At one time, thermostats were little more than a switch to activate the heating and cooling system.
- Purchased for a few dollars from the local hardware store, the thermostat was a plastic device that required manual adjustment.
It allowed the temperature setting for the entire house to be raised or lowered. Technological advances have significantly improved how homeowners manage their heating and cooling equipment. Today’s smart thermostats offer a wide range of features that elevate comfort, convenience and efficiency. There are numerous wireless models on the market that connect to the internet and allow access through an app on the smartphone, tablet or computer. From home, work or virtually anywhere, the homeowner can check up on things, make changes and receive alerts. The thermostat sends reminders when it’s time to change filters or schedule professional maintenance. It provides notification when there’s a sudden temperature fluctuation or power outage and will even contact an HVAC contractor. The opportunity for remote diagnosis can avoid expensive diagnostic fees and scheduling of needless repairs. There are models with customizable displays. Homeowners can change the color of the display, upload photos or choose to have the interface light up when someone approaches. Despite the complexity of options, today’s thermostats are wonderfully user-friendly. There are models that include learning capability. For the first week after installation, the thermostat keeps track of every adjustment and learns the household’s schedule and preferences. It then creates a program to match. A feature called geofencing uses GPS to track the location of family members’ phones. The thermostat automatically adjusts to conserve energy in an empty house and welcome the family home to perfect comfort.