You’ve likely heard about smart thermostats like the Google Nest, Amazon Smart Thermostat, or Ecobee. They’re the ones with sleek, modern digital displays that you control via touchscreen or even your phone. But are these devices just another passing fad, or an investment that the average homeowner should seriously consider?
At Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric, we’ve installed our fair share of smart thermostats—and helped customers troubleshoot when DIY installations go a little haywire. In all our experience, we’ve learned a lot about these exciting new gadgets, and we’re here to share our opinion on whether upgrading to a smart thermostat is worth it (short answer: yes!).
What is a Smart Thermostat?
A smart thermostat is an upgraded version of your regular thermostat—it performs the same basic functions, just with a lot more features and functionalities. These devices are app-enabled so that you can control your home’s temperature from anywhere, at any time.
Various models allow you to adjust the temperature in your home from your phone, using your voice (through assistants like Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri), or even through sensors that can automatically change the temperature when you leave the house.
What Can a Smart Thermostat Do?
Not only can a smart thermostat give you precise, remote control over your home’s temperature—it can also help you monitor energy usage. Over time, these devices learn your preferences and auto-adjust using the most efficient schedule to keep your home at the right degree (and your bill at the right price!).
If you choose, they can adjust when you’re asleep or away for maximum energy savings, automatically raising or lowering the temperature based on ambient outdoor conditions. Some even use your phone’s geolocation to sense when you’re on your way home from work, so they can get the climate just right for the moment you walk in the door.
Can You Replace Any Thermostat with a Smart Thermostat?
While many traditional thermostats can be replaced with smart devices, many can’t, so it’s important to have a licensed electrician or HVAC technician inspect your system before you make your purchase. Your HVAC system must be low voltage to be compatible with the smart devices on the market today.
If you have a central AC and central heating system, you almost certainly have a low-voltage system, so you should be good to go. However, if you use a wall heater or fan-forced heater, or if each individual room has a thermostat and heater/AC pair, you likely have a line voltage thermostat, which won’t be compatible.
How to Install a Smart Thermostat
Some major smart thermostat manufacturers offer compatibility-checking tools, installation videos, and online guides. But these resources can’t account for all the considerations that you need to make when upgrading your thermostat.
There’s a chance that your thermostat won’t have the right amount or type of wires to complete the upgrade. For most devices, you’ll need to have a C-wire to plug the new thermostat into. Even if you do have compatible wiring, though, the thermostat wires themselves are finicky. They’re thin, they break easily, and they need to be placed in the exact right positions to work.
Both for your safety and to save you a lot of headaches, call a certified electrician for any job where electrical wiring is involved. Calling a professional like Bacon to install your smart thermostat has a host of benefits:
- We have all the tools, parts, and expertise to properly install the device.
- We can run new wires, including a C-wire, if your system requires it.
- We can move your thermostat to a new location altogether if you desire.
- We can test and inspect the new device to ensure it’s functioning properly, and perform an electrical safety inspection for your entire system.
- We’re both an electric company and an HVAC company—so we know how to handle any issues that may arise with maximum efficiency, safety, and effectiveness.
Bottom Line: Is a Smart Thermostat Really Worth It?
Absolutely! A smart thermostat is convenient, but its benefits go beyond convenience alone (though once you control the thermostat from the palm of your hand, you’ll never go back). Heating and cooling are the largest energy expenses for your home, making up almost half of your total electricity bill every month on average. Optimizing your climate control can save you up to 23% on your bill, potentially translating to hundreds in annual savings.
These energy savings can provide a return on investment in less than a year for some households, making the upgrade a convenient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective choice. If you’ve purchased a smart device or are considering making the investment, call Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric for professional-grade installation today!
Everyone Loves Bacon! Smart Thermostat Installation in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
At Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric, we love it when homeowners come to us with all their smart home upgrade needs. Don’t take any chances on improper wiring, broken wires, or missing parts. Trust the licensed electricians at Bacon to get the job done right the first time so you can start seeing those energy savings roll in.
