Discover the Future of Home Heating: Our Smart Thermostat Reviews

Finding the Best Smart Thermostat

Picking the right smart thermostat for your home can be a mix of excitement and confusion, thanks to the sea of choices out there. We've dug through smart thermostat reviews to help you zero in on the most efficient and user-friendly gadgets to keep your home's climate just right.

Top Smart Thermostat Picks

After wading through the options, here are our top smart thermostats:

• Amazon Smart Thermostat: This one takes the cake for its mix of features and price. It detects if you're home, offers energy-saving tips, and won't break the bank.

• Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium: If you want all the bells and whistles, the Ecobee is your go-to. It has indoor air quality sensors, a four-day weather forecast, a virtual assistant, and even works as a Bluetooth speaker.

• Sensi Touch 2: For those who love simplicity, the Sensi Touch 2 is a winner. Its display is easy to use, and it works seamlessly with Alexa and Google Home.

• Nest Learning Thermostat: Known for its sleek design and energy-saving settings, this thermostat senses when you're home and offers flexible installation options, making it great for renters.

What to Think About

When choosing the best smart thermostat for your home, keep these things in mind:

• Price: Smart thermostats range from $50 to $300. Look out for discounts or rebates from utility companies to save some cash.

• Energy Savings: Go for ENERGY STAR certified models that can save you up to $100 a year on heating and cooling. Savings can vary depending on where you live (ENERGY STAR).

• Features: Look for features that fit your lifestyle, like geofencing, learning functions, vacation mode, automatic updates, temperature and occupancy sensors, voice assistant compatibility, and even music streaming.

• Compatibility: Make sure the thermostat works with your HVAC system and can use remote room sensors for better temperature control, which can save more energy and boost comfort.

• Connectivity: Ensure the thermostat connects smoothly with your home network. A wi-fi thermostat is key for remote control and monitoring.

• Ease of Use: The interface should be user-friendly, whether you prefer a touchscreen or app controls. Think about how you'll interact with the thermostat daily.

By keeping these points in mind, you'll be on your way to finding a smart thermostat that fits your needs and makes your home smarter.

Energy Efficiency and Savings

When it comes to smart thermostats, energy efficiency and savings are the main reasons homeowners are jumping on board. Let's see how a smart thermostat can cut your energy bills and help the planet.

Impact on Energy Bills

Installing a smart thermostat can seriously slash your energy costs. For instance, ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats can save you up to $100 a year if your heating and cooling bills are high. In places with extreme weather, these savings can be even bigger (ENERGY STAR).

Natural Resources Canada says smart thermostats can save you about 8% on your yearly heating and cooling costs. Over time, this means a smart thermostat, like those from Nest, can pay for itself in less than two years.

Here's a quick look at the potential savings:

Initial Cost of Smart Thermostat	Estimated Yearly Savings	Break-Even Point
$140 - $240	$100	Less than 2 years

Sure, the up-front cost might seem high, but the long-term savings on your energy bills make it worth it.

Environmental Benefits

Smart thermostats aren't just good for your wallet—they're good for the planet too. If everyone used ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats, we'd save 56 trillion BTUs of energy and $740 million each year, while cutting 13 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

Choosing an ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat means you're picking a model that's energy efficient and helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This collective effort can make a big difference in fighting climate change.

Smart thermostats with wi-fi (wi-fi thermostat) and programmable settings (programmable thermostat) let you fine-tune your heating and cooling to run only when needed, cutting down on wasted energy and helping the environment.

As homeowners, we can feel good knowing that installing a smart thermostat is not just a smart financial move, but also a responsible choice for the planet.

Get to Know Your Smart Thermostat

Alright, folks, let's talk about smart thermostats. These little gadgets are game-changers for making your home comfy and efficient. Here's the lowdown on what they can do.

Cool Features You’ll Love

Smart thermostats are way ahead of those old-school programmable ones. Check out some of the cool stuff they can do:

• Knows When You're Home: Gadgets like the Amazon Smart Thermostat can tell if you're around and tweak the temp to keep you comfy and save energy. (CNET)
• Keeps an Eye on Air Quality: The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium has sensors to monitor your indoor air quality, making sure your home is a healthy place to be. (CNET)
• Weather Updates: Some models, like the Ecobee, can show you the weather forecast right on the display.
• Talks and Plays Music: High-end models might double as a Bluetooth speaker and come with a built-in virtual assistant for hands-free control.
• Learns Your Habits: The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation) gets to know your temperature preferences and adjusts automatically. (PCMag)
• Geofencing: Uses your phone's location to adjust settings, keeping you comfy when you're home and saving energy when you're not.
• Vacation Mode: Keeps things efficient while you're away, so you don't come home to a freezing or boiling house.

Using these features, you can make your home more comfortable and save some cash. Smart thermostats can cut your heating and cooling costs by about eight percent a year.

Make It Yours

Customization and integration are where smart thermostats really shine. They fit right into your smart home setup.

• Set Your Schedule: Customize heating and cooling schedules to match your daily routine.
• Smart Home Integration: These thermostats can work with other smart devices and platforms, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, making them a key part of your connected home.
• Control from Anywhere: Use a companion app to adjust settings on-the-go, so your home is always just the way you like it.
• Extra Sensors: Add external temperature sensors, like those supported by the Nest Learning Thermostat, for more precise control in different rooms. (PCMag)
• IFTTT Compatibility: Create custom automations with If This Then That (IFTTT), linking your thermostat's actions to other devices or conditions.

These options make sure your smart thermostat fits your lifestyle and works smoothly with other smart gadgets in your home. Whether you're looking for the best smart thermostat to pair with your current setup or starting from scratch, there's one out there for you.

Installing and Optimizing Your Smart Thermostat

So, you've picked the best smart thermostat after checking out our smart thermostat reviews. Now, let's get it up and running in your home. We'll walk you through where to put it and how to keep it connected and performing like a champ.

Where to Put It

Where you place your smart thermostat matters a lot. Here are some tips to get it right:

• No Drafts: Keep it away from drafty spots or direct sunlight. These can mess with the readings.
• Central Spot: Stick it on an interior wall in a room you use a lot. This helps it get a better read on your home's overall temperature.
• Wi-Fi Range: Make sure it's close enough to your Wi-Fi router. If it's too far, think about getting a Wi-Fi range extender to keep the connection solid.

Keeping It Connected and Running Smoothly

Your smart thermostat needs a good internet connection to do its thing. Here's how to keep it connected and performing well:

• Strong Wi-Fi: A steady Wi-Fi signal is a must. Check your signal strength and talk to your internet provider if you have issues.
• Software Updates: Keep the thermostat's software up to date. This ensures you get the latest features and security fixes.
• Geofencing: Use geofencing if your thermostat has it. This feature adjusts the temperature based on your phone's location, saving energy when you're out and making it comfy when you're heading home.
• Energy Reports: Some smart thermostats, like the ecobee3 Lite, offer monthly energy reports. Use these to track and improve your energy efficiency.

By placing your smart thermostat in the right spot and keeping it well-connected, you'll get the most out of its features. These include remote monitoring, adjusting temperatures for different rooms, and automating your home's heating and cooling. This can save you around eight percent on your yearly energy costs. For more tips on automating your home's climate control, check out our programmable thermostat section.