In the 21st century, smart thermostats are offering households more control over their heating system than ever before. But what exactly are the advantages of a smart thermostat (aside from the one we just mentioned)?
What is a Smart Thermostat?
Before looking at the advantages, let’s briefly define what a smart thermostat is. This type of thermostat is an example of intelligent technology, in that, among other things, it can connect to the internet, be accessed remotely, and, as mentioned, provide you with plenty of control that an old-fashioned thermostat could only dream of. Of course, we don’t imagine that old-fashioned thermostats have dreams… but maybe smart thermostats do?
The Advantages of Smart Thermostats
Please note that a smart thermostat must be installed by a Gas Safe Register engineer. We suggest spending a bit of time to find a heating engineer near you. Ideally, you should obtain three quotes before choosing the right person for you.
Without further ado, let’s look at the benefits offered by smart, modern thermostats.
Increased Control
This is arguably the key selling point of smart thermostats. Aside from simply allowing you to adjust the temperature of your home, a smart thermostat gives households the opportunity to schedule all of their heating.
This would mean you can sit back and relax knowing that your thermostat will adjust at the desired times for you. Some smart thermostats are even capable of learning your preferences and routine and can adjust accordingly!
However, whether or not you opt for a model that adjusts to your preferences/routine, you should still see noticeable improvements in the efficiency of your home’s heating.
Lower Heating Bills
With the ongoing energy crisis, many people are concerned with keeping their heating bills down. And while the peak of the crisis is likely to pass at some point in 2023, energy prices are expected to remain above 2019 levels for years to come.
Either way, smart thermostats can help keep your bills down since they can operate in a smarter way than conventional thermostats (e.g., it can turn your heating on and off at just the right times).
Depending on who you listen to, a smart thermostat might save you between £75 and £160 per year. However, your savings would obviously depend on your current heating bills, and by extension, the size/type of heating system you have installed.
Will Bring Down Your Carbon Footprint
Aside from reducing your heating bills, a smart thermostat can lower your carbon footprint. According to some estimates, a smart thermostat may reduce your footprint by around 0.3 to 0.7 tonnes of CO2 annually.
Internet Connectivity and Remote Use
As mentioned, smart thermostats offer internet connectivity and may be used remotely. With a connected device (and the relevant app), you’d be able to access and control your thermostat even when you’re out and about.
After all, while you could use your home Wi-Fi to control your thermostat from another room, you could also use mobile data (e.g. 4G or 5G) to control your heating when you’re not home.
Of course, to what extent a system will work as described above will depend on the model in question. That’s just one of the many reasons why we suggest looking around at plenty of options before choosing the right smart thermostat for you.
However, let’s assume the smart thermostat you opt for allows for remote control using mobile data. In this case, imagine you have got a long day at work (and to make it worse it’s a Friday), meaning you won’t be home at the time expected. In this case, you could access your smart thermostat remotely and reschedule your heating to turn on at a later time.
That way, unless anyone else is due to be home at that time, you won’t be wasting heat by having to turn your heating on a second time upon arriving home late. And then you could arrive home to a warm house, relieved that it’s the weekend, all while knowing you haven’t wasted money.
As you can imagine, a smart thermostat could prove very handy in many situations. It would offer you a bit more predictability in an unpredictable world.
Is a Smart Thermostat Worth It?
In our view, a smart thermostat is certainly worth it. While it would probably cost around £150 to £300 to have a smart thermostat installed, it would likely pay for itself within two to four years and maybe even less.
All in all, aside from a smart thermostat being a worthy investment, it offers a whole host of advantages as we’ve explored today. Ultimately, it’s up to you and your preferences but we think smart thermostats are the way to go.
