Tired of being too hot or too cold? It may be time to take a look at replacing your thermostat. Selecting an updated thermostat will not only make you feel more comfortable at home but will also save a package at low energy costs. we will discuss what the thermostat is, the differences between the types of thermostats and compare the different smart thermostats. At the end of this article, we hope you will explain how to go to determine which thermostat is best for your smart home.
Table of Contents
Definition of Smart Thermostat
Before looking very closely at the properties of a thermostat, it may be useful to determine exactly what a thermostat is and what is not. A thermostat is a device that automatically regulates temperature or activates a temperature regulating device based on temperature readings. Basically, it is a thermostat (hopefully) that will automatically control heating or cooling in an area to maintain a certain temperature range. A thermometer inside the thermostat triggers the electric switches; this activates or deactivates a heating and/or cooling equipment.
An effective thermostat is a thermostat that helps you save on heating and cooling costs in your home. The best thermostat can set the parameters you want and set on your own without thinking about it yourself. Or at least very little pursuit. Therefore, in reality, the best type of thermostat intelligently regulates your heating and cooling processes, while also regulating your comfort level and even to some degree your budget.
Older thermostats are capable of regulating the temperature of your home well or accurately, even if it is wise. Even the most basic modern thermostats do a better job of controlling the temperature in your home, resulting in better comfort for your wallet. What’s more, energy-saving thermostats can reduce your energy bills by up to 20%, which means that a new thermostat pays for itself quickly.
Now, when you think that an intelligent thermostat has something to offer, even above and beyond the more modern, energy-efficient one, increase your comfort level by one more degree. Smart thermostats will cost more than the start, but they give you convenience and convenient features (temperature control or A / C, anyone’s volume control, anyone?) And very real energy cost reductions.
Thermostats for years
The following is a summary of the five main types of thermostats available in homes today – what they are and what they offer:
- Mechanical Thermostats – These are the oldest versions of thermostats and are technologically least developed and therefore least costly. They use a bimetallic strip to measure the temperature and, based on these readings, will adjust the heating or cooling accordingly. They are usually found in old houses and apartments.
- Non-Programmable Thermostats – These thermostats are relatively inexpensive in themselves. They need a person to adjust the temperature settings manually, but some non-programmable thermostats are digital thermostats with digital operation. Unfortunately, this type of thermostat does not help reduce energy costs unless someone is standing and making day and night adjustments.
- Programmable Thermostats – This type of thermostat requires you to preset or program your heating and cooling preferences. The thermostat then adjusts the temperature automatically according to these preferences. This programmability frees you from various areas and ways: (1) time, because once you have programmed the thermostat, you no longer have to worry about automatic adjustment, (2) no need for comfort and (3) no need for money. prevents you from heating or cooling.
- Wireless Thermostats – The cost of these thermostats begins to increase because their technological capacity and requirements are somewhat more complex than previous thermostats. Wireless thermostats allow you to remotely adjust the temperature of your home; this is particularly useful and useful when you are away from home or if you have pets or other individuals who may need a certain temperature in your home (for example, babies, disabled or disabled individuals). or the elderly). Wireless thermostats give you a significant freedom in controlling your home’s temperature, as well as the opportunity to truly reduce energy costs.
- Smart Thermostats– This type of thermostat is relatively new in the world of thermostat and comes with higher price tags, with increasing technological capacities. However, it is easily debated that these prepaid costs are quickly compensated for with energy savings due to intelligent functionality. Basically, an intelligent thermostat will learn what your home’s temperature preferences are during the day and night, and then adjust the temperatures accordingly. There are various things about what a smart thermostat will do for you and what it won’t do for you, depending on the model you choose, but some use motion detection technology to determine if someone is in the room and adjust the temperature to the motion.
How to Choose the Best Thermostat for You
Although smart thermostats are attractive for many reasons, they may or may not be the best option for you and your space. So how do you decide which thermostat to buy? Here are the basic outlines of the important issues and steps you should take:
Identify the current HVAC system.
Before taking any steps to select a good thermostat, you need to know which thermostats will be compatible with your existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. You need to know if your HVAC system fits in one of the following categories:
- Stage 1 – A system where heating and air conditioning units are separated.
- 2 Stage – Also referred to as Multi-Stage Heat or Cooling, this is a system with both high and low speed heating or cooling units.
- Direct Line Voltage – This means that your heating and / or cooling system is running on a 110 or 240 DC power supply; This is more common in older homes to provide power to the thermostat.
- District Heating and Cooling – Also called Zoned HVAC, this is a single HVAC system controlled by individual thermostats in different areas.
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Determine which equipment the thermostat should control.
On the surface this may seem very simple (doesn’t the thermostat just control the heater and the air conditioner?), It may or may not be very simple. For example, some thermostats are designed for furnace control only, while others will work most effectively in controlling both the furnace and air conditioning, a heat pump, or other equipment. Don’t worry – the thermostat manufacturer will clearly identify compatible HVAC systems.
Determine if you need Line Voltage or Low Voltage.
These are two primary types of thermostats and their differences are important. Line voltage thermostats are specifically designed for single heating systems. These include heating systems such as basic card heaters and radiator valves. Low voltage thermostats are often used in central heating and cooling systems using gas, oil or electricity. These are usually more efficient and accurate thermostats with programmable options.
Check C-wire compatibility.
C cable or general cable is an extra wire that provides power to activate extra smart thermostat features such as touch screen. The thermostat you are interested in may or may not require a C wire and may or may not be present in your existing system. If you’re not sure about any of these, you may want to consider calling the home of one of the professionals to check your current system and the new thermostat you want to install.
Best Smart Thermostats for Home and Office
- Ecobee4 Alexa Thermostat with Sensor
- Ecobee3 lite Smart Thermostat
- 3rd Generation Slot Learning Thermostat
- Sensi Smart Thermostat
- Honeywell Lyric T5 Wi-Fi
- Smart Thermostat Honeywell RTH958OWF
- Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat
- Carrier Cor 7 Day Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat
Best Smart Thermostat Product Descriptions and Comparisons
Below is a summary of some popular smart thermostats on the market today. Each thermostat is described in detail with a list of pros and cons of a bullet and any prizes that a given thermostat may have received.
Ecobee4 Alexa Thermostat with Sensor
ecobee4 smart thermostat is not only an intelligent thermostat (a task that performs well on its own), but also an intelligent speaker. Because of the built-in Alexa audio service (you don’t even need an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot!) And remote area audio technology, it is considered by many to be the latest and greatest in the smart thermostat realm. Ecobee smart thermostat also uses accessory support for humidifiers, dehumidifiers, ventilators, heat recovery ventilation and energy recovery ventilation.
Of course, ecobee4 as a real smart thermostat, can be controlled remotely with the application on your smartphone. It is also compatible with Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT and hundreds of other home automation systems. Ecobee thermostat installation are intuitively designed and require only a few minutes for most people to run ecobee4 systems. In addition, ecobee4 is aesthetically designed and features a modern touch screen that is easy to use and stylish.
Ecobee4’s methodology is somewhat unique, as it uses a primary thermostat base with other sensors installed in your home (purchased in two sets after the single sensor of the ecobee4 starter kit). This intelligent detection section allows ecobee4 to heat / cool the most important ones, which are busy rooms. This not only increases your comfort level but also your energy bills because you don’t heat or cool unnecessary areas. Therefore, ecobee4 can save an average of 23% per year in heating and cooling costs (Business Insider).
Pros:
- Unique sensor system with separate sensors from the base for more accurate temperature control in different rooms or areas.
- Remote access.
- An open application programming interface (API) that allows Ecobee4 to integrate and interact with other smart home software.
- Wired, which means it is not dependent on battery life, which means it is more reliable.
- Reduces energy costs thanks to sensor-based intelligent temperature control.
- Aesthetic touch screen design for a sleek and modern look.
Cons:
- Additional sensors contribute to the cost of the intelligent thermostat system.
- Based on reviews by Business Insider, some flaws and quirks have met Alexa integration.
Awards:
- Best Integrated Thermostat: Lifewire
- 4.5 stars out of 5 stars on CNET.
Obtain from Amazon: ecobee4 Alexa Active Thermostat with Sensor.
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Ecobee3 lite Smart Thermostat
ecobee3 is an excellent less expensive smart thermostat . Although Ecobee3 does not come with remote control sensors or occupancy sensors, they can be purchased separately and easily integrated to facilitate extremely precise temperature readings and modifications, whether heating or cooling the house. The smart thermostat is compatible with Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Amazon Alexa, making it a suitable choice especially in a home that is geared towards smart home automation. Not only does it work well, but the ecobee3 lite looks good in its aesthetically pleasing, sleek design.
You can add up to 32 separate sensors to the Ecobee3 lite that detect not only temperature but also humidity changes, and can therefore immediately adjust and adjust the heating and cooling mechanisms to create a more comfortable room. These sensors can also help monitor whether a room or the house in general is occupied and adjust the energy usage accordingly. Ecobee3 lite has its own programming and scheduling features, but it requires manual switching to the program if you use voice or application control to move away from the pre-programmed temperature.
Pros:
- The perfect budget option for smart thermostats.
- Attractive physical design with aesthetically pleasing touch screen.
- It can be programmed with a temperature program.
- Expandability, the intelligent thermostat can accommodate up to 32 individual sensors. Multiple sensors in a single thermostat system provide better energy adjustability.
- Remote control from anywhere in the world from a smartphone, tablet, laptop or other smart device (iOS or android).
- Compatible with other smart home systems including Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Amazon Alexa (for volume control).
- The software is automatically updated, so ecobee3 is always up to date, smarter and connects better.
- Reduced energy costs can save 23% each year (compared to a stable 72 degrees F).
Cons:
- Additional sensors contribute to the cost of the intelligent thermostat system.
Awards:
- Best Programmable Thermostat: Lifewire
- Smart Thermostat Budget Selection: Wire Cutter
3rd Generation Slot Learning Thermostat
The 3rd Generation Slot Learning Thermostat can be easily installed without professional assistance, usually takes about half an hour. You don’t need to program this smart thermostat because it immediately starts using an Auto Timer feature to learn your schedule and temperature preferences over time. Smart Thermostat Nest works well as an isolated unit and works well when integrated with other smart home components.
Integrated sensors not only include temperature, but also humidity, near-field activity, far-field activity and ambient light. Nest Learning Thermostat also knows the location of your phone and you can adjust the temperature when you are not at home (you can easily adjust the temperature manually in your application if desired).
The Remote Vision feature on the Nest Learning Thermostat detects your approach in the room and automatically illuminates the 2.08 ”display to show you time, temperature and outdoor weather. This smart thermostat is equipped with wi-fi that allows you to remotely access and control your smartphone, tablet, laptop or other smart devices with the Nest app. You can also track your energy history, which is both interesting and informative in determining your future energy needs.
Pros:
- Easy to use.
- Intuitive; It does not require pre-programming because the thermostat intelligently learns your program and temperature preferences over time.
- Efficient – the first ENERGY STAR certified thermostat.
- Various built-in smart sensors for temperature, humidity, near-field activity, remote area activity and ambient light.
- Saves you money – saves users 10% – 12% on heating bills, 15% on annual cooling charges, and 131% on annual savings of 131%, which pays in two years.
- A sleek, stainless steel surround and aesthetic design with a large, clear display that illuminates when it detects your approach in the room.
- It is compatible with smart home systems like Google Home and Amazon Alexa that provide hands-free volume control.
- nest thermostat Installation is simple and inexpensive.
Cons:
- Some users experienced problems with the software / application.
- A small percentage of Nest Learning Thermostats tested were found in lemons.
Awards:
- Best Thermostat General: Business Insider chooses the best thermostat you can buy based on your research.
- Best General Thermostat: Lifewire.
- Best Smart Thermostat: Wire Cutter
- 4.5 out of 5 stars for PCMag, CNET and Digital Trends.
Buy from Amazon: Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation.
Sensi Smart Thermostat
Once connected, Sensi Smart Thermostat allows you to control your home wi-fi network from anywhere via the Sensi app you’ve downloaded. The first step-by-step instructions of the app help with easy installation. The Sensi Smart Thermostat is highly sensitive (within plus or minus 1 degree) and uses location-based geofencing technology to decide when you’re not at home, and then reduces energy use during those times. Optionally, you can use the flexible seven-day scheduling option to create your own heating and cooling schedule. All settings can be easily changed through the application.
Other outstanding features of the Sensi Smart Thermostat include the ability to connect multiple thermostats to one account and the indoor humidity sensor. You can also use volume control to heat or cool your home through other smart home systems (eg Amazon Echo, Wink).
Pros:
- Easy installation with a convenient application to guide you through the installation.
- Remote access (control, timing) to your home’s temperature settings via Wi-Fi connection.
- Geofence capabilities that automatically reduce energy use when you’re not at home.
- Provides very precise temperature settings within plus or minus 1 degree.
- Various temperature control options and settings.
- Indoor humidity sensor.
- Option to control multiple Sensi Smart Thermostats from a single account.
- Compatible with Amazon Echo and Wink smart home.
Cons:
- Requires a reliable, consistent wi-fi connection to work well.
- Not compatible with some small household products and installations.
Awards:
- JD Power award: En Highest Customer Satisfaction with Smart Thermostat 201, 2016 (The only smart thermostat brand to receive JD Power award).
Honeywell Lyric T5 Wi-Fi Smart 7 Days Programmable Touch Screen Thermostat
This smart thermostat is much lower cost than the market, so those looking for value, Honeywell Lyric T5 . The prepayment costs are lower, but other saving thermostats have money-saving features. A Honeywell-specific wall plate allows easy installation with C-wire. Once installed, you can enter a seven-day schedule, but you can change the temperature with a wi-fi or cell connection whenever and wherever you want.
Easily integrates with other smart home systems and devices including Lyric T5, Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa. You can control the Lyric T5 with your voice and it also uses geofence operation using mapping software and technology to create a bubble / radius around your home. When the smart thermostat detects that you are away from home, it will adjust the temperatures accordingly to help you save energy costs.
Pros:
- Simple installation via Honeywell UWP wall plate.
- Easily paired with other connected smart devices like Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa.
- Seven-day programming is available.
- Geofencing technology makes the thermostat feel when you’re away from home and adjusts the temperature accordingly, further reducing energy costs.
- Remote control via wireless or cellular connection.
- Air filter change reminders.
Cons:
- Aesthetics is based on an older appearance than other smart thermostats.
Awards:
- Best Value Thermostat: Lifewire
Smart Thermostat Honeywell RTH958OWF Smart Wi-Fi 7 Days Programmable Colorful Touch Thermostat
This smart thermostat Alexa is a favorite of Alexa , which, indeed, is compatible with people who live and die with voice-controlled smart devices. Not only does the smart thermostat look good with its simple, contemporary lines and easy-to-use color touch screen, it also offers users a lot of features that make them happy… and at a lower price point than many competitors.
The touch screen can be customized, including changing colors to match your home decor. There is a free app for your smart device (android or iOS) that allows you to remotely control the temperature via Wi-Fi connection. When you install the Honeywell smart wi-fi thermostat, you will be asked about who is at home during the day and what is your preferred temperature when you sleep. So you can program it in your normal life, then move on to other things and let the smart thermostat do its job.
Pros:
- One of the first intelligent thermostats on the market.
- Customizable aesthetic rectangular design with attractive color changing touch screen.
- Best-in-class display interface.
- Compared to the more expensive smart thermostat options, but offers features at a lower price.
- Wi-fi connection allows remote control of temperature.
- Can be controlled with iOS or android smartphone app.
- Programmable mode option that allows you to increase your energy efficiency based on your regular schedule and on-screen answers to lifestyle and preferences.
- Voice control with Amazon Alexa.
Cons:
- It does not learn your schedule and temperature preferences; they must be preset and programmed into the smart thermostat.
Awards:
- Best Volume Control: Lifewire
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Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat
This is a very basic smart thermostat; If you prefer something that looks and feels like your old thermostat (but with advanced flair and functionality), you can take a closer look. Emerson Sensi . You can use the supplied C cable to easily smart thermostat install or alternatively choose to use two AA batteries. In a nutshell, this thermostat will tell you what to do and it will do well. However, it cannot tell you what to do with temperature control, some of which may see low energy efficiency compared to some other models.
In keeping with its basic design, the Emerson Sensi does not have a color LCD display. It also prohibits any proximity and location tracking in your home. The goal with Emerson Sensi is to let you adjust, change and program the temperature of your home remotely (from anywhere), via your iOS or android smartphone app. Alternatively, you can choose to schedule a seven-day timer to help reduce heating and cooling energy costs. Perhaps surprisingly, the Emerson Sensi is compatible with the Amazon Alexa, which offers the convenience of volume control.
Pros:
- An easy-to-install thermostat with the included C-wire or two AA batteries.
- The matt, white frame is very similar to a basic programmable thermostat, which provides familiarity and reduces fright.
- Regarding correct temperature control, it does what you have programmed.
- Customizable, programmable seven-day scheduling option to help reduce energy costs.
- Remote controllable via your iOS or android smartphone app.
- Voice control with Amazon Alexa.
Cons:
- No color LCD display. The matt, white frame is similar to a basic programmable thermostat that does not appear too çok smart ”.
- It does not operate the temperature control beyond the parameters you set for the thermostat.
- There are no proximity sensors or position tracking to learn from your movement and then adjust the heating / cooling settings.
Awards:
- Best Thermostat for Key Features: Lifewire
Buy from Amazon: Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat.
Carrier Cor 7 Day Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat
Carrier Cor Seven Day Programmable Thermostat An intelligent, cost-conscious option. Cor is an attractive, black rounded square thermostat that looks good in the home. The features of the smart thermostat include primarily integrated wi-fi connection, automatic heating and cooling switching, battery backup and holiday mode. Once programmed, Cor’s seven-day program can be set up via a smartphone via wi-fi to maximize energy efficiency and comfort in your home.
The display is backlit for both aesthetics and functionality. It is a simple touch screen to increase ease of use.
Pros:
- Comparable to other smart thermostats, they can be purchased without sacrificing important features.
- Seven days of programming, with 48 periods per day for programming, simplifies temperature comfort and cost savings.
- Wi-fi connection that allows you to control and change the required temperature with any wi-fi connection on your smartphone.
- Attractive, backlit touchscreen.
Cons:
- It does not operate the temperature control beyond the parameters you set for the thermostat.
- There are no proximity sensors or position tracking to learn from your movement and then adjust the heating / cooling settings.
- Not ENERGY STAR certified.
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Conclusion
When you think about making your home smarter, making your life easier, an intelligent thermostat is at the top of the list as a component that offers the most real cost savings and comfort improvements. Keep in mind the intelligent thermostat features that matter most to you – perhaps the ability of the thermostat to learn your preferences, maybe remote access and control, maybe programmability. Whatever it is, you’re sure to find the perfect smart thermostat to keep your home comfortable in all weather and seasons.
