Smart ThermostatsAudio Visual Consultant in San Angelo, TX
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What are smart thermostats?A Smart Thermostat is a different model of thermostat that is made to work with modern home systems. The company Nest has its own smart thermostats as well as Ecobee, Honeywell, and others. A smart thermostat makes it easier to set the temperature by phone or tablet and helps people save money on energy bills by doing so. They also come with sensors, like motion detectors and carbon monoxide sensors, which make your home up to 20% more efficient and create a healthier environment for everyone living in it. A smart thermostat connects wirelessly over the internet which allows you to control the heating from anywhere via Bluetooth, WiFi, or even voice assistant! A smart thermostat is an automated, programmable system that controls HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) in one or more rooms.
There are many benefits to having a smart thermostat. The most important benefit is the reduction of energy spending and consumption. Programmable timers can reduce your home's energy bills by up to 10% on average. They help ensure your house is cool before you come back from work and heated or cooled at night when you're safely indoors. Additionally, these digital tools provide maximum comfort with minimum effort. Unlike old- fashioned manual setting methods which often aren't automated correctly, using autopilot ensures that your heating and cooling cycles will never run for more than the necessary amount of time. |
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How are Smart Thermostats Used?
Using a programmable smart thermostat is a great way to maintain comfortability in your residence, and keep under $200-300 on your electricity bill. With a smart thermostat like the Nest Thermostat, type in how many hours you want it to be 72 degrees during what time period, and everything else -- including returning back to 72 after shutting off the AC - will be handled automatically by the smart thermostat. Additionally, they can be programmed to turn off when no one is home which can help save even more money. The time clocks on the smart thermostat are also capable of monitoring day and night temperatures for more control over the level of comfort in a home or business. Rather than having to actively change your settings, you can use a smartphone or laptop to make adjustments for heating and cooling remotely. Some smart thermostats are even capable of tracking your habits, so they know exactly what you want when you return from work or go to bed. It is both convenient and affordable, and ultimately can save you money in the long run! Angelo Tech & A/V is the most trusted name in home automation setup, so contact us today!
Are smart thermostats worth it?There are so many options out there, so it may seem overwhelming at first glance. A lot of people opt for non-smart equipment because they're sufficiently happy with their current programmable model, don't want alerts on their devices, or just don't understand the setup and operation of such devices. The decision ultimately rests on if you'll be using your thermostat regularly enough to justify the expense and time to set it up. Overall, with technology improving at the rate it is, it's worth it to invest in a smart thermostat because the savings it will generate from monitoring energy consumption alone will pay for the device in a few short months. Smart thermostats make it easy to set a target temperature and synchronize all heating or air conditioning units in the home. The rise in popularity of these new central smart home controls reflects an improved energy efficiency and a growing interest in cost-saving and remote monitoring. For example, with a smart thermostat you can automatically adjust your settings for a few hours while you're sleeping or away from home, even if all of the heating and cooling systems are on different schedules. Using this approach can help extend equipment life by protecting against costly breakdowns that happen as equipment wears down over time.
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How Much Does a Smart Thermostat Cost?
The cost of a smart thermostat will vary depending on the particular model, but two of the most popular and reasonably priced models are Nest and Ecobee. For Nest, pricing can be as low as $170 for an older version. For Ecobee, pricing usually ranges from $180 - $380 for various models. Ultimately it's best to do some research to find which one is best for your specific needs and budget before making a purchase. It's difficult to give a price for all models because there are so many on the market. Generally, you should expect that most smart thermostats will be priced between $100 and $400. The only other cost associated with these smart thermostats is any installation fees if you are having a professional install and set it up for you. However, some families can save up to 10% of their annual energy expenditure, which pays for the device in full in just a few short months. Smart thermostats will help increase your home's efficiency and lower your utility bills while helping provide higher levels of comfort throughout the year. Contact our team of A/V consultants at Angelo Tech & A/V to help install your smart thermostat today.
What are the benefits of a smart thermostat?
When purchasing a smart thermostat, the upfront cost is worth it for those who want to be able to save money by automating their thermostat rather than doing any type of manual scheduling. Many people will also see an increase in efficiency as the home's comfort level can be more easily maintained 24/7. Depending on the specifications, it could be very cheap and affordable to install. Generally speaking, anything that connects with WiFi should be considered "smart" and is more often than not a more affordable option. Other features are also important in how much it increases the price tag--such as the number of zones the system supports or if there are other connected services such as lighting control or mounted TV controls available.
The real price will depend on how many functions it is capable of handling and monitoring. Generally, these are considered an upfront purchase with a payback of a few years. It can save between 10% and 20% of energy usage over an extended period of time with programmable thermostats, assuming electricity costs the same. It's worth noting that some households may see savings more or less than this number using a smart thermostat due to different home efficiencies and conditions (such as people at home all day). With this said, most houses will find themselves saving money over a greater period of time.
The real price will depend on how many functions it is capable of handling and monitoring. Generally, these are considered an upfront purchase with a payback of a few years. It can save between 10% and 20% of energy usage over an extended period of time with programmable thermostats, assuming electricity costs the same. It's worth noting that some households may see savings more or less than this number using a smart thermostat due to different home efficiencies and conditions (such as people at home all day). With this said, most houses will find themselves saving money over a greater period of time.
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How to Set up a Smart Thermostat
If you haven't already, our recommendation is to invest in a smart thermostat that lets you adjust the heat and A/C from anywhere with WiFi access. Setup is usually just a matter of connecting to your WiFi, entering in some basic information about your home and preferred temperature settings, and following the on-screen prompts. Once it's set up you'll receive alerts every time anyone changes the temperature, so no more coming home to a freezing or stuffy house.
The first step in setting up a smart thermostat includes determining which type of smart thermostats you have. There are several types, namely the hub-based thermostat, and the WiFi thermostat connecting only to your home's WiFi network. A hub-based thermostat is going to connect through a personal hub that will allow it to take commands from voice assistants or apps within your home or office. The WiFi-based thermostats connect directly via WiFi meaning they can't receive any outside information sources but can still control those devices around their vicinity so long as those devices have been connected.
The first step in setting up a smart thermostat includes determining which type of smart thermostats you have. There are several types, namely the hub-based thermostat, and the WiFi thermostat connecting only to your home's WiFi network. A hub-based thermostat is going to connect through a personal hub that will allow it to take commands from voice assistants or apps within your home or office. The WiFi-based thermostats connect directly via WiFi meaning they can't receive any outside information sources but can still control those devices around their vicinity so long as those devices have been connected.
How to use a smart thermostat
Smart thermostats are a simple and cost-effective way to take better control of your energy bills. The Nest Thermostat is a cutting-edge example of a smart thermostat that learns from your everyday schedules to program itself automatically. But the best part is the savings – over 10% on your heating and cooling usage with just one device! Brand names include Nest, Ecobee or Honeywell, which offer options that are quite affordable. If you're renting, you may need a landlord's permission before installing a smart thermostat because it does require wiring changes to be made throughout the house. There are also benefits if you have solar panels as these can now communicate with each other to save you even more money.
Switch to "smart mode" on the thermostat. The temperature will be automatically adjusted for shorter periods throughout the day, saving you money on energy costs. The other function available is "away mode". By setting your home's smart thermostat to "away mode," it will start to turn off heating and cooling systems during the designated hours so that you can conserve energy at your home while traveling or working away from home. These function off of an internet connection, which is how they maintain communication with the devices used to control them. Follow the directions until it's connected to your WiFi and powered on. You can now control your home's temperature autonomously by downloading an app or through voice commands. Note that different systems work slightly differently on setup, so be sure to consult our professional audiovisual consultants at Angelo's Tech & A/V for more detailed instructions on how to set up specific unit types.
Switch to "smart mode" on the thermostat. The temperature will be automatically adjusted for shorter periods throughout the day, saving you money on energy costs. The other function available is "away mode". By setting your home's smart thermostat to "away mode," it will start to turn off heating and cooling systems during the designated hours so that you can conserve energy at your home while traveling or working away from home. These function off of an internet connection, which is how they maintain communication with the devices used to control them. Follow the directions until it's connected to your WiFi and powered on. You can now control your home's temperature autonomously by downloading an app or through voice commands. Note that different systems work slightly differently on setup, so be sure to consult our professional audiovisual consultants at Angelo's Tech & A/V for more detailed instructions on how to set up specific unit types.