Most homeowners in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield (IL) know what the thermostat is, where it is in the house and how to use it to run their HVAC.
What all homeowners might not be aware of, however, is just how much capability can be packed into a small wall-mounted package these days.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, heating and cooling make up 51% of the energy costs in the typical American household. Americans spend $29 billion each year for AC alone.
Today’s smart technology gives you greater agency over how much you energy you use and pay for to keep your home cool or warm. As your local resource for getting more air comfort and quality with greater efficiency, Air Dynamics enjoys adding to the awareness that makes you a savvy air-conditioning consumer during our region’s warm seasons.
The timing is good to review how today’s home thermostats provide unprecedented command and versatility in operating your AC, especially in June, July and August.
Quick Thermostat 101
As you know, the thermostat is the device that regulates your indoor temperatures when you’re running the AC in spring and summer (and the furnace in winter and fall).
A standard thermostat typically includes the following core components:
temperature sensor to detect current room temperature and measure it against the temperature setting
control buttons (or dial for older units) to adjust the thermostat
display screen to view set and current temperatures as well as other settings
fan switch to control the speed of the fan, which circulates the cooled air in the house
mode selector for choosing cooling, heating or fan-only operation
Together, you and the thermostat manage your home’s air temperature. The setting you enter informs the internal sensor of what it should watch for.
If you program 72°F as your baseline, the thermostat will constantly compare that setting with the actual room temperature. If the air temp begins to move past 72°, the therm will tell the AC to turn on.
Once the compressor receives the command, the system continues with its cooling sequence for your house:
The compressor pumps refrigerant through the system coils, including the condenser coil and the evaporator coil.
As it moves through the evaporator coil, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air; this heat transfer cools the air.
The heat-absorbing refrigerant travels to the condenser coil, where it releases the heat to the outdoor air and condenses to a liquid.
The liquid refrigerant passes through an expansion valve, which reduces the refrigerant’s pressure and temperature.
Once again cool, the refrigerant returns to the evaporator coil to repeat the process.
Those are the thermostat basics. Now let’s look at how much further current thermostat technology goes.
Smart Thermostats: High-IQ AC
We might describe a smart thermostat as a unit that thinks with intelligence once we focus its attention. In other words, the smart thermostat learns from us and continues to do so after we set it up, program it and continue using it.
Like a standard thermostat, a smart thermostat operates with a temperature sensor connected to your home’s AC. The sensor detects the ambient temperature around the thermostat and turns itself on or off as needed to maintain the setting you entered.
A smart thermostat differs from a standard unit in that it combines more-advanced processors with learning algorithms as well as additional outer sensors to make more-informed decisions about cooling and heating your home.
Beyond simply changing temperatures according to your setting, the smart thermostat uses its sensors and processors to detect your tendencies and preferences.
Using their advanced artificial intelligence, many smart thermostats can:
learn your spring and summer cooling habits in real time and sync with them
be programmed to adjust temperatures for peak performance from your phone, tablet or smart speaker connected to WiFi
automatically adjust temperatures to current weather, humidity and room occupancy
pre-cool your spaces during off-peak hours before you get home
automatically reduce cooling when you’re away (e.g. vacation)
respond to remote commands through an app or voice assistant
track your energy usage and provide reports for potential energy savings
Here at Air Dynamics, we often install Ecobee and Nest smart thermostats for our customers in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield. In being among the most popular smart units, each has distinguishing features:
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
Sensors: Remote room sensors for detecting temperature and occupancy to shape comfort in multiple rooms, not just where the unit is mounted
Home integration: Strong compatibility with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa (built in with some models), Google Assistant and IFTTT
Energy reports: Detailed usage assessments to help homeowners understand their trends and save more on bills
Voice control: Built-in Alexa voice control (some models), allowing commands directly from the thermostat
Nest Thermostats (by Google)
Learning capability: Habit-tracking and automatic adjustment of settings to optimize comfort and energy savings
Design: Minimalist, circular design and high-resolution display, often considered more stylish than competing smart thermostats
Google ecosystem integration: Seamless compatibility with Google Home, Nest Cams and other Google Nest devices
Energy savings: Features such Eco Mode, Home/Away Assist and Seasonal Savings for automatically adjusting temperatures for maximum efficiency
Smart thermostats’ precise energy tracking can be especially helpful for homeowners who draw most of their power from solar panels and wish to keep energy consumption within a certain range.
Just one example of a set-it-and-forget-it smart schedule that conserves energy and cost for a working household might look like this:
| Weekday | |
| 7:00am | Warm up/cool down to comfort range before waking |
| 8:15am | Setback temperature when away |
| 5:30pm | Return to comfort temperature before arrival |
| 10:30pm | Slight drop for sleeping |
| Weekend | |
| Similar wake/sleep settings, but less aggressive setback if home | |
Setting Your Thermostat: Spring & Summer Tips
As you can see, having a smart thermostat can move your household into a new phase of efficient home cooling.
In addition to the benefits of a smart unit, you can keep several tips in mind during the next few months whether your thermostat is smart, programmable or standard. Aim for more comfort with less expense!
Temperature setpoint: During summer, each degree lower on the therm setting can increase AC energy use by up to 5%. Consider adding instead of subtracting degrees. For example, having your thermostat at 74°F instead of 70°F can notably lower energy draw without a major impact on comfort.
Short-cycling: Constantly adjusting the thermostat, especially by a lot when it’s hot out, can cause the system to short-cycle, meaning the AC frequently turns on and off. This strains the air conditioner and reduces system efficiency. A smart thermostat can make properly gradual changes for you so you still have comfort without being rough on the system.
Fan mode: Keeping the fan in ON mode can circulate warm air when the AC isn’t cooling, as well as create humidity and use more electricity. For the best efficiency, set the thermostat to “AUTO” to sync the fan with the cooling cycle.
In Spring
Capitalize on mild weather. Open the windows in the morning and evening when it’s cooler out. Also turn off the AC when outdoor temps are comfortable (e.g. 60–70°F).
Set a flexible range. When home, use a wider comfort range, such as 68–74°F. When you’ll be away, program higher temps, such as 78–80°F.
Use natural ventilation. If you have a smart thermostat and the system allows it, program the AC to turn off when windows or doors are open.
In Summer
Set higher, stable temperatures. You could aim for 74–78°F when home and 78–85°F when away. The key is to avoid drastic changes that can strain the system.
Pre-cool during off-peak hours. Cool your home early in the morning or late at night. Schedule setbacks during peak demand hours (usually 2pm to 7pm).
Use ceiling fans. Set the therm 2–4°F higher and run your fans to feel cooler. Fans circulate air well and cost less to operate.
Smarter Thermostat, Greater Home Cooling: Contact Us Today
At day’s end, what we care about most is that you’re enjoying your definition of spring and summer comfort in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora or Plainfield (IL). We also like to see you saving some extra money while you do it. To chat more about what smart thermostats can achieve for your home, just give us a call at (630) 731-1550!
