What is a smart thermostat?

How does a smart thermostat work? 

Here, we’ll walk you through a brief overview of smart thermostats, so you can get to grips with these smart energy saving devices, pick the product that works best for you out of the range of devices available, and start to use one to keep tabs on your home heating. 

The smart thermostat: an outline 

It makes sense that the temperature in different parts of your home should be slightly different, depending on what you use them for. Take the bedroom and bathroom, for instance - you’re unlikely to heat them both to the same temperature. 

The same goes for the living room and the laundry room - you’ll want to use the heating to ramp up the temperature in one, but there’s no need for the other to be quite so hot, given what you use it for! To save energy, you’ll probably want to set a schedule so each radiator only comes on at certain times of day. 

As such, it’s important to be able to control the heating levels in your home, so you can set the right temperature for each room as and when you need to use it. That’s key to achieving thermal comfort within your home, as well as making the most efficient use of the energy consumed by your boiler. 

A smart thermostat lets you control the temperature in each area of your home with real precision. This can lead to significant energy savings, as well as allowing you to set a more pleasant heating temperature throughout your home, making this kind of product well worth the purchase price. 

You can adjust your smart thermostat to control how and when your home heating kicks in, depending on the outside temperature and your ideal temperature in each part of your home, at different times of the day or night. 

With its modern, innovative and intelligent setup, a smart thermostat can help you control your home heating with perfect precision, according to a schedule that suits your lifestyle. No matter the time of day or night, you can use your smart thermostat installation to regulate the temperature in your home, making it a toasty, warm little nest. 

Smart thermostats - as you might have guessed - are the more modern version of a traditional home thermostat that you might have seen in use in other homes. Smart thermostats have proven benefits for saving energy, saving on home heating bills and reducing your home energy consumption’s carbon footprint. But how exactly does a smart thermostat work? 

Smart thermostats: how do they work to control your home temperature level? 

Smart thermostats need to be connected up to your wireless Internet connection in order to precisely control your home heating temperature. 

When you buy a smart thermostat, it will also need to be linked up to your existing home central heating system in order to carry out its heating control function. Whatever type of home central heating system you have in place, you should be able to connect your new smart thermostats to it quickly and easily. For example, you can link a smart thermostat to a home central heating system that runs on oil, gas, wood or electrical energy. 

Then, you can control your smart thermostat settings via an app on your smartphone or other smart devices. Most can work with other home tech like Amazon Echo and Google Home, while a more limited number are compatible with Apple HomeKit. Sometimes, you can even control smart thermostats using your voice! Many of them are compatible with voice assistants. So you could ask Alexa to turn on your boiler or turn your radiator up or down, if you’re using Amazon smart home devices, or Google Assistant if you prefer Google Nest products. 

In actual fact, smart thermostats go far beyond simple programmable thermostats in terms of their ability to accurately control and optimise your home heating. Once you’ve set up your new smart thermostats in your home, they’ll take into account various factors to heat each of its rooms to the best temperature for you: 

•        Geolocation
•        Meteorological data (including outside temperature, for example)
•        Your daily habits and lifestyle at home
•        Your general heating and temperature preferences in each part of your home

Smart thermostats are becoming ever more intelligent and efficient, offering even greater control over your home heating and comfort. So, what are the overall advantages of these smart home heating devices? 

What are the advantages of smart thermostats? 

Smart thermostats are an increasingly popular option for among savvy home owners who want to control their heating systems using wireless technology, optimise the temperature of their house, and also save money by using less energy. 

•        Control the temperature in each room for increased thermal comfort in your home
•        Save money on home heating costs 
•        Control your thermostat using an app on your smartphone  
•        Ideal temperature, at all times
•        Easy to use, once you’ve set up a wireless connection to your home’s central heating system and the Internet

How much do smart thermostats cost? 

There are several factors to consider when calculating smart thermostat costs, so let’s take a look at them here. 

Purchase costs 

While requiring an investment up front, smart thermostats increase your energy efficiency, allowing you to save on your home heating bills. That way, any smart thermostat you buy should soon pay for itself! 

Installation costs 

While DIY installation is a popular option if you have the time and want to save money, you might want to call a professional to connect your smart thermostats, so be sure to factor that expense in. Whether you go through the manufacturers themselves – such as Hive, Ecobee or Nest – or through retailers, you can usually choose to buy them with or without installation. 

Smart thermostats are quick and easy to install in the home - you’ll be able to control your home heating remotely and set a heating schedule in no time! A smart thermostat is a true essential for any household that’s keen to monitor how much energy it’s using for heating, while protecting the environment.