thermostat-for-smart-things

Best Thermostat for SmartThings

The biggest concern when looking for a suitable thermostat for your smart home is the wide array of options that comes along. So, how does one decide which thermostat is the best? While one thermostat offers the ability to control it well, the other offers ease of use, so making the optimum choice is critical. But what is that optimum choice?

Well, that’s where we will help you out. We have gathered the list, of the 5 finest thermostats for smart things, to assist you in choosing the best thermostat for your smart things, so the noise in your choice gets minimized. 

Top 5 Thermostats for Smart Things

1. [amazon link=”B0131RG6VK” title=”Google Nest Thermostat” /] – Best Overall

Ratings: 4.5/5

  • Battery Powered Thermostat with the energy-saving capability
  • Auto Scheduling feature with high resolution
  • Works with Alexa and remote operated

Google Nest Learning thermostat allows you to program the thermostat according to your schedule and control it with ease from anywhere you are. Its energy history allows you to keep track of your energy consumption. Furthermore, the HVAC monitoring in the thermostat allows you to keep an eye on the system. In case something doesn’t seem right, it alerts you immediately. This thermostat is designed with elegant finishes and offers a high-resolution display. Its installation is also very convenient and easy. 

The drawback is that you have to have a working Wi-Fi or internet, along with a functional device, all the time to control the thermostat or be notified.

Estimated average savings of costs by using this thermostat have been around 10-12% on heating and 15% on cooling. 

2. [amazon link=”B01NB1OB0I” title=”Emerson Sensi Thermostat” /] – Best Value

Ratings: 4.6/5

  • Called the best value smart thermostat in 2018 by USA Today’s reviewed.com
  • Includes features like Geofencing, Remote Access, and In-app System usage.
  • Allows 7 days of flexible scheduling
  • Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home kit (c-wire required), and Samsung SmartThings

This thermostat allows you to do location-based temperature control and custom schedule for 7 days. It monitors the current day and historical heating, cooling right in the app while allowing you to control it from anywhere from your smartphone using the Sensi Mobile App. Moreover, it alerts you in case of irregular temperatures and humidity levels in your home. It comes with a circulating fan which helps regulate temperature and prevent the buildup of particles and mold. The best part about this thermostat is that it doesn’t require c wire for installation so it is compatible with HVAC equipment. The c wire is required for heat-only, cool-only, heat pump, and Apple Home kit. 

The only drawback is that it doesn’t work with electric baseboard heat and some other systems while the mobile app also requires specific requirements like Android version 4.2 and above, and iOS 10.0 or above.

3. [amazon link=”B075BF6V58″ title=”Honeywell Home Smart Thermostat” /] – Best Premium

Ratings: 4.4/5

  • Allows flexible programming to schedule according to choice
  • Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana, etc. via Wi-Fi
  • Helps to view the daily forecast and check humidity levels indoor and outdoor
  • Ideally suited for Connected home
  • Offers alerts and notifications to keep check of the temperature and humidity and reminds about air filter and humidifier pad change.

This thermostat comes with features like viewing local weather forecasts, flexible programming options, auto changing from heat to cool, and a reliable and secure app. You can set it on hold like permanent, temporary, or vacation hold and you can personalize it to fit your home. You can use the Total Connect comfort app or the Honeywell Home app to control the thermostat. The best part is that it tracks your monthly energy consumption and gives tips on reducing energy use. It works with utility programs across the US so it’s convenient. It has easy installation. On being inquired, 1490 out of 2100 respondents said that they purchased and installed a Sensi thermostat in 30 minutes or less.

The drawback is that it doesn’t work with heat pumps with electric baseboard heat.

4. [amazon link=”B01N3CEUDH” title=”Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat” /] – Best Features

Ratings: 4.6/5

  • Named the ‘best overall’ smart thermostat of 2017, 2018, and 2019 by USA Today’s reviewed.com
  • Works with Alexa, Apple Home Kit along with Google Assistant, and Wink Home Automation Tools.
  • Compatible with HVAC equipment in most homes in the US and Canada
  • Features like Geofencing, Remote Access, Flexible Scheduling and App control with alerts

This thermostat, an improved version of Emerson Sensi Thermostat, allows very easy installation of fewer than 30 minutes with an app that guides you all along the process. The best part about this thermostat is that it saves about 23% on HVAC energy. Along with that, it also helps to monitor the overall usage and control the total consumption. The easy-to-use app allows you to control the thermostat from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet (Android and iOS devices). It also gives smart alerts in case of irregular temperatures and humidity levels. 

The drawback is that a common wire (c-wire) is required for all system types. 

5. [amazon link=”B07NQT85FC” title=”Ecobee Smart Thermostat” /] – Best Budget

Ratings: 4.6/5

  • Named “Best Overall Smart Thermostat” by Tom’s Guide
  • Includes Built-in Occupancy sensor that automatically adjusts the temperature when you leave home and restores your settings on your return.
  • Allows control from anywhere using the Ecobee Application

It requires that you place the thermostat in your most important room like your bedroom, office, children’s room to keep it at the perfect temperature. It offers the Home and Away feature which detects your presence and adjusts the temperature automatically based on your presence. This feature helps in having a timely use of the thermostat without consuming too much energy or impacting your comfort. Its installation is easy and doesn’t consume a lot of time.

It works best with Ecobee Haven, the home monitoring subscription that connects and enhances the Ecobee devices. So, you should have Ecobee Haven to ensure that this thermostat works effectively and efficiently. 

Value Editorial & Buying debates

Choosing a thermostat is not like choosing what to have for dinner or what to wear the next day. You must make a very informed decision. We know that after going through the mentioned products, you must have reached some decision and clarity. It’s vital to know whether you’re spending your money in the right place or not. Hence, to properly decide, we’ll help you go through certain factors that influence the buying decision.

Ranking

One of the most important things to consider before making a decision is to know how well it is ranked in the market and how other customers have reviewed the product. 

It is always important to know how the previous experience of customers has been because it clarifies all the ambiguities and underlying issues that might not be mentioned in the product’s features. So, one must always look at the ratings and customer satisfaction levels before choosing a product. 

Smart Phone Compatibility

In this fast-paced world of technology, it’s always necessary to get products that are compatible with the current technology and suitable for future technological improvements as well. 

We have mentioned the thermostats that are compatible with Alexa, Apple Home Kit, Google Assistant, and other such platforms, along with mentions of the specific mobile apps that accompany the given thermostats. Each thermostats’ app offers a variety of options and features to remotely access, control, and manage it. Hence you must always look at your current devices and the compatibility of the thermostat with your devices because that’s the way to smooth the experience of smart technology. 

Installation

Another vital feature that hugely impacts the buying decision of thermostats is how easy or complex its installation process is. Some thermostats are very easy to install with the task being done in less than 30 minutes, but some thermostats have a complicated installation that might take time. However, in this case, rather than focusing just on the installation process, one must also keep the required features in mind and then make a decision. 

Most of the time, complex installation once leads to quite an array of features for quite some time while easy installation might get problematic later on. So always balance the pros and cons and then make a decision. 

Energy Usage

One of the most important factors when deciding a thermostat for your smart things is the energy usage it has. You can save a lot of money on the heating and cooling costs if your thermostats have the feature to turn it off when you are away. We have mentioned some thermostats that have the automatic feature to do this job. In this way, you don’t have to compromise on your comfort or your pocket. 

Scheduling, a critical feature in programmable thermostats allows you to schedule the on and off times of the heating and cooling. This can store your day’s settings and work like a magic by keeping track of your routine. This saves energy usage because it’ll only turn on at the scheduled times. 

However, while there are perks that come with smart thermostats, you might have to consider whether the thermostat you’re choosing works with electric resistance systems or uses c wire.

We hope that when choosing between buying a thermostat, you keep these factors along with the basic features of the thermostat in mind. We guarantee that doing so will ease the decision-making process. 

Frequently Asked Question

Should one keep the thermostat at a constant temperature or keep changing it? 

One shouldn’t keep the thermostat at a constant temperature all the time, because it’ll be working even when you’re not at home. This will be a waste of your time, energy, and money. Constant temperature thermostats have more wear and tear to HVAC systems. This results in a reduction of the lifespan of the thermostat. You should adjust the thermostat according to the outside atmosphere and turn it off when you’re not at home. 

Can one save costs by installing a Smart Thermostat?

Yes, one can save a lot of money and costs by getting a smart thermostat. Though it depends on factors like how old your HVAC systems are or how insulation at your home is, and also on the number of people living in the house. If your HVAC system is new, your thermostat is more efficient in saving energy and reducing costs.

How can one save energy with Smart Thermostat?

One can save energy with a smart Thermostat in plenty of ways like Scheduling, which allows the users can choose and design their schedule according to their routine and comfort. This ensures the Smart Thermostat runs as efficiently as possible and helps to save a lot of energy.

What is C-Wire?

The C wire, also called the common wire, supplies 24 volts’ electric current to the thermostat. Wi-Fi thermostats require more power than the older and simpler thermostats. This is why most new thermostats require a c wire.

Conclusion

 We have broken down each of the world’s top thermostats for your smart things. So you can make an informed decision. In our opinion, the winner is the [amazon link=”B01N3CEUDH” title=”Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat” /] with Ratings: 4.6/5. Our final verdict is backed by the fact that it has been named the ‘best overall’ smart thermostat of 2017, 2018, and 2019 by USA Today’s reviewed.com.

Besides the rankings, the features offered by this thermostat are effective in ensuring that your smart home is well managed and maintained. Not that we don’t support the rest of the products, the choice is yours, depending on your preferences.