It’s well known that Minnesota experiences bitter, snow-filled winters. Depending on where you live in the state, however, you may experience hot summers, too. Southern Minnesota experiences temperatures in the mid-80s in the summer. With each passing year, those averages only seem to climb even more.
As a result, it’s becoming increasingly important for residents to find ways to cut cooling costs. An HVAC upgrade is one way to do it. Upgrading to a smart thermostat can also provide a noticeable increase in HVAC efficiency. Here’s what you need to know to determine if you should upgrade to a smart thermostat before the cooling season in Minnesota.
What’s Different About a Smart Thermostat?
At first glance, a smart thermostat may look like a slightly fancier version of a programmable thermostat. However, they function very differently.
Programmable thermostats let you enact temperature changes based on preset schedules. Smart thermostats can change temperatures using learning capabilities and without your intervention. They can work independently to make efficient use of your HVAC system and deliver consistent comfort.
Smart thermostats can also help you keep your home’s HVAC in top condition. They offer proactive maintenance reminders and alert you when your system needs a filter change. Some can detect performance changes over time that may indicate a malfunction. That can save you significant sums of money if you schedule a repair before a problem worsens.
How Smart Thermostats Help With Cooling
When you install a smart thermostat to control your air conditioning, it can serve as a cost-effective HVAC upgrade. A Wi-Fi thermostat can download weather data from the internet to synchronize your AC cycles with outdoor temperatures. That can help them know how long it will take to recover from a temperature setback. Your AC will not run longer than necessary to reach the temperatures in your schedule. That also means reduced wear and tear on your AC so that it will last longer.
Some smart thermostats also let you use wireless remote sensors. That can help you customize your comfort to avoid wasted AC use. For example, you can place a sensor in your bedroom and set conditions there for overnight use. That way, your AC will only run as much as necessary to keep you comfortable where you are. You can use a second sensor to prioritize conditions in your living room in the evening if you wish.
Benefits of Installing a Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat can deliver benefits you will appreciate. It will also help you get through the Minnesota summer as comfortably as possible. The following are some of the most important benefits of a Wi-Fi thermostat.
Lower Utility Bills
The most important benefit of smart thermostats is that they can trim your cooling costs. According to ENERGY STAR, its certified models trim energy bills by an average of 8%.
Integration with Smart Home Systems
Smart thermostats can integrate into leading smart home ecosystems. You can connect them to smart speakers like Google Home or Amazon’s Echo to enable voice-controlled operation via Alexa.
By automating control and monitoring through your smart home system, you can adjust many settings throughout your home through your mobile device.
Enhanced Energy Efficiency
Smart thermostats will boost the energy efficiency of your air conditioning system. They do so with proactive setting changes based on your temperature preferences.
They also use advanced sensors to enable micro adjustments to temperature settings. That reduces unnecessary AC cycling, which can be a major source of energy waste.
Convenient Remote Control
An internet-connected thermostat lets you control your HVAC system from anywhere. Most come with a smartphone app that lets you access settings from your phone.
You can check the conditions in your home and adjust your temperature settings as needed. That can be helpful when you’re away on vacation and forget to adjust your thermostat to save energy while your home is empty.
How to Program Your Vacation Thermostat Settings
It’s a good idea to know how to set your thermostat when you go away for maximum savings. While you may think turning off your AC is the smart choice, it is not. When you leave your AC off, your home becomes vulnerable to humidity buildup. That can increase mold and mildew growth, leading to an unpleasant surprise when you return. It can also damage your furniture and electronics.
To avoid trouble while still saving money, there’s a simple rule of thumb. You should set your thermostat four to seven degrees higher than your typical setting. You should never set your thermostat above 85 degrees. That would leave your home vulnerable to the damage mentioned above. It’s also a good idea to check the weather forecast before you leave. If the forecast calls for excess heat or humidity, set your thermostat on the lower end of the guideline.
You can also avoid the problem with a smart thermostat. They factor in the weather forecast and make necessary changes in response. If you have a newer AC with a drying mode, your thermostat can make use of it. It can use that mode to lower humidity inside your home when the temperature does not call for cooling. You can also alter your settings at any time as long as you have an internet connection.
Request Smart Thermostat Installation
If you’re interested in adding a smart thermostat to your home’s comfort arsenal before cooling season, we can help. Haley Comfort Systems has served the comfort needs of Minnesota homeowners since 1990.
We specialize in the Bryant Evolution Connex Control system, which can form the core of an advanced comfort solution. It can do everything you expect from a Wi-Fi thermostat and control Bryant’s full range of Evolution components.
We also sell and install the latest models from Honeywell and Ecobee, should you prefer those. Our team of highly trained HVAC technicians excels at smart thermostat integration so that you will be in good hands.
If you’re interested in a smart thermostat upgrade before the Minnesota cooling season arrives, contact Haley Comfort Systems to schedule service today.
