Programmable thermostats used to be the pinnacle of controlling heating and cooling in your home. You could set a schedule so that the temperature of your home changed during the day according to your schedule. This provided convenience as well as helping you save money and energy.
But now we have the smart thermostat, taking it a step further than the programmable thermostat. In fact, you can get an entire smart HVAC system to control your home or workplace’s heating and cooling needs.
What does a smart thermostat do?
Smart thermostats, from companies like Nest, have a range of capabilities. They connect to your home’s Wi-Fi so that you can use an internet-enabled device, like your smartphone, to control them. This means you can switch the system on or off and control the temperature from wherever you are. Just install the related app and you’re ready to go.
Imagine you wake up in the morning and it’s too cold to get out of bed. Just switch the heating on from your phone and set it to the desired temperature. Or maybe you’re coming home from work on a cold, wintery day. Switch the system on before you leave so the house is nice and warm by the time you get back. And you can do the same in the summer to cool your home.
Like a programmable thermostat, smart thermostats can also help you run your HVAC system more efficiently by setting it to a schedule. Plus, they can monitor your heating and cooling habits and send a report to your connected app providing data about your usage. This can also help you get on top of your energy usage and spending.
Some smart thermostats and HVAC systems are equipped with motion-sensing capabilities. This allows your HVAC system to detect when people are home and which rooms they are in. It can then adjust the temperature in those rooms accordingly. If there’s a room that’s rarely used, for example, it can reduce the temperature in that room to avoid wasted energy.
HVAC connected to a smart home
More of us are moving toward smart technology in the home, and smart HVAC can fit neatly into that system. If you have a smart home assistant like Alexa, you can give her instructions to adjust your heating. And comprehensive smart HVAC systems involve more than just the thermostat. For example, you may be able to communicate with the system to adjust the vents, allowing you to control airflow into different parts of the house.
The capabilities are impressive, so is it time for an upgrade to your HVAC system? Get in touch with AC Express to find out how a smart HVAC system could benefit your home or workplace. We also perform HVAC repair around Winston Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville, and Pfafftown.