Home & Garden
The Best Smart Thermostat For Your California Home
Here's how much a smart thermostat can save on your utility bills.
There's a reason the smart home trend is skyrocketing in California. Yes, it's great to operate your home's systems from your cell phone, but you can also save a chunk of change when it comes to utility bills. The average consumer saves $180 per year in energy costs when switching to a smart thermostat.
A smart thermostat replaces your traditional thermometer and allows you to program your home's heating and cooling systems to turn down automatically when you're asleep or away. Many smart thermostats advertise DIY installation, but it can be tricky for many consumers. If you aren't particularly handy or tech-savvy, it is best to enlist the help of an HVAC contractor, electrician, or handyman.
These professionals will also be able to advise as to the best smart thermostat for your home. For a background idea, check out our top picks.
Find out what's happening in Across Californiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Best Overall: Nest Learning Thermostat, $249
This smart thermostat has been a bestseller since 2012. It learns your preferences and routines after you set it manually for about a week. Integrate it with other smart products in your home to have it shut off the lights when you leave, for example. Combine it with Nest Protect smoke + CO alarm, and the thermostat will turn off the heating system in the event of a fire.
Find out what's happening in Across Californiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Best for Big Homes: Ecobee4, $249
One criticism of smart thermostats is that it only monitors the temperature in one location. The Ecobee4 works with additional room sensors. If one part of the house is drafty, the sensors will tell the system to heat those parts of the house more or less.
Best Value: Honeywell Lyric T5, $150
Honeywell is a time-tested thermostat brand, but it's keeping up with modern times with its Lyric products. The T5 works with a proprietary app called Total Comfort Connect. This allows homeowners to remotely manage your heating and cooling system. The app is also partnered with HomeAdvisor to instantly connect homeowners to already screened professionals if an HVAC issue arises.
HomeAdvisor is a Patch promotional partner.