The Smart Home’s Most Underrated Feature – Clean, Comfortable Air

We all love the gadgets and devices that make our home “smarter” and more convenient—video doorbells and security systems, digital assistants like Amazon’s Alexa tied to our speakers, and robot vacuums that keep the floors clean without us needing to lift a finger. Who doesn’t enjoy a digital picture frame that can be easily updated from their phone (which, by the way, is a slam dunk for the next holiday gift-giving season)?

And while it not be as flashy as, say, a mattress topper that adjusts your bed’s temperature from your phone and tracks your sleep patterns, a “smart thermostat” is one of the most useful and important home improvements that you can implement. They do way more than simply change the temperature like traditional thermostats and can actually help improve your home’s air quality and more.

What is a “smart” thermostat?

A smart thermostat connects to your home’s wireless network. It allows users to monitor and adjust their heating and cooling settings on the go—from their phone, tablet, or desktop—and even schedule changes well in advance. These devices can learn your preferences and habits automatically, and start anticipating when you would normally want to make changes, preemptively starting the process and optimizing energy usage. The apps that are used to manage smart thermostats can provide detailed energy consumption reports, allowing users to learn about their habits and optimize how they use the system, as well as monitor for unusual activity that might signal maintenance is required for an HVAC system.

How can a smart thermostat improve my air quality?

Smart thermostats manage significant factors that affect indoor air quality (IAQ). Built-in humidity sensors help maintain optimal moisture levels in the air, reducing the ability for mold to grow and dust mites to proliferate—in addition to just making your home more comfortable! 

A number of models come equipped with sensors that detect irritants in the air; when the level of pollutants like pollen and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) rise beyond a certain threshold, the system can alter ventilation settings to help mitigate the issue as well as alert the user. By connecting to an HVAC system, smart thermostats can help regulate indoor air and monitor HVAC efficiency, notifying users when filters need to be replaced or maintenance is required.

The features of smart thermostats

Smart thermostats are some of the most effective tools we have to improve indoor air quality as well as energy efficiency (which can lower energy bills!). Here are just some of the most common features typical of smart thermostats:

• Remote Access & Control: Change the temperature and other air settings in your home from a mobile device so that you can keep energy usage low when less heating or cooling is needed and turn up the system for maximum comfort upon a return home.
• Learning Capabilities: Smart thermostats can automatically adjust settings depending on the time of day, day of the week, and season—based on your habits and preferences. This allows for the optimization of energy efficiency without sacrificing comfort.
• Smart Alerts & Maintenance Reminders: Is your HVAC system due for maintenance? Does the filter need to be replaced? You don’t need to keep track of these things, because smart thermostats can alert users automatically and help keep the system running at a fully optimized level.
• Air Quality Alerts: Similar to routine reminders, when something is out of the ordinary—like a pollutant in the air or unusual energy usage that suggests the HVAC system is not working properly—properly equipped smart thermostats can let you know in a timely manner.
• Energy Usage Reports: Clear and easy-to-understand energy reports available from a mobile app are generated by the smart thermostat’s collected data. This information shows your consumption patterns over time and gives you the opportunity to save money.

How can I integrate a smart thermostat into my HVAC system?

Installing a smart thermostat isn’t as simple as swapping out the old unit for the new one. It’s important to ensure that this new technology is properly optimized for a home’s unique features and your energy and air quality goals. Bringing in an expert HVAC company, like us, is the wise choice for making the most of a smart thermostat’s potential.

Our expert HVAC technicians will assess your current air system to see if it’s compatible with your preferred thermostat and if the two will work efficiently together. We handle everything from installation to connecting the device to your Wi-Fi network (and to other connected devices like air purifiers and ventilation systems) and ensuring the thermostat is properly calibrated for efficiency and comfort when working with your HVAC system. We can also customize the thermostat’s settings to align with your comfort and energy use preferences from day one.

Just as with any smart tech, these thermostats might require occasional updates, maintenance, or troubleshooting. We can provide ongoing support when doing maintenance and routine checks on your HVAC system, to make sure the pair are still working together properly, that the sensors are in working order, and that filters don’t need replacing.

Call us today to discuss your options for smart thermostats that will increase your HVAC system’s efficiency, your home’s comfort, and provide unparalleled convenience along the way. Breathe easy—both because the air in your home has never been better, and because your HVAC system and connected devices are in expert hands.