I just recently decided to replace my home’s thermostat.
We were living with a plastic device that needed to be manually adjusted.
I would frequently forget to raise or lower the setting before leaving the house for the day. The furnace or air conditioner would blast for hours, maintaining perfect comfort in an empty home. On those mornings when I remembered to make the adjustment, we would return to an overheated or chilly house. There was no possibility of setting up a program that would accommodate our household schedule. I spent some time researching smart thermostats. While there are lots of different makes and models, they all allow access through an app on the phone, tablet or laptop. These modern alternatives make it possible to raise or lower temperature settings, get information, monitor performance and utilize the various features from virtually anywhere at any time. Some of the models keep track of adjustments made during the first week after installation and build a schedule accordingly. I chose a thermostat that includes GPS tracking. The device recognizes the location of each family member’s smartphone. Whenever we enter or exit a set perimeter around the house, it makes adjustments to the operation of the furnace or air conditioner. Plus, this model provides reminders to schedule maintenance and replace air filters. It sends alerts if there is a power outage or a temperature fluctuation. Since installing the new thermostat, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in the comfort of the home. I also appreciate the energy savings on my monthly utility bills. Those lower costs have helped to recover the investment into a better thermostat.