Both programmable and smart thermostats allow you to regulate the temperature in your home to save you money on your energy bills. Unlike conventional thermostats, which need to be manually adjusted, programmable and smart thermostats can be set to increase and decrease the temperature in your home automatically. Here’s an overview of what each type of thermostat has to offer.
Programmable thermostats
Programmable thermostats allow you to schedule and set your temperature preferences for pre-determined times and days throughout the week. For example, you can program your HVAC system to run minimally when you’re at work, and warm up or cool down automatically before you return. This saves you money on your monthly utility bills while ensuring your home always remains at a comfortable temperature.
Smart thermostats
Similar to programmable thermostats, smart thermostats allow you to create automatic and programmable temperature settings based on your daily schedules. However, the biggest advantage of smart thermostats is that they’re designed to learn your patterns and behaviours over time and will automatically adjust the temperature in your home to accommodate your habits.
Furthermore, many smart thermostats are Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to remotely control the temperature in your home from anywhere in the world using a smartphone, tablet or computer. What’s more, some smart thermostats will also provide energy reports, run times and maintenance reminders.
Which thermostat is right for you?
When deciding between a programmable and a smart thermostat there are two major factors to take into consideration: cost and complexity. From the outset, smart thermostats cost quite a bit more than programmable thermostats. Although they save you money on your yearly energy bills, it could take several years to make up the difference. That said, if you plan on staying in your current home for years to come, it may be well worth the splurge for a smart thermostat, since the savings will eventually add up.
However, if you aren’t very tech-savvy, you may find it difficult to use a smart thermostat. In addition, if you aren’t interested in energy reports and Wi-Fi capability, a programmable thermostat will likely be the better choice.
If you need assistance, the experts at Harmony Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find a thermostat that suits your needs, lifestyle and budget.
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