There are a lot of good reasons to invest in a smart thermostat for the home.
When I first made the decision to upgrade my old, plastic, mercury thermostat, I was shocked by the prices of the latest models.
I remember when a top quality thermostat cost around ten dollars. However, those older versions were only capable of adjusting the temperature, and they weren’t overly precise. Today’s technology offers wireless connectivity. I now have an app on my phone that allows access to all of the many features. It doesn’t matter if I’m sitting on my couch, at work, stuck in traffic or half a world away lying on a tropical beach, I can check the indoor temperature of the home and make changes to settings. Plus, the thermostat offers helpful options such as energy tracking, energy saving tips and alerts. I get a text message notification if there’s a power outage, sudden temperature swing or a maintenance requirement. I get reminders when it’s time to replace the filter. The thermostat even links to my HVAC contractor to allow for remote diagnosis of issues, saving me the cost of a service call. One of the most beneficial perks of my new thermostat is geofencing. The system uses GPS to track the locations of family members’ smartphones. When we exit or enter a specific radius, it makes adjustments to temperature to either conserve energy or welcome us home to ideal comfort. I no longer need to remember to make changes, and I’ve saved enough on my utility bills to recover the initial investment.