A-1 Mechanical Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Smart Thermostats’

There is no shortage of different thermostat models on the market today. From programmable and non-programmable to Wi-Fi and smart thermostats, it can be overwhelming to try and determine which type of thermostat provides the best solution for your home’s needs.

Smart thermostat models offer the latest and greatest in thermostat technology. In the latest blog from A-1 Mechanical, we’ll discuss how a smart thermostat works, as well as touch on the benefits that they provide. For more on all types of thermostats, including smart thermostat units, get in touch with A-1 Mechanical.

Benefits of Smart Thermostats

Temperature Control From Anywhere

Perhaps the most popular feature of smart thermostats is the ability to control your home’s temperature, even when you’re not home. This is a great way to make sure that you’re not heating your house, for example, when nobody is even home. Before you arrive home, you can set the heat to the desired temperature, ensuring that your home is nice and warm upon your arrival.

Energy Savings

Smart thermostats allow you to program the system so that your HVAC system will run less frequently when nobody is home. Although a programmable thermostat offers the same scheduling features, a smart thermostat allows you to change the temperature remotely if you forget to set the system for the day, or if any unexpected changes occur. While smart thermostats are typically the most expensive type of thermostat, they’ll also likely provide savings on heating and cooling costs.

Tracking Technology

With other types of thermostats, it can be difficult to tell how much energy your home is using. Smart thermostats are equipped with energy tracking technology to show how much energy your home is using on heating and cooling. This information is helpful, as it allows you to make any changes necessary to save on your overall energy costs.

Integration With Other Smart Home Technologies

If your home utilizes any other smart devices, smart thermostats can seamlessly integrate into your overall smart home system. Smart thermostats typically integrate easily with your virtual assistant and will allow you to make temperature changes with just your voice.

How Do Smart Thermostats Work?

Smart thermostats connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network and utilize a smartphone application. This is what allows you to make temperature changes remotely from your mobile device, as well as track your home’s energy usage.

What makes a smart thermostat better than a traditional thermostat is that it can learn about your schedules and make adjustments based on activity or the weather outside. Many smart thermostats will memorize your home’s daily habits to make any temperature changes that you would typically make. Should your schedule change from your normal habits, you can make any necessary temperature adjustments on the thermostat’s application or through the thermostat itself.

Contact A-1 Mechanical for Smart Thermostat Installation Services

When it comes time to install a smart thermostat, the professional technicians at A-1 Mechanical know that there are many new smart thermostats on the market, and choosing one that is compatible with your HVAC system can be a hard decision to make. While this can feel overwhelming, our technicians know the ins and outs of each type of system and will provide you with recommendations to help your home make the best decision to meet your needs. We’ll show you how smart thermostats work so that you’re ready to start using your new smart thermostat right away.

For smart thermostat installation services in the Grand Rapids and Lansing areas, reach out to A-1 Mechanical today.

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Tags: Smart Thermostats, Thermostats, Wi-Fi Thermostats
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The summer heat can drive up energy bills for homeowners in the Grand Rapids and Lansing, Michigan areas. With the right tools, though, you can gain increased control over cooling system usage as well as home comfort. Consider having a programmable thermostat installed to save energy and lower heating and cooling bills.

In our most recent blog, the HVAC technicians at A-1 Mechanical discuss the benefits of programmable thermostats and why you should have one installed in your home.

Cut Summer Air Conditioning Costs

Reduced heating and cooling system energy consumption is one of the most well-known benefits of a programmable thermostat. Starting around the turn of the century, this technology has been promoted as a gold standard for HVAC system control and energy conservation.

The programming features help homeowners achieve the lengthy periods of temperature setbacks needed to generate noticeable energy savings related to heating and cooling. Homeowners are able to schedule six or more temperature adjustments in a day, making it easy to program comfortable, cool temperatures when the family wakes up and returns home after a day away. They can also automatically set temperatures higher during long periods when the household is away or asleep.

The U.S. Department of Energy states that you can save as much as 10 percent on cooling costs when thermostats are turned up 7 to 10 degrees higher than the usual home temperature for just 8 hours each day. The scheduling benefits of a programmable thermostat help homeowners easily achieve such energy savings without making multiple trips to the thermostat each day.

Ensure Precision Comfort, 24 Hours a Day

The scheduling benefits of a programmable thermostat offer more than just energy savings – this technology allows homeowners to precisely cool their living spaces according to the family’s unique routines. Setting higher temperatures to generate savings can create some discomfort when a manual thermostat is used, as the home cannot return to lower, more comfortable temperatures until someone is physically present to make the adjustment.

One of the important benefits of a programmable thermostat is the availability of multiple scheduling capabilities. Programmable thermostat models are available in four unique configurations, allowing homeowners to choose the option that best fits the day-to-day comings and goings of the household.

• A 1-week model runs the set daily temperature schedule every day of the week.
• A 5-2-day model allows one set of temperature schedules each weekday, while a unique temperature schedule can be programmed to run on the weekend days.
• A 5-1-1-day model lets you program one set of temperature schedules to run each weekday, as well as a unique schedule on Saturday and another unique schedule on Sunday.
• A 7-day model allows unique temperature schedules to be programmed for each of the seven days of the week.

Following the household’s daily routine, temperature adjustments can be scheduled to start slightly before family members arrive home or wake up. Program your thermostat to initiate a temperature change, bringing the indoor temperature down from a lengthy setback period about 15 minutes before the household becomes active. This will bring the home to a comfortable temperature when everyone is home and awake to enjoy it. Also, schedule setback periods to start about 15 minutes or more before the home empties or the household heads to bed – the living areas will stay cool during this period without additional energy usage by the air conditioning system.

If daily plans suddenly change, it’s no problem when your programmable thermostat is equipped with features like Wi-Fi connectivity! Remote access is one of the valuable benefits of a programmable thermostat that has a wireless Internet connection. Using a mobile app, you can adjust thermostat settings from just about anywhere!

Gain the Benefits of a Programmable Thermostat Today!

It’s easy to start reaping the benefits of a programmable or smart thermostat in your home. Turn to A-1 Mechanical for installation of a programmable thermostat in your Lansing or Grand Rapids area home! With a number of quality programmable thermostats to choose from, you’ll find the best choice for your household’s needs. Contact us today to request an estimate for programmable thermostat installation.

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During the cold winter months, many of us wonder if the home is too cool or overly warm, especially if focused on saving money on heating. When you find yourself wondering what’s the best thermostat setting for the winter, understand the ideal settings and know when to break the rules. This information is essential to maximize your home comfort and energy savings.

What Temperature to Set My Thermostat in Winter?

During the winter, the recommended room temperature is 68°F when you are awake and at home. While this setting seems low at first, your body acclimates to this lower temperature over time, and it does feel comfortable.

Many people choose to program their Grand Rapids thermostats for the ideal temperature of 68°F when they are home during the day, and then move the settings up on the weekends when they will be relaxing. Others choose to find more warmth elsewhere, such as an extra sweater when doing chores around the house or a thicker bedspread for the winter months.

Best Times to Set Back the Thermostat

A properly set thermostat certainly helps reduce your home heating expenses. When you move those settings down even lower, savings dramatically increase. The Department of Energy reports that you save up to 10% a year on energy when you set your thermostat down no more than 8°F for eight hours a day. Here are a few great times you can save with an energy-efficient temperature setting for winter:

Sleep

Consider lowering your thermostat at night. In addition to a reduction in heating costs, set your thermostat as low as 60°F for ideal sleep, as it helps you to get some much needed rest. If you find this setback to be a little chilly, add an extra blanket to your bed or use a thicker comforter and see if you are comfortable this way before you increase the temperature.

Exercise

When you exercise, you become warmer naturally, which means you are able to turn down the heat. If you have a long day of chores planned, turn down your thermostat setting for winter savings and keep your body comfortable while you labor through the day.

Vacation

While it’s not wise to turn your heat completely off during much of the winter season, lowering the interior temperature to 55°F while you are away will save energy for this period. Use your programmable thermostat’s hold or vacation feature to temporarily override temperature schedules to use the best thermostat setting for winter vacations. Always program low settings on second homes or vacation properties.

How To Keep Cold Air Out

Prevent low indoor temperatures when you take measures to keep the cold air out of your home. Seal any cracks or holes around the exterior of your home, including spots around cables and air vents. Apply weather stripping on doors, and check windows for leaks. Keep doors closed as much as possible and encourage family members and guests to either visit in the entryway with the door closed or on the porch with the door closed.

Let A-1 Mechanical Answer Your Thermostat Setting Questions

Setting your thermostat for winter does not have to be tricky – we are here to help. At A-1 Mechanical, we want you to know that we are always here to assist you, whether you need a new thermostat or an entirely new furnace. Contact us today to learn more about thermostat upgrades for your home.

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Tags: Smart Thermostats, Thermostats, Wi-Fi Thermostats
Posted in Thermostats | Comments Off on What’s the Best Thermostat Setting for Winter?