10 Tips to Get the Most Benefits From Your Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats have revolutionized the way homeowners stay comfortable and manage their energy bills.
They do so much more than simply adjust temperature. A smart thermostat can learn your habits, track the Washington weather, and help your HVAC system run more efficiently.
But installing one is just the first step. To get the most from your investment, you need to use your smart thermostat’s features strategically. Ballard Natural Gas Service created these tips to help you do just that! Whether you’re prepping for the cold months ahead in Washington or just want your home to run more efficiently year-round, these practical tips will help your thermostat work smarter.
Energy-Saving Tips
A smart thermostat goes beyond the basic “install it and manually adjust it” model. Once connected to Wi-Fi, it can learn your schedule, detect when you’re home or away, and even use a technology called geofencing to automatically adjust the temperature based on your phone’s location.
1. Set an Energy-Efficient Schedule
A little planning goes a long way. Create a heating and cooling schedule that fits your routine by keeping your living space warm when you’re home and cooler when you’re away or asleep.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your winter thermostat to approximately 68° Fahrenheit when you are awake and lowering it when you are asleep or away. Dialing your thermostat back by 7–10 degrees for eight hours a day can trim your heating costs by up to 10 percent a year.
2. Use “Away” or “Eco” Modes
Heading out for the day or weekend? Leave the temperature settings up to your thermostat. Many models have settings such as “away” and “eco” that automatically reduce energy use when nobody is home. If your thermostat features a motion sensor or connects to your smartphone, it can detect when you have left your home and adjust the temperature accordingly. It won’t waste energy heating or cooling an unoccupied space.
3. Try Weather and Adaptive Features
Smart thermostats use the weather data to automatically fine-tune your settings. Features like adaptive start ensure your home reaches your desired temperature without running the system longer than necessary.
4. Connect With Smart Home Devices
Your thermostat can do even more when connected with other smart home tools. Pair it with a voice assistant, such as Alexa, to use voice commands. Link it to sensors that automatically adjust heating or cooling when a door or window is open. You can even sync it with energy tracking apps for a complete picture of your usage.
Comfort-Boosting Features
A smart thermostat is your personal comfort assistant. Here are two strategies to improve heating and cooling throughout your home:
5. Room Sensors Can Balance Comfort
If certain rooms in your home are always warmer or cooler than others, wireless temperature sensors can help. They communicate with your smart thermostat to balance temperatures throughout your home and are especially useful in multi-level or open-concept spaces.
6. Don’t Constantly Override the Setting
Constantly changing your thermostat’s settings can actually make it less efficient. Maintain your scheduled adjustments and make gradual tweaks if you feel uncomfortable. Over time, you’ll find the sweet spot between comfort and efficiency. Once your thermostat learns your preferences, it will automatically adjust temperatures to provide comfort and savings.
Learning and Smart Features
Smart thermostats learn, adapt, and report essential data to help you understand your energy use.
7. Let it Learn Your Habits
Today’s top smart thermostats use machine learning to understand your comfort habits. As you make manual adjustments, the system remembers and adapts automatically. Give it a few weeks, and you will notice it adjusting on its own. It will save money and keep your home cozy.
8. Review Your Energy Reports
Most smart thermostats provide detailed energy reports that show how often your system operates, how long it runs, and how outside conditions affect its performance. Reviewing these insights can help you identify areas for improvement, such as sealing drafts or clearing blocked vents.
System Care and Savings
Your smart thermostat is not the only way to boost heating and cooling efficiency in your home. Here are two other essential steps you can take:
9. Maintain Your HVAC System
Even the smartest thermostat can’t overcome an inefficient HVAC system. Check your system’s air filters for dirt or clogs every month. Replace standard one-inch air filters at least every three months, and follow the manufacturer’s directions for other filters. Clear furniture and drapes away from vents and registers to ensure good airflow.
Schedule HVAC maintenance twice annually to keep your furnace and air conditioning or heat pump clean and running smoothly. A well-tuned system responds faster, uses less energy, lasts longer, and maintains accurate thermostat readings.
Our Ballard Natural Gas Service technicians clean, lubricate, test, and inspect your heating or cooling equipment during a tune-up. We can identify and correct minor issues before they escalate into system breakdowns.
10. Look for Utility Rebates
Many local utilities offer smart thermostat rebates and energy-saving programs that reward you for reducing usage during peak times. Visit your utility provider’s website to find incentives.
Prioritize Smarter Comfort Now
Smart thermostats are one of the best investments for improving comfort and lowering energy costs. With the right setup and a little help from our Ballard Natural Gas Service experts, you can enjoy a cozy home that practically runs itself while keeping your utility bills in check. With regular system care, you can enjoy lower bills, improved comfort, and a greener household.
Ready to upgrade your thermostat and schedule system maintenance? We can help you stay comfortable and keep your energy costs under control in your home. Call us at 206-452-1705 or request service online.