Which smart thermostat is right for your home

Initially regarded as another fad item with a short lifespan in the spotlight, smart thermostats have increasingly crossed over into the mainstream, becoming a popular household upgrade. Touting precision temperature control, expanded programmability, and Wi-Fi and app integration for greater accessibility, smart thermostats pack a plethora of attractive features for homeowners. But like most new tech, finding the right fit for an entry-level unit can be tricky for some. Below, we lay out the criteria homeowners should consider when choosing which smart thermostat is right for their home.

How is Your HVAC System?

While smart thermostats are designed to work with most HVAC systems, most is not all. The first step homeowners should take is verifying that their HVAC system will work with a smart thermostat. This varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even model to model. Most manufacturers will list exceptions on the product pages for specific models, but if homeowners are confused by the information they’re reading, consider reaching out to a professional HVAC technician for a second opinion or clarification.

What is Your Schedule?

Smart thermostats come on a sliding scale of just how “smart” they are — from requiring manual programming, to truly smart units that learn from homeowner’s standard preferences. To achieve this sophisticated level of knowledge, the smarter thermostats generally spend a week or so learning the household’s patterns, including movement between rooms, setting and resetting the temperature, and sleep patterns. Because of this, homeowners will need to be more prescient about how they interact with their entire home during the day, as ensuring the smart thermostat sets a standard schedule upfront will be the determining factor in homeowner’s reaping the monetary-savings rewards from the thermostat down the line. 

What are Your Home Aesthetics?

Closer to the bottom of the list for consideration, but still worth thinking about, smart thermostats come in a vast array of looks and feels. Some feel like a direct upgrade from standard, programmable models, while others have the look of a sci-fi gadget of tomorrow. Of course, aesthetics are only surface level, so it’s important to weigh the flashy face of any smart thermostat against its actual functionality. But as long as homeowners are upgrading, and with options available, why not consider picking up something that will be more catching and interesting to look at than the run-of-the-mill models of old?

For such a small device, deciding which smart thermostat is right for your home is a surprisingly large decision. If looking at a plethora of models is becoming overwhelming if you have questions about whether a particular model will be compatible with your current wiring and HVAC system, or if you have a model picked out and need installation help, consider reaching out to the professionals at Duane Blanton Home Services. With over 30 years of expert service experience, the technicians at Duane Blanton will be able to guide you through your new smart thermostat purchase and installation. Reach out to Duane Blanton today, at (847) 855- 0075, or schedule an appointment online through your browser of choice with their convenient online scheduling portal!