Wi-Fi Thermostats: Which One Is Best for You?
These days, home automation is becoming more and more mainstream. Our devices and appliances are being networked together to provide us with seamless control over all aspects of our homes, turning them into “smart homes.” A programmable Wi-Fi thermostat is a perfect example of how the way we control our homes is being revolutionized.
Wi-Fi Thermostats Give You Control from Anywhere
A wireless, or Wi-Fi, thermostat regulates temperature, improves energy efficiency and feedback, and ensures that you’re comfortable at all times. These thermostats build upon the basic features of older programmable thermostats, but they include a large variety of added features. One of the many appeals of a Wi-Fi thermostat is that they enable you to stay connected to your home, no matter where you are. Once you sync your Wi-Fi thermostat with your router, you will have remote access from a computer or via an app on your smartphone or tablet. From the palm of your hand, you can have total control over your home’s temperature.
Popular Wi-Fi Thermostats Compared
Here are a few of the most popular Wi-Fi thermostats available today, all of which are both iOS and Android compatible.
- Ecobee3 Thermostat: This model understands when to turn on your heat or air conditioning. It tracks this based on many data points such as your home’s unique energy profile and the weather outside.
The Ecobee3 includes a remote sensor that enables you to monitor the temperature in more than one room in your house. It even senses whether anyone is home and
what rooms are occupied and will maintain a lower programmed temperature when empty saving energy and money. Ecobee3 saves homeowners an average of 23% annually on their energy bills. It is HomeKit, Apple’s framework for home automation, enabled and also works with Amazon Alexa for voice control.
Nest Learning Thermostat V.3: One of the great things about this model is that it learns the temperatures you like, and begins to program itself, all within about a week’s time. Nest is extremely energy-efficient. One unique feature is it alerts you when you choose a temperature that saves energy, and enables you to check your energy history. This Nest model also automatically turns itself down when no one is home. When Nest senses you across the room, it lights up to show you the time, temperature or weather. This model also works with Amazon Alexa for voice control.
- Honeywell RTH8580WF1007 Wi-Fi Thermostat: This touchscreen model, is ranked as the best budget model. It features remote 7-day scheduling to
accommodate your family’s busy schedule without sacrificing comfort. It also has automatic software updates as well as a “temporary hold” setting for when you’re on vacation or otherwise away. The Honeywell features voice control and works with multiple smart home systems.