Since most people are always connected to their smartphones, the heating and cooling industry has designed a thermostat which can be controlled easily from this device. As a result, we have the Wi-Fi thermostat.
But, before you determine if a Wi-Fi thermostat is right for you, let’s take a look at some of the other options for controlling the temperature in your home.
Traditional thermostats
If you live in an older home, you may have one of these. These units are controlled manually, meaning you have to adjust the temperature yourself. While this seems easy enough, studies have shown that these older devices aren’t very precise when it comes to controlling temperatures. This could leave you with a home that isn’t properly heated or cooled.
Programmable thermostats
These devices are a step up from traditional thermostats. They allow the user to set different temperatures for different times during the day. You could make the temperature in your home a little less comfortable if nobody is going to be home. Then, at the time when you arrive back home, the thermostat would automatically run the heating or cooling system to help adjust the temperature to your desired setting.
Wi-Fi thermostats
While programmable thermostats make it easy to control the temperature in your home at pre-determined points of the day, you aren’t able to adjust the unit if you aren’t there. With a Wi-Fi thermostat, you will be able to adjust the temperature in your home wherever you can be online.
Most Wi-Fi thermostats come with instructions on how to download a control app for your phone.
Five useful features to look for
Not only do Wi-Fi thermostats make it simple to control the comfort level of your home on the fly, but many models available today come with a variety of other great features, including the following:
- Manage your energy use. Some Wi-Fi thermostats can provide you with feedback as to how much energy you have used to heat/cool your home.
- Remote sensors. If your thermostat is installed in a hallway, it might not be able to determine the temperature of the rest of your home. For this reason, many units come with sensors that can be installed in different rooms. They send signals to the thermostat to let it know what the conditions are like in the rest of the home. This will help the unit determine when to run your heating or cooling system.
- Security. Some units have the ability to require a passcode to prevent tampering.
- Auto changeover. With this functionality, the thermostat will be able to determine when to switch between using the heating or cooling system.
- Integration. Many Wi-Fi thermostats can be integrated with other home automation systems.
Plus, there may be another advantage to installing a Wi-Fi thermostat: you may be eligible for a rebate through your local utility company.