring of your thermostat. For smart thermostats, devices such as Honeywell are recommended. Its smart design ensures proper function when aligned with your HVAC system.
You also need to consider something as vital as the C wire. This wire ensures your thermostat is receiving constant power. If you make the slightest mistake while trying to work around the C wire or installing in any voice control speakers, some features of your Nest Learning Thermostat and other smart devices may not function properly, impacting the efficiency of your energy bill.
We have often encountered customers who heard from the internet about ways to work around the C wire. Unfortunately, this often results in damage to your HVAC system. In some instances, this damage was even extensive, affecting other household devices – a blow to the efficiency and data recording of your smart devices.
One of the most commonly used and most dangerous methods is called power stealing. This is particularly risky if you have several devices connected to your thermostat, including speakers. Hence, we strongly recommend against using this method because of the potential risks.
The last thing we want is to tell anyone the damage to their unit is irreparable. Saving a few dollars on your energy bill is not worth risking replacing your entire HVAC system or paying for costly repairs. Especially considering how integral your HVAC system is to your comfort during the heat of the summer months.
Experienced Professionals
The heat often begins before the summer, lasting well into the fall. Even if you are without air conditioning for a short period of time, the increasing temperature in your home can make things far from comfortable. In such scenarios, voice-controlled devices like Google speakers can help you navigate through these inconvenient moments.
All the HVAC technicians at The Cooling Company are experienced, efficient, and extremely well-trained in both maintenance works and research on newer technologies like smart thermostats or Google speakers. You can trust us to help you find which smart thermostat will work best with your HVAC system. If we need to do any wiring, you can rest assured that our technicians will perform the process safely and correctly.
