How to buy the best smart thermostat
There are several things to consider when purchasing a smart thermostat, and below are some of the main factors to keep in mind.
display and controls
All smart thermostats offer control and scheduling via a smartphone app, but if you have someone in your home who doesn’t have an up-to-date cell phone or isn’t very tech-savvy, you might want to consider a comprehensive It’s worth looking for a thermostat with an intuitive display.
For example, Hive’s original smart thermostat offers more on-screen controls than the cheaper Hive Thermostat Mini, while Honeywell’s Evohome includes a full touchscreen interface that allows you to easily control the temperature in each room. It is.
self study
Some smart heating thermostats are self-learning. This means you can evaluate how long it takes for your home to reach your desired temperature and adjust your schedule to get it to your desired temperature when you want it.
smart home platform
When investing in a smart thermostat, think about your entire smart home. Do you also have a video doorbell, security camera, or voice control system of your choice? Each brand tends to carry its own products, so it might be wise to stick with what you know.
It’s worth knowing that there is a new protocol called “Matter” that helps smart devices communicate. It was jointly developed by Amazon, Apple, Google, and many other manufacturers to eliminate incompatibilities.
hot water and heat
If you live in a home with separate heating and hot water systems, some smart thermostats like Tado allow you to control both with an app. This is very useful if you want to boil water and have it ready when you get home. Not all systems do this and may incur additional charges.
location tracking
If you are always on the go and don’t keep a regular schedule, GPS location tracking can be very useful. A smart thermostat tracks your location through your phone, learns your daily routine, and adjusts your central heating schedule accordingly.
heating zone
Creating heat zones gives you more control over different parts of your home. This can result in significant savings by using multiple thermostats (for example, one on the second floor and one on the first floor) or by investing in smart thermostatic radiator valves that can control each room.
voice control
If you already use Amazon Alexa in your home, rather than suddenly switching to Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit and having to learn how to set up and navigate a whole new ecosystem, consider an Alexa-compatible smart thermostat. It is reasonable to purchase.
How much does a smart thermostat cost?
There are now a number of smart thermostats to choose from, but most will cost between £100 and £200 without professional installation. Hive’s Thermostat Mini is one of the cheapest, priced at £119 including the hub that connects to your router, while the Google Nest Thermostat E costs around £200 and Tado’s starter kit costs £179.
Installing smart radiator valves can cost from £30 each, but most brands offer multi-pack discounts.
It’s worth checking to see if your chosen smart thermostat brand has any additional subscription costs. For example, Tado offers some clever extra features for £2.99 per month, and Hive offers a similar subscription for £3.99 per month.
Is it worth buying a smart thermostat?
Having remote (and voice-controlled) heating from anywhere in the world is convenient, but if you want to know about your energy usage, it’s worth getting a smart thermostat.
Wi-Fi and a smartphone are required. Once you’re all set up, a combination of geolocation tracking, advanced scheduling, and computer learning will help you see where and when you’re wasting your energy. Systems with smart radiator valves can also prevent unnecessary heating of individual rooms.
Can a smart thermostat help monitor energy usage?
To get the most out of your smart thermostat system, you need to leverage technology, not just rely on it to be magical. A smart thermostat records all your heating data and allows you to see how your energy usage changes over time.
This is invaluable information, especially since simply lowering the thermostat is the most effective way to reduce energy usage.
Smart thermostats with location tracking can automatically turn off the heat when no one is home, and multi-zone designs allow you to heat only certain rooms in your home. We recommend taking the time to schedule your heating instead of burdening the technician.
Can I install a smart thermostat myself?
Most smart thermostats are easy to install if you don’t have any problems with wiring or electricity. For example, Google calls Nest installation an “easy DIY project that takes about 20 to 30 minutes,” but it also offers installation services using its Nest Pro installer network.
Hive offers Pro Install services when you order hardware through its website. Tado offers his DIY installation and instructions for over 16,000 compatible heating systems, as well as technical support. Honeywell’s Evohome and Drayton Wiser, on the other hand, can be installed DIY, but are a little more complicated than most because they are entire home systems with multiple smart thermostats. .
If you plan to do the installation yourself, be sure to check the thermostat manufacturer’s website for compatibility with your central heating system.
