What Is a Thermostat?
A thermostat is a device that controls the temperature of a room or building. It senses the current temperature and compares it to a set point, then adjusts heating or cooling equipment until the desired temperature is reached.
The thermostat is the “boss” of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. It decides when the air and heat should be turned on and off. The type of thermostat you choose can make a significant difference in your family’s comfort and monthly utility bills.
There are three main types of thermostats:
- Manual Thermostats
These thermostats allow you to change the temperature of each wall unit in your house. Generally, there is one in each room. They’re typically user-friendly, and the temperature you set it at is the temperature your house stays at. No hassle, no change.
- Programmable Thermostats
Homeowners can set the automated thermostat once for their daily or weekly needs, which eliminates the need to manually change settings multiple times a day. Save yourself the worry and hassle of remembering to turn down the heat or air conditioning before you walk out the door. You can control the temperature of specific rooms and adjust settings individually.
- Smart/WiFi-Enabled Thermostats
These thermostats enable you to control the temperature settings remotely using a smartphone app or other connected device. With the Wi-Fi Connectivity feature, you can control your home temperature from anywhere in the world.
Why Should You Consider Buying a Smart /WiFi-Enabled Thermostat?
The primary benefit of a smart thermostat is that it can make your life easier, by reducing the amount of energy you use. A smart thermostat uses sensors to monitor room temperature, eliminating the need for homeowners to program an automated thermostat or manually adjust the temperature daily even if they are not at home.
Here are six additional reasons to consider installing a Smart/WiFi-Enabled Thermostat:
1. They can save you money on your energy bill.
2. They’re easy to use, even if you’re not tech-savvy!
3. You can set your thermostat at a comfortable level even if you’re not at home and you don’t have to worry that your house will get too warm or too cold.
4. They help you keep track of how much energy you’re using in different parts of your house, so you can make sure everything is working efficiently.
5. You can set it up so that when the temperature drops below a certain point at night or on weekends, it automatically turns on the heat so that your house is warm when you wake up or come home from work/school/etc.
6. If there’s something wrong with one part of your heating system (like a broken thermostat), smart thermostats will let you know immediately so that someone can fix it before anything gets too hot or cold in any part of your house
Top 3 Best Smart Thermostats to Buy for Your Home
If you’re looking to upgrade your thermostat, there are a number of options available to you.
Here are three of the best Smart/WiFi-Enabled thermostats on the market today:
Compatibility: Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, Google Home
The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium can be controlled via its touchscreen, remotely using a smartphone or tablet, or with voice commands via an Alexa-enabled smart speaker (or with an external Google or Apple smart speaker).
The Ecobee remote Smart Sensor detects your presence and temperature and can be placed in an area that is too cold or warm, so your Ecobee will balance the temperature around your home. The Ecobee thermostat takes a little bit of time to learn how to use all its features, but the benefits are worth it.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Google Home
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat can adapt to your preferred settings automatically over time. It can then automatically create a schedule for you, so you don’t have to program the device yourself.
It installs easily and supports geofencing, which means it can adjust the temperature in your home based on your location. In addition to the Nest Learning Thermostat, you can also purchase optional Nest Temperature Sensors.
These wireless pucks measure the temperature in rooms without a thermostat. Nest’s motion-detecting and temperature-measuring sensors can help you determine if a room is too cold or hot, so you can adjust the thermostat accordingly.
Nest’s Temperature Sensors are different from Ecobee’s SmartSensors, however. While Nest’s thermostat detects presence and movement, its Temperature Sensors don’t, so they can’t be used to trigger heating or cooling based on someone being in a specific room.
Compatibility: Amazon Alexa
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is a no-frill, simple smart thermostat that does its job well. Some people prefer simplicity in their lives, and for those people, the Amazon Smart Thermostat may be an ideal choice.
This model can be configured to run on a timed schedule, or you can use Alexa Hunches (Amazon’s term for Alexa’s AI-based learning feature) to have it learn your patterns and suggest customized settings. The Amazon Smart Thermostat avoids the typical touchscreen or rotating dial controls found on other smart thermostats; instead, you tap the touch-surface face to make controls visible.
You can adjust the temperature with voice commands to an Alexa device or with the Alexa app on your smartphone. The one feature we’d like to see added is compatibility with remote sensors, which our top picks have.
Homeowners strive to create comfortable living spaces. Selecting the right type of thermostat will impact your home’s comfort throughout the changing seasons. All of this leads to one question: Which type of thermostat is best suited to your needs?
The popularity of thermostats has led to the development of many different types, making it easy to choose the right one for your needs. But it all depends on the type that’s right for you—the one that fits your budget and lifestyle.
We hope this article has helped you determine the most suitable smart thermostat for your home!
For more information about home improvement, visit our blog. You may also follow our social media accounts on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram!
