Will a Smart Thermostat Actually Lower Your Arizona Summer Bill?

For many Arizona homeowners, summertime costs can add up very quickly. With temperatures regularly sitting in the triple digits, your AC unit may run for hours each day. A smart thermostat can be a great investment to help reduce unnecessary AC runtime. However, it’s not a guarantee of lower summer electric bills in Arizona. Your savings depend on your usage, AC condition, and more.

Ways a Smart Thermostat Can Lower Your Bills

The biggest advantage of a smart thermostat in Mesa, AZ, is that it gives you more control over your air conditioner. Instead of keeping your home at the same temperature all day long, you can create a schedule that matches your daily routine. You can allow the temperature to increase when you’re away from home to reduce your system’s runtime.

These temperature changes are very useful when it comes to Arizona’s hottest months of the year. A smart thermostat will help you find a practical balance between energy savings and still maintaining a comfortable home environment. Being more in control allows you to lower your AC bills in Arizona.

Schedules Are the Key to Preventing Unnecessary Runtime

The beauty of a smart thermostat is that you can automate your schedule instead of having to manually adjust it. A smart thermostat will make those temperature adjustments for you. For example, you can easily program your unit to have a higher temperature when you’re away at work. Your system will automatically increase the temperature every day at the same time to reduce your AC runtime.

You can easily create different schedules for different days of the week. For instance, you may not want the temperature to increase during the weekend when you’re home from work. Smart thermostats take the manual part away from having to remember to adjust your thermostat day in and day out.

Flexibility with Remote Control

Smart thermostats give you remote access to your Arizona home’s cooling system. Anytime that your plans change, you can easily access your thermostat via an app on your smartphone. This will allow you to make temperature adjustments from anywhere that your smartphone has internet connectivity.

Usage Insights for Identifying Better Cooling Habits

One exceedingly useful tool of a smart thermostat in Arizona is usage tracking. Each smart thermostat will track your temperature settings and your usage habits and display them in an easy-to-read format. This can allow you to identify periods of heavy cooling activity. By understanding when you’re consuming the most energy, you can make better adjustments to boost AC efficiency.

Even better, you can look back at your energy usage to see the impact that individual changes have on your energy bill. This can allow you to further reduce your cooling costs by reducing unnecessary energy waste.

AC Condition Still Matters

One thing to keep in mind is that a smart thermostat simply can’t compensate for an inefficient or poorly maintained air conditioner. If your system has dirty components, refrigerant issues, restricted airflow, or other mechanical problems, it can continue to run for extended periods. Routine HVAC service in Phoenix is absolutely imperative to lower your energy bills.

Insulation and Thermostat Placement Matter

The level of insulation in your home can also significantly impact your energy bills. If you have poor insulation, it can allow your conditioned air to easily escape and outdoor heat to enter your home. This will ultimately cause your air conditioning system to run longer to maintain your preferred temperature setting.

Thermostat placement can also play a major role in how often your air conditioner runs. If your thermostat is near a heat source, in direct sunlight, or another unusually warm area of your home, it may not be reading accurately. It will tell your air conditioning system to keep running even though your home is already at your desired temperature setting.

Is a Smart Thermostat Worth It in Arizona?

For many Arizona homeowners, the simple answer to this question is yes. A smart thermostat can be a worthwhile upgrade as long as you take advantage of its many features. Maintaining a schedule, using remote access whenever your schedule changes, and tracking your usage are all necessary for potential savings. Results will vary based on your current habits and the condition of your HVAC system and home.

Getting More Out of Your Home Cooling System

With Arizona’s extended cooling season, having an efficient HVAC system is exceedingly important. A smart thermostat is great for helping you manage your cooling schedule and track your energy usage. It’s good to use as part of a broader strategy, including HVAC service in Tucson.

Contact Western States Home Services today to schedule smart thermostat installation in Arizona.