Installing a smart thermostat is one of the best ways to save energy and money in your residence. Not only can you set it to adjust temperature settings based on certain activities or schedules, but many models also use motion sensors to detect when no one is home and automatically lower the temperature.
As you come and go, the thermostat adjusts the temperature to keep you comfortable when you're home without wasting energy when you're away. Energy savings: A smart thermostat can save you a modest amount of money on your electric bills. According to ENERGY STAR, the average savings are about 8 percent, or $50 a year.
Yes, many smart thermostats are designed for DIY installation, and manufacturers typically provide step-by-step guides and videos.
Yeah, you can install a smart thermostat. Just to be aware, you don't have a 'c' wire, but many thermostats can work around that (nest can, ecobee has an adapter).
Do all Smart Thermostats Require a C-Wire? Though all smart thermostats can use a C-wire and arguably may be more reliable with the use of one, not all smart thermostats require a C-wire to function. Some models, such as Google Nest, are designed to work even if your home doesn't have a C-wire.
Does a Smart Home Increase a Home's Value? Smart home technology can definitely add to market value. Appraisers make what they call “adjustments” when they compare tech-enabled homes with similar but tech-deficient houses. Smart homes command higher prices and may be easier to sell as a result.
The average cost of installing a smart thermostat is about $200 to $500. Most homeowners spend around $300 for the installation of C wire and a smart thermostat with auto-schedule function and two-year warranty. On the lower end, smart thermostats with only basic features and an existing C wire cost around $170.
On average, savings are approximately 8% of heating and cooling bills or $50 per year. Savings may be greater depending on climate, personal comfort preferences, occupancy, and/or heating/cooling (HVAC) equipment.
In simple terms, your HVAC system continues to run despite the lack of a Wi-Fi connection. How does this work? Most thermostats will maintain the current settings when the internet goes down. However, you might not be able to change or readjust the temperature settings remotely.
Parks Associates: 16% of U.S. Internet Homes Now Have Smart Thermostats. Adoption of smart thermostats increased to 16 percent by the end of 2022, as 62 percent of U.S. internet households say their electricity costs are too high, according to Parks Associates.
To decide between the two, it's best to determine what kind of user you'll be. If you're thinking of just setting and forgetting it, then go with a Nest. If you are planning to "geek out" over every feature and datapoint, go with ecobee.
A Nest Thermostat, as demonstrated, may easily be compromised during transport, deployment, or by an attacker having access to it on a non-secure location. As demonstrated above, it can then become a client on a botnet.
Is there a monthly fee to use a smart thermostat? Typically no. None of the thermostats listed in this guide require a monthly fee to use them, and they're all very good options. Don't waste your money on a smart thermostat that requires you to pay a monthly subscription.
Smart Thermostats Can Be Expensive: The cost of a normal digital thermostat can be as low as $30.00 but many smart thermostats can be a bit more expensive. Smart thermostats range anywhere between $100 to $250 or more. This prohibitive cost can be a big barrier to entry for some consumers.
ecobee is a Canadian-founded home automation company that makes smart thermostats, temperature, and occupancy sensors, smart light switches, smart cameras, and contact sensors. They were acquired by the American company Generac Holdings in 2021.
At PCMag, we have been reviewing smart thermostats for more than a decade, since the original Nest Learning Thermostat debuted in 2012. Our top pick, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat, not only controls your heating and cooling but also serves as a voice assistant, an air quality monitor, and a home security device.
The answer is yes; a smart thermostat can replace a regular one. However, the installation becomes more complex in certain situations. For example, newer homes have a C-wire (common wire) in them, while many older ones don't. Most smart thermostats require a C-wire.
If you can follow an instruction manual and are handy with a screwdriver, wire, and wire nuts, it's likely you can install a thermostat yourself. But some folks don't like to mess around with wires or electricity (and we don't blame you).
The cost to install a thermostat is $182 on average, but you could pay between $113 and $264.
Most homeowners can easily install a Google Nest thermostat on their own in just 20-30 minutes by following the Nest app's step-by-step instructions.
Otersen said smart thermostats can cut heating and cooling bills by an average of 20% annually. That savings comes from the unit running the heat or air conditioning only when it's needed (based on those learned behaviors), and from users being able to change temperatures when they're not home.
On average, most thermostats last about 10 years, depending on the model, usage, and proper maintenance. However, many people decide to replace their unit sooner to take advantage of new energy-saving technologies.
Energy Savings (and Lower Bills!)
Smart thermostats can learn your routine and can automatically adjust settings to match when your home, away, or asleep. You can also set schedules manually, so the system can scale back when the house is empty, during the day or night.