The short answer is yes if you want to save money on your monthly utility bill. Over a year, some programmable thermostats can save you up to $200! Programmable thermostats, also known as smart thermostats, can keep your home's indoor climate consistent and predictable to such a degree that it takes the hard ongoing labor off your air conditioning unit. In the long run, most programmable thermostats can prolong the life of your HVAC system and lower your heating and cooling costs.
Convenience might also be a significant benefit in considering energy saving programmable digital thermostats. For example, if you're in the middle of catching up on the latest Netflix series and you're hot, you can easily control the temperature settings from your phone through the app or your smart home devices. No more having to pause the show and get off the couch to adjust the wall-mounted thermostat to your desired temperature setting. Or, if you're spending more time this summer at the lake or on vacation, you can change your home's cooling schedule while you're away to save on energy bills. Some smart thermostats include presence sensing that auto-adjust when you're away.
There are many options, and it can be overwhelming. Your friends at Lorenz recommend researching the best programmable thermostats and which one feels best for you. If you have a traditional sliding simple thermostat with mercury, you might not need to change it if you occasionally adjust the temperature, rarely travel, and don't like change. But on the other hand, if savings and energy efficiency matter, and if you're planning on staying in your home for a while, we recommend a smart programmable thermostat for your heating and cooling system.
At Lorenz Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning, we've found our customers love the ecobee smart thermostat for their air conditioner and heating system. This Wi-Fi thermostat is easier to use and program heating and cooling systems than other versions. It can even pair up with smart home devices like Siri or Alexa. Customers have raved, "I've had three other smart thermostats, and this is by far the best!" Many programmable thermostats have smart features that learn your routine and adjust to save energy and money. The ecobee thermostats range in price from a basic model for $150 to a $250 'smarter' programmable thermostat. And many utility companies offer rebates. City Utilities in Springfield, Missouri, provides a $75 rebate on each ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat. You can learn more about the rebates available here: https://www.cityutilities.net/save/thermostat/Call your friends at Lorenz if you're ready to start saving money with a smart programmable thermostat.
