What is a Smart Air Conditioner and is it Right for me?

What is a Smart Air Conditioner and is it Right for me?

Smart air conditioners are air conditioners that are connected to the internet and are therefor controllable through your smartphone, both at home and away. It’s just one of the many appliances to join internet connectivity. Appliances connected to the internet have maximum controllability and convenience. Now you can just reach for your smartphone and fine-tune any and all settings on your air conditioner. Smart air conditioners afford you that kind of luxury.


What can smart air conditioners do?
So, what can you actually do with a smart air conditioner? It varies model-by-model, but the general key features of smart air con are:

-Smartphone app that can access all settings

-Controllable temperature and fan speed

-Controllable timer

-Controllable settings while you’re away from home

It’s like having a remote thermostat. On a sweltering hot day, the last thing you want to do is come home to a hot home. With remote controllability through your smartphone, you can press a few buttons while you’re at work or at the beach, and come home to an adequately-chilled home fine-tuned to your exact settings.

Probably one of the most convenient scenarios is if you forget to turn the ac off before leaving the house, you can now do it easily from your smartphone and avoid a high electric bill. So now that you know the basics, you might be interested in seeing which brands offer smart air conditioners

Is a smart air conditioner worth the money?
The answer depends on your situation. One thing you can expect is that you’ll be paying a premium for a smart air conditioner over a regular one with a standard remote control. Expect to pay about $2,000 or more for one. Granted, a lot of smart air conditioners are pretty large in capacity and are big enough for a large room or lounge room. If you’re the type who wants maximum control over your air conditioner at all times, it makes sense to go for a smart air conditioner with a smartphone app. If you just like to put on the air conditioner while you’re home or if you’re not home too often then perhaps a smart air conditioner may be overkill for your lifestyle.

Different Types of Thermostats and Which one is Best for You

Different Types of Thermostats and Which one is Best for You

Thermostat are the devices that control the temperature of your air conditioning system. The device is important in making sure that the heating and cooling system in your home is working properly. Using the thermostat correctly can save you an enormous amount on your energy bills.

One important factor to look for when you purchase a thermostat is the ENERGY STAR symbol. And when it comes to the types of thermostats, they are categorized into two basic types, Line-voltage thermostats and Low-voltage thermostats.

Line voltage thermostats are used in single heating systems like baseboards and radiant systems. These thermostats are installed in series with heaters. In this kind of connection, the electric current flows through the thermostat and the heater. However, when the thermostat reaches the set room temperature it shuts off even before the heater brings the room to the set temperature.

Low voltage thermostats are probably more efficient in controlling the flow of electric current. These kinds of thermostats are mostly used in central heating systems that use oil, gas and electricity. A low voltage thermostat not only helps you control current but also allows you to easily use the programmable controls mainly because they operate at 24V to 50V.

1. Programmable thermostats

A programmable thermostat helps adjust the temperature in your house automatically according to preset times. This allows you to conserve energy because it minimizes the temperature when you are away from the house and maximize the temperature when you’re home. These thermostats are available in several models. Simpler ones let you to program different daytime and nighttime temperatures whereas the more advanced ones can be programmed to adjust the temperature in different ways for a number of days and times of the week.

2. Mechanical thermostats

These are line voltage thermostats that are pretty easy to use. These thermostats operate by being triggered by metal bars that heat up or cool down. These are the easiest and the cheapest thermostats available. They have either vapor-filled bellows or bi-metallic strips that react to different temperatures. However, mechanical thermostats are considered to be unreliable, especially the cheaper ones that use bi-metallic strips.

3. Non Programmable digital thermostats

Non programmable digital thermostats are other kind of thermostats that can be controlled with a digital display. They are similar to the mechanical thermostats, but the major difference is they have no metal coil like the mechanical thermostats do, instead they have an electric temperature sensor. A tiny microprocessor that is set inside this thermostat sends ‘start’ or ‘stop’ commands to the heating or cooling system based on the reading it takes and the chosen temperature setting.

4. Electronic thermostats

Most electronic thermostats are low voltage, but you can have them for line-voltage purposes also. These devices have a sensor that can detect when the temperature moves above or below the set room temperature. They come built-in with convenient features like automatic setback and programmability. Electronic thermostats are more expensive than the mechanical ones, but they can keep a room at the particular temperature as desired.