Smart Thermostat Buying Guide

Smart Thermostat Buying Guide

A smart thermostat is one of the easiest ways to gain greater control over your home's comfort and energy bills. And with convenient remote access through your phone, it also provides peace of mind that you'll never come home to a stifling hot or freezing cold home again.

That being said, there are a number of smart thermostats on the market today. So to help you narrow down the choices, we'll review our top picks below. This way, you can decide which features work best for both your budget and preferences.

Rather speak to a professional? Call Ackerman Security at 800.552.1111 and our experts will help you choose the perfect smart thermostat for your Atlanta home or business. You can also get a free quote online!

Best all-around: Honeywell Home T9

  • $199+
  • Compatible with most HVAC systems
  • Installs in 60 minutes or less
  • Designed for maximum comfort
  • Eligible for utility rebates

The Honeywell Home T9 delivers everything you would want or need from a smart thermostat for maximum comfort control, ease of use, and energy savings. And at $199, the price is right for the technology it offers.

First and foremost, the Honeywell Home T9 smart thermostat helps homeowners balance the temperature and humidity of their entire home. Using "smart sensors" that you can place in multiple rooms, the thermostat will work to create an average temperature that's comfortable throughout all areas of your home. The majority of smart thermostats don't offer this feature, which makes the T9 such a strong contender.

The T9 also comes with an intuitive multi-room dashboard that's easy to use. And if you download the Honeywell Home app on your phone, you can control your home's temperature no matter where you are in the world.

Looking for energy savings? The T9 has location-based modes that respond to your lifestyle. So if you're away from home, it will automatically adjust your heating and cooling systems to save on energy consumption. Bonus: When you connect any Honeywell Home thermostat to your utility company, you can earn energy rebates and rewards!

Highest-rated: Google Nest Learning Thermostat

  • $249+
  • Energy Star certified
  • Compatible with most HVAC systems
  • Installs in 60 minutes or less
  • Saves up to 27% in annual energy costs

If you've researched smart thermostats, you've probably come across Google's Nest Learning Thermostat. With more than 31,000 reviews in the Google store, it's easy to see why it's so popular. Not only is it modern, sleek, and beautiful, it was also the very first smart thermostat to become Energy Star certified.

Since its debut in 2016, independent studies have shown that Nest users save an average of 10-12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills each year. This means that in just two years, the cost for your Nest could pay for itself!

Moreover, you'll get detailed reports showing how much energy you use every day. That way, you can start to track your routines and learn how to use less energy.

In addition to a host of energy-saving features, the Nest provides automated maintenance reminders and HVAC alerts. So if something goes wrong, you can call for a repair before a breakdown happens.

Budget friendly: Emerson Sensi Touch

  • $169+
  • Energy Star certified
  • Compatible with most HVAC systems
  • Installs in 30 minutes or less
  • Saves up to 23% in annual energy costs

The Emerson Sensi Touch smart thermostat can help homeowners save up to 23% on annual energy costs. Using geofencing technology, it will automatically control your thermostat based on your location. This way, you can save on energy costs while away from home, but then return to a completely comfortable space— all without having to remember to adjust your thermostat settings.

Even better? It installs in 30 minutes or less, comes with an easy-to-use screen, and provides automated reminders for air filter changes and HVAC maintenance. And at only $169, you can't beat the price.

Smartest: Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control

  • $249+
  • Energy Star certified
  • Compatible with most HVAC systems
  • Installs in 45 minutes or less
  • Saves up to 26% on annual energy costs

The ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control has some of the smartest technologies we've seen. Not only does it adapt to your schedule and send HVAC maintenance reminders, but it also heats or cools when electricity rates are cheaper, passing on energy savings whenever possible.

Similar to the Honeywell T9, the ecobee SmartThermostat comes with smart room sensors for complete control over the temperature of your home. However, it also offers pause detection. So if you open a window or door for more than a minute or two, it will automatically shut off your heating and cooling systems to save you energy.

Last but not least, the ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Hey Google, Apple Siri, IFTTT, and more. So if you're too busy to reach for your smartphone, you can control your thermostat through voice commands.

Note: Certain smart features do not come standard, and may require an additional monthly subscription.

Electric heating and cooling only: Mysa Smart Thermostat

  • $119+
  • Compatible with electric baseboard heaters, electric in-floor heating systems, and window/portable/ductless AC systems
  • Installs in 15 minutes or less
  • Saves up to 26% on annual energy costs

The Mysa smart thermostat was developed specifically for electric heating and cooling systems. So if you happen to have an electric baseboard heater, in-floor heating, or a window/portable/ductless AC system, then you can harness the power of Mysa to control your energy costs!

Harnessing geofencing technology, the mysa will adapt to your location to help you save on energy while away from home. It also comes with an easy-to-use app for instant temperature control, scheduling, and even energy reports for daily usage review.

Mysa customers rave about how easy it is to install, including how nicely it pairs with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Hey Google, Apple Siri, and more. And with reported energy savings of up to 26%, it's easy to see how the price makes it more than worth the investment.

Note: To ensure that the mysa will be compatible with your home's heating or cooling systems, you'll need to check out their website where they list the precise specifications.

Ready to install a smart thermostat in your Atlanta home or business? We're happy to help!

At Ackerman Security, we make smart thermostat installations simple and stress-free. To speak with our home automation experts, give us a call today: 800.522.1111. We'll review the best smart thermostat for your needs and budget, including how to integrate it with other smart devices you may have installed. You can also schedule a free instant quote online!