Energy is getting more expensive! Unfortunately, we can’t do anything about this at the next Pete. But we can help you save energy with a smart thermostat in your smart home. We’ll tell you what these smart thermostats are all about and what to watch out for.
Regardless of the smart home aspect, heating is a very complex subject. So let’s start small and talk to smart thermostats first. Note that we have not yet tested the thermostats listed in the table. We have researched the web and selected the five most popular products in the category.
Smart thermostats in comparison
You may have noticed that in recent weeks and months we’ve been focusing more on smart home solutions. For example, last time we explained what to look for when buying smart video doorbells. So today we are entering the world of smart heating. In this article, we’ll explain what to watch out for, what costs you’ll have to pay, and more. let go:
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What is a smart thermostat and why do you need one?
As mentioned, for now we’ll focus on smart thermostats, which will be completely out of the picture as radiator thermostats and underfloor heating systems are widely used in Europe. Modern thermostats are basically integrated into your existing central HVAC system or furnace. Installation is usually easy, but you may need to install your heater or HVAC. You may need to check the system manual.
You can operate the thermostats via a smartphone app, depending on the model, as well as with voice control. They’re programmable, some systems even learn from your heating habits, and often the systems automatically detect whether you’re home or not.
The biggest advantages of smart thermostats are the ease of use and also the potential to save energy. The latter is true if your home uses a furnace for heating, which is very inefficient. Some smart systems can detect how quickly your home’s temperature changes when the heater is turned on or off, optimizing when to operate.
In addition, smartphone integrations allow you to create programs through an app to control when the heater should be active and control the temperature via the app or even on command.
Smart thermostat: what to look for when buying
Installation
Installing a smart thermostat can usually be done by the consumer, replacing the old, “dumb” thermostat with a smart one. The main difference is for older systems that do not have a C wire (common wire), which is required by most modern thermostats to receive power (for wireless communication, display, etc.). If your HVAC installation does not have C wire, you will need to hire an electrician or install another power source.
Which system is correct?
The question of the system is what you should ask yourself immediately before buying. Is the system you want scalable with other components? Does it fit in with your existing modern home system? Is it compatible with Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant? Matter has promised to end non-compliant implementations of the standard, but as of August 2023, only Nest has released Matter-compliant thermostats.
Functions and ease of use
In addition to sustainability, energy saved and money saved, convenience is the main argument for smart thermostats. First, you no longer have to adjust the temperature manually. Instead, you can do this conveniently through the app. In general, however, you still have the option of manually adjusting the temperature control on the thermostat. Also, note that if you have different climate control zones in your home, you may need to purchase additional thermostats.
But smart thermostats offer much more than app control. Many models can also be controlled by voice commands via Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri. In addition, you can set programs through the application. You can set the heater to turn on or off at a specific time.
Thanks to the application, you can control the heating remotely, so if you know you will be home in an hour, you can preheat it. It’s even easier with the help of Geofencing. In this case, the system will recognize that you are approaching your home and automatically turn on the heater. There’s also smart heating technology where the system learns your habits. In this case, you don’t have to make a plan, because after a while the system knows when to work, for example.
Cost
Cost is another consideration when shopping for a smart thermostat. Prices start around $50 and can go as high as your HVAC system allows. As usual, the more extensive the feature list, the more expensive the thermostats.
So if you want to equip your entire home, the costs will increase accordingly. That is why you should consider the previous points and be clear about which system and which features you want.
That concludes our crash course on smart thermostats. If you have any thoughts, ideas, or additions, feel free to leave a comment. As we’ve said, we’re currently exploring the vast realm of the smart home, learning more ourselves every day, and will continue to expand on it in the future.
Also, if you want to read our previous Modern Home covers—here they are:
Do you already use a modern heating system in your modern home? Or are you older and prefer to adjust the temperature manually? Let us know in the comments!
Article updated in August 2023 with updated specifications. Comments were reserved prior to the update and may appear out of context.