With all the great technology around at the moment, you may be forgiven for thinking there’s a smart solution for everything. But is swapping your regular thermostat for a smart one a good idea and what benefits does it bring?
Here’s a quick overview from our boiler servicing team in Bristol.
What is a smart thermostat?
A standard or regular thermostat is a fairly simple device – you set a temperature and timer and it regulates your heating accordingly. Once the temperature in your room gets over a certain level, it switches off and then reignites once the temperature falls again.
A smart thermostat allows you to have much more flexibility in your heat delivery. You can program your system to come on or off for certain times of the day, operate your heating from your mobile phone or tablet, and change a variety of parameters to meet your personal needs. It all comes down to ease of use and keeping connected with your home, wherever you are.
Advantages of a smart thermostat vs a normal thermostat
The more you can control your heating, the better you are able to keep a tag on those costs. Combine that with the high tech, ultra-efficient boiler models that are on the market nowadays and you have plenty of scope to decrease your gas and electricity bills both in the short and long term.
Using your smartphone or tablet, for example, you can get a greater insight into the amount of energy you use and then change your behaviour accordingly. You can certainly control your heating to a higher degree than ever before. With some systems, you can even zone each room and control the heating with the help of wi-fi enabled radiator valves.
While all this is great, especially if you are a tech fan, the big thing most people want to know before investing in smart technology like a smart thermostat is how much money it’s going to save them on their utility bills. Some providers like Tado suggest that, if you use their system properly, it can cut up to a quarter off your bills while British Gas say their customers find, on average, around £150 in savings each year.
Which thermostat should I get?
There are a number of different models of smart thermostat on the market and most cost in the region of £250 including installation. This will depend on your own personal preferences.
We’ve talked about Hive and Nest in our previous blog and the characteristics of each one but in the end, it comes down to finding the one that suits your budget and which one is compatible with your boiler.
Most homes will eventually switch to smart meters and smart thermostats, certainly over the next decade. While your traditional thermostat can moderate the temperature to a limited degree, smart devices are designed to give you much greater control – in general, you can expect to save money on your heating and get a good return on investment within a short space of time.
If you’d like to find out more about smart heating options or discuss central heating for your house contact DHS today on 0117 924 7200, email us, or request a call back. DHS are NEST approved thermostat installers.
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