Is a Smart Thermostat Worth It?

A smart thermostat is one of the simpler upgrades you can make to a heating and cooling system. It's also one of the most oversold. It can make your house more comfortable and easier to manage. It can't fix a system that's worn out, undersized or leaking air through the ducts. Here's an honest look at what you get, what to check before you buy, and what to expect after it's on the wall.

What a smart thermostat actually does

Underneath, it's still a thermostat. It reads the temperature and tells your system when to run. The difference is that it connects to your wifi, so you can adjust it from your phone, and it can follow a schedule more intelligently than the old dial or the basic programmable model on your hallway wall.

Many of them also report how long your system ran, send reminders when it's time for service, and let more than one person in the house make changes. Those extras are handy, but the schedule is the part that matters most for daily comfort.

Scheduling is where most of the value is

Most households don't need the house at the same temperature at three in the afternoon, when everyone is out, as at seven in the evening, when everyone's home. A schedule lets the system ease off while you're away and get the house comfortable again by the time you return.

• Warm the house before you wake up on a cold Arkansas morning, so you're not stepping onto cold floors.
• Let the temperature drift while you're at work, then bring it back before you walk in.
• Set a different overnight temperature that suits how you sleep.
• Use the phone app to change things when plans shift, like a vacation or a surprise guest.

Plenty of people had programmable thermostats before and never programmed them, because the buttons were awkward. A phone app removes that barrier. If you'll actually use the schedule, the upgrade pays you back in comfort. If you won't, it's an expensive dial.

Compatibility: check before you buy

This is where most smart thermostat frustration starts. Not every thermostat works with every system, and the box on the shelf won't always tell you that plainly.

• The C-wire. Many smart thermostats need a constant low-voltage power wire, often called the C-wire, to run their screen and wifi. Some homes don't have one at the thermostat. A technician can often add one, or use another method, but you want to know that before you start.
• Heat pumps. A heat pump needs a thermostat that understands heat pump controls, including the way it switches between heating and cooling and how it uses backup heat. A thermostat set up for a furnace and air conditioner can run a heat pump badly.
• Multi-stage and variable systems. If your furnace or air conditioner has more than one stage of output, the thermostat has to support that, or you won't get the comfort the equipment is capable of.
• Line-voltage and older systems. Baseboard heat and some older setups use a different kind of control. A standard smart thermostat can damage them or simply won't work.
• Zoned systems. If you have multiple zones, the thermostat has to cooperate with the zone controls.

If you're unsure what you have, the label on your equipment and a look at the wires behind your current thermostat usually answer the question. Or let a technician check it. That's a short visit, and it avoids a return trip to the store.

What a thermostat can't fix

A smart thermostat is a control. It can't change what the equipment is physically able to do. If one room is always hot, the thermostat isn't the problem. That's usually airflow, duct leaks, insulation or a system that was never the right size for the house.

• A dirty filter or clogged coil still restricts airflow, whatever's on the wall.
• Leaky or poorly designed ducts still waste air before it reaches the rooms.
• A worn-out compressor, motor or igniter still needs repair.
• An undersized system still can't keep up on the hottest days.

A thermostat also can't replace maintenance. Most heating and cooling systems benefit from a professional tune-up once a year. Many homeowners schedule the AC in spring and the furnace in fall, and that routine does more for reliability than any app.

So is it worth it?

For most homes with a compatible system, yes, if you'll use the scheduling and you value being able to check and adjust things from your phone. It's a small change that makes daily life a little easier. It's not worth it if you're hoping it will cure a comfort problem that's really about the equipment or the ductwork.

If you'd like a second opinion on which thermostat suits your system, or you're not sure why a room never gets comfortable, Stith can take a look. We've worked on heating and cooling in Northwest Arkansas since 1965. Call (479) 751-9691 and we'll sort out what's worth doing and what isn't.