If you’re like most other energy-conscious homeowners in the St. Petersburg-Tampa area, you may already have a programmable thermostat, which automatically raises and lowers the temperature, based on your family’s activities and patterns. You’re well aware of the energy savings these devices can yield.
But did you know that you could boost your efficiency even more with a smart programmable thermostat? These nifty devices give you capabilities that were unheard of just a few years ago. They vary from one brand to another, but here are some of the features available on various models:
- WiFi capability: You can control your home-comfort systems from your laptop or smartphone when you’re away from home. If you’re returning from a vacation earlier than expected, you can tell your thermostat to raise or lower the temperature just before your new arrival time. You can also receive alerts if a problem has developed with one of your home-comfort systems. In addition, it will notify you when you need to change your air filter.
- Adaptivity: Some smart thermostats have the ability to learn your habits and adjust your energy usage accordingly. They measure ambient light, humidity and motion to fine-tune your comfort program. For example, if you’re at work on a Saturday when you’re usually home, it can detect that and override the preset temperature.
- Ability to communicate: If you have more than one smart thermostat in your home–for a zoning system, for example–they can communicate with each other to coordinate schedules in each area of your home.
- LCD touchscreen: Some even provide five-day weather forecasts.
As you would expect, these smart thermostats can be much more expensive than traditional programmable thermostats. The more precise energy control, however, makes them a smart investment for many homeowners.
Smart thermostats do have more sophisticated wiring requirements. An installation by an expert HVAC contractor is recommended.
For more information concerning smart programmable thermostats and other home comfort-related matters, contact Cox Air Conditioning & Heating. We have served homeowners in the St. Petersburg and Tampa area for more than 50 years.
