We are all familiar with the sense of having to manually boost the thermostat in the morning because it is too chilly, only to have to turn it back down in the afternoon because it is suddenly too hot. What if there was a method to reduce the frequency with which you must adjust the interior temperature? With a Wi-Fi-equipped radiator thermostat, there is.
What is a smart thermostat?
First, the essentials. A smart thermostat connects to the internet and enables you to monitor and manage your heating on your smartphone, tablet, and other devices, often via an application or website.
It differs from a smart meter, which connects to the internet and transmits your meter readings to your energy provider. Typically, your energy provider will install a smart meter for free, and it may influence your ability to transfer energy providers in the future.
A smart thermostat is totally under your control, unlike a smart meter. You purchase it and organize the installation yourself, and it has no impact on your ability to transfer energy suppliers for your business.
Smart thermostat advantages and disadvantages for your business
There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to putting a smart thermostat in your small company. A smart thermostat connects to the internet and enables you to monitor your heating remotely using your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile devices. Theoretically, the ability to constantly monitor your heating allows you to consume less energy and save money on your gas bills.
However, installing smart thermostats is costly, especially for small firms battling with Covid-19. Then, are they worthwhile? We examine the advantages and downsides of installing a smart thermostat in your business.
The ability to alter your heating settings from your smartphone is the most significant advantage of smart thermostats. Aside from multi-room and hot water control, draught detection, safety, and holiday modes to protect your water pipes, and feedback on your heating patterns, other common functions of smart thermostats include multi-room and hot water control, draught detection, safety and holiday modes to protect your water pipes, and feedback on your heating patterns.
How do these intelligent features aid you at work? Here are the advantages and disadvantages of installing a smart thermostat in your business.
The pros
- Smart thermostats enable the automation of heating schedules.
Even conventional thermostats allow you to automate your heating system, so what is so great about smart thermostats? Smart thermostats allow you to automate your heating schedule from your smartphone, tablet, or other devices.
Moreover, smart thermostats allow for far more flexible and granular scheduling. You may adjust your schedule according to your demands, which is not possible with a conventional thermostat.
This is a significant advantage if your organization runs flexibly and your team members arrive and depart the office at different times each day. It is an even greater advantage today that so many of us work from home and occasionally commute to the workplace.
- Using a smart thermostat, you can track your energy consumption.
The majority of smart thermostats come with an app that allows you to monitor your heating on your mobile devices. These applications display the temperature setting of your thermostat.
However, did you realize that some of these applications also display the ambient temperature in your office?
This enables you to determine when the ideal temperature has been reached in your workplace, so you do not need to boost the heating (and your energy bills).
- An intelligent thermostat can help you save energy
You may be more energy efficient at work by utilizing the flexibility of your smart radiator thermostat, so you don’t heat your office when you know no one is around.
However, some thermostats may also provide you notifications if your office is too warm, allowing you to reduce the temperature. Some may also alert you when the thermostat detects drafts, allowing you to lock windows and doors to prevent heat loss.
- Smart thermostats are simple to use
Almost every smart thermostat on the market features a touch screen and an intuitive user interface. Using their iPhones, consumers may adjust the temperature in another room. You can even operate your smart thermostat when away from home. Many smart thermostats may be managed by virtual assistants such as Alexa or Google Home.
The cons
- Smart thermostats aren’t 100% reliable
There is no technology that is 100% trustworthy, and smart thermostats are no exception. If your internet connection is unreliable or prone to outages, the operation of your smart thermostat will not be optimal.
The thermostats themselves are also susceptible to error. If you do not routinely check your app, you may not notice if the batteries in your thermostat expire after a couple of days, for instance. Again, you may not realize that the gadget that links to your boiler has gone down and has to be restarted.
It’s not a significant issue, but it might be bothersome if you’re trapped outside on a cool day!
- For some, installation might be intimidating.
If you are not skilled or comfortable working with exposed wire, installing a smart thermostat may not be a task you wish to do. There are usually installation instructions supplied with every smart thermostat, but if you lack installation skills, this may still be scary. The sort of heating and cooling that your HVAC system provides is also relevant. If you are confused about installation or system compatibility, one of our skilled HVAC contractors will help you decide if a smart thermostat is best for you.
- Commitment is required to act on the information smart thermostats provide.
Smart thermostats provide a wealth of information about your energy consumption and how you may reduce it. However, it takes considerable time and work to put this information into practice in a way that yields actual savings. This type of time investment is just not worthwhile for all businesses.
Do smart thermostats justify the cost?
It is difficult to determine the advantages and downsides of installing a smart radiator thermostat in your business since there are so many. If your business operates in a flexible manner and you want the robust scheduling capabilities that a smart thermostat provides, it is probably worthwhile to invest in one. However, if your firm runs during defined hours and your employees work scheduled shifts, you may likely get by with a standard thermostat.
