Wi-Fi is required for the best features of smart thermostats, such as remote management
Who doesn’t love home devices that make life more convenient, comfortable, and considerate? By maintaining the ideal temperature for your home, offering access from anywhere, and reducing your carbon footprint, smart thermostats provide all three. To find the perfect smart thermostat, it’s important to arm yourself with the right information. Before upgrading, you should keep a few lesser-known things in mind. It makes sense to switch to an energy-saving thermostat sooner rather than later to save the most energy. The best time to switch to a more energy-efficient thermostat is not always when you’ll need it most, like in the middle of summer or midwinter or before you host a family gathering. If things go wrong during a DIY installation, you might be stuck without a functioning HVAC system until you can get it fixed. It might be better to wait for milder weather. You should always check compatibility with your existing HVAC system when shopping for a new thermostat. Generally, smart thermostats require 24-volt HVAC systems, also called “central heat” or “central air.” Another common system is “line voltage” HVAC, which is not compatible with smart thermometers. 120 to 240 volts are used in these systems. Make sure you have a C-wire as well. You can, however, use adapters to get around the problem if you don’t have or can’t find the C-wire on many popular brands of smart thermostats. Wi-Fi is required for the best features of smart thermostats, such as remote management. The best location for your new thermostat should be in an area of your home that has good Wi-Fi coverage if you want the best experience. In order to accomplish this, you may need to move your home’s Wi-Fi router. Consider hiring a professional to move your current thermostat while you get an upgrade if it is in an odd or inconvenient location.