WiFi Thermostats

You’ve undoubtedly been reading a lot and hearing from your friends and family about WiFi thermostats, which are thermostats that connect to your home’s wireless network and let you control your home’s temperature through an app on your smartphone or tablet.

Here are some benefits of a WiFi thermostat.

1. Safety.  WiFi thermostats let you check on your home’s temperature anywhere in the world where you have an internet connection.  So, for example, during one of the many cold spells we endure in Chicago, if your furnace breaks down, the app will let you know the temperature in your home is plummeting, and you can take appropriate action.  These thermostats will let you set an alert if the temperature falls below a desired set-point in the winter, or rises above a desired set-point in the summer.
   
2. Easy to program.  Unlike many programmable thermostats not connected to the Internet, WiFi thermostats are intuitive and easy to program.  You can easily create schedules to raise or lower the temperature when you are asleep or awake in the home, out of the home, and even on vacation.  
   
3. A djust the temperature from anywhere.   That is, anywhere you have an internet connection.  The best example is when you are coming home from out of town.  You’ve already set the temperature lower (or higher in the summer) to save energy when you are away.  When you are about to get home, you simply adjust the temperature, and your home will be the appropriate temperature when you arrive.  Another example.  If you are lying in bed and it seems a little cold, just reach for your phone and raise the temperature before you get out of bed.
   
4. Save on utility costs.  The ability to raise or lower your home’s temperature either through programming or on the fly will allow you to save both energy and money.
   

Here are some features you can look for when considering a WiFi thermostat.

1. Remote sensors.  Some units have sensors that detect when you are near, and kick into home mode.  You should place the sensor in a heavily trafficked part of the house to ensure accuracy.
   
2. Learning.  Other units go further and “learn” your habits through various algorithms and adapt automatically to your behavior.  For example, if units “learn” you are gone at the same time of day, they will assume you are gone and adjust the temperature.
   
3. Geofencing.  Some phones have geofencing features that use your phone’s location to tell whether you are home or away.  You can set your thermostat to adjust the temperature based on how far away you are from your home.
   

One last important note.  If you have an existing furnace, make sure the WiFi thermostat you purchase is compatible.  If you are buying a new furnace, make the thermostat part of the package so you know it is compatible.