5 Benefits of Digital Thermostats
Digital thermostats are a relatively new feature of HVAC systems. Older analog thermostats have been a reliable piece of equipment for decades, maintaining set temperature levels in the home. So, are there compelling reasons homeowners should consider switching to digital from analog? This article lays out five benefits of digital thermostats to help you decide the facts and whether to upgrade your equipment.
1. Lower Energy Costs
Both analog and digital thermostats are wall-mounted and wired into HVAC systems. However, analog devices must be manually set, usually via a mechanical slider set to the desired temperature. On the other hand, smart digital thermostats can be connected via Wi-Fi and operated through a mobile phone app or via computer to reset the temperature. This remote programming functionality gives digital thermostats the edge in reducing energy costs.
According to the Department of Energy, households can save up to 10% a year on HVAC power consumption by simply changing thermostat temperature settings for up to eight hours each day. With a digital thermostat, this is easy to do.
The flexibility of digital thermostats in managing HVAC cycles aids in lowering household energy costs. Multiple temperature cycles can be set for the day, week, or other periods. For example, lower energy settings can be set for when people go to work during the day or at night when the family is sleeping. If you’re out of the home and forgot to set a cycle or will be home late, it’s a breeze to reset the HVAC thermostat cycle via a mobile app.
2. Better Home Comfort Levels
With digital thermostats, it’s easy to achieve reliable and customizable temperatures across the home. Any room with air ducts can have a digital thermostat installed. Installing multiple thermostats wired to the HVAC lets you achieve different climate zones in the house. So, for example, if you have someone suffering from a cold or flu, you can set their bedroom to be kept constantly warm while ill.
Another benefit of having multiple digital thermostats is that unused rooms can be shut off from the HVAC. For example, if you have empty guest rooms, you can use the thermostat to close off air from the ducts. This action will save on energy costs.
3. Convenience
Convenience is a significant advantage with digital over analog temperature devices. Analog always requires manual adjustment, meaning unless you’re physically present, no fine-tuning is possible. Too bad if you’ve gone out for the day and forgotten to lower the settings.
Of course, with smart digital thermostats, all you need is your mobile phone and the downloaded app, and you can adjust the required settings instantly. You get convenience and cost savings at the press of a screen button.
4. Improve HVAC performance with a Digital Thermostat
HVAC performance can be enhanced with a digital thermostat in two ways:
- Reduced heating and cooling cycle times, and
- Subsequent reduced wear and tear on the equipment.
A correctly functioning thermostat causes the heating and cooling equipment to be turned on and off when room warmth starts to vary from a set temperature. All thermostats have this temperature variance. So, if for example, you set the thermostat temperature to 80 degrees, the variance range could be between 77 or 83 degrees when the HVAC operates.
However, the variance is less with digital than analog thermostats and can be fine-tuned by interaction with smart apps and computer programs. As a result, the heating and cooling cycles have a shorter operation time. In turn, this reduces workload and extends the lifespan of your HVAC equipment.
5. Keep Costs Down with More Smart Controls
Advanced digital thermostats are now becoming integrated with smart speaker and HVAC systems, enabling even more cost savings.
Using mobile apps and computer software, you can track your energy usage and quickly make decisions on power use.
The underlying smarts in digital technology enable systems to learn preferences in homeowner temperature needs and adjust accordingly.
And some mobile apps are linked to dynamic weather data, allowing the digital thermostat to regulate internal temperature based on local weather conditions.
Going Digital?
If you’re unsure whether you want to go digital, get in touch with Briggs HVAC. Even though you may have an older HVAC system with an analog thermostat, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t switch to a digital thermostat. If your system is less than ten years old, there is a good chance that it will be compatible with a digital device. This is an excellent time to discuss equipment compatibility with your local HVAC professionals in North Virginia.
