What is a Communicating HVAC System?

This week on Tech Tips we are discussing what communicating HVAC systems are and how they might be beneficial to your home! 

These days there is a “smart” version of everything and sometimes you’re probably wondering “why does that even exist?” and that’s understandable. So when someone tells your that you can get a “smart” HVAC system you’re probably rolling your eyes and thinking how it’s just some sales gimmick or feature to charge more money. Well not quite and we’re going to break down why. 

You’ve more than likely heard of Nest, Ecobee and several other companies who make smart thermostats or other gadgets to make your home “smart”, but while these products do add additional functionality, they also have limitations on the benefits they can provide. 

These smart thermostats offer a variety of features and technology, but because they are “add-on” pieces to your HVAC system they’re limited in what they can do to control the system and increase efficiency. On the other side you have “connected systems” like the Evolution systems from Bryant and the Infinity systems from Carrier which are designed from the ground up around this smart technology so that it can control your HVAC system at every level and can increase efficiency as well as be quieter. 

For instance the Bryant Evolution system uses the Connex thermostat to control the AC and the Furnace and learn your patterns to adjust your usage for when you’re home and keep your home at the temperature you use the most. Because the system also has a variable speed blower it can learn your habits and use less energy to maintain your temperature and save you even more money. With Nest thermostats you’re stuck using your system at 100% all the time which negates any savings you might gain from having a smart thermostat.

In addition to that, the Bryant Connex also allows for the system to use the different pieces of equipment in tandem. If you have a Bryant Heat Pump for instance with an electric furnace, the Bryant Connex can decide when to use the furnace to create the most energy efficient performance profile all while keeping your home at your desired temperature. 

These are only a handful of the features you can get with connected systems at Bryant and Carrier, but it’s important to remember that just because you see a “smart” thermostat that doesn’t mean that it’s going to give you all the benefits you would get from a completely connected system from Bryant. 

If you’re interested in learning more about connected systems from Bryant, give us a call at Superior Heating Cooling Plumbing!

Thanks for checking out Tech Tips and we will be back next week with a new tip!

One of the reasons people aren’t able to routinely save money on their energy bills is because they don’t know how much energy they’re using. By having an accurate and simple way to track your energy usage, it’s easier than ever to save. Not only can you take full control over your heating and cooling usage, but you can see energy monitoring reports that can help you make decisions when setting a heating and cooling schedule for your home.

Smart thermostats are an accurate way of tracking your energy use. By using scheduling features, you can maintain an automated temperature control schedule to help save money while you’re not home. You can also see your heating and cooling habits throughout the year to be able to accurately predict your future energy bills, which can also help you plan to save more money down the road. These energy reports may also give you tips on how to save money and be more efficient in your energy usage.

While any smart thermostat can be completely controlled by a homeowner, they can also learn your tendencies on their own. It can set itself to start cooling the home to your ideal temperature right as you would normally get home. By being able to learn your patterns, your home will use energy and maintain the perfect temperature comfort level of your choosing based on when you’re home.

Depending on the weather outside, your home will either need to heat up or cool down. If you live in a place like the midwest of America where you may need to switch between heating and cooling multiple times in the same week, it can really catch you by surprise. Some smart thermostats have the ability to track the weather and adjust the temperature of your home according to fluctuating outside temperatures. With automated weather tracking, your home will always be comfortable no matter what it feels like outside.

As mentioned earlier with smart learning technology, your smart thermostat needs to be able to accurately learn your habits. Some of these smart thermostats have movement sensors, so they can tell when you or your family are home. These room sensors can sense when nobody is home for long stretches of time so it can help save you money and set a better energy usage schedule.

Homeowners today turn to home automation as a way to increase the efficiency and performance of their homes.  But as technology continues to advance, it can often lead to more headaches when it comes to programming and compatibility.  However, many smart thermostats currently on the market help minimize the headaches by offering features geared towards compatibility and convenience. 

Smart devices are becoming more and more popular these days. Many people have several smart device platforms and applications throughout their home, and oftentimes they can all link up with one another. This means your thermostat can communicate with other electronics in your house to enhance their smart learning abilities or to better track energy usage around the house.

How nice would it be to be able to change the temperature of your home without even moving a finger? Sometimes it’s too cold and you’re stuck under a blanket and don’t want to get up. Using smart speaker devices like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, you can just speak your wish into existence. “Alexa, raise the temperature to 72 degrees” can be all it takes.

Coming home from work early? You can change the air temperature of your entire home from your phone, whether you’re at home already or not. Start to cool your home down before you even leave the office by simply using an app on your smartphone. You can also turn the air off to help save money once you’ve left the house.

While your smart thermostat may have sensors and learning abilities, sometimes it’s nice to have control of your own schedule. Using app-based scheduling, you can have full control of when your home is using heating and cooling without having to stand at the thermostat and press a bunch of buttons trying to figure out what you’re doing. These apps are simple to use and can be used outside of the house when you’re on the go.

If you are considering upgrading the technology in your home to use smart thermostat capabilities, Superior Heating Cooling Plumbing is here to help.  We have created our own St Louis home automation system installation team.  Call us at (314) 209-7500 today to start turning your home into a smart home.