Confused about Which Systems are Compatible with Which Smart Thermostats? We’ve Got You Covered.
Convenience knows no bounds when it comes to connecting everything from entertainment to security to your home via Wi-Fi and smart apps. The future is now with our ability to control our TVs, lights, doorbells, windows, appliances, and Internet modems from our devices, even if we’re miles away from home.
Climate control and comfort are no exception.
There are ways to connect your home’s HVAC system thermostat to your phone, tablet, or other smart device, so you can turn up the heat just in time to warm up the house before arriving or switch on the air conditioning when outdoor temps rise above what was expected. Before we talk about four popular ways people control their thermostats with their devices, we need to touch on the subject of the smart thermostat.
Smart Thermostats: The Basics
If you’re interested in controlling your Solano HVAC with your device, you’ll need to have a thermostat installed that is a “smart thermostat”. Not just any thermostat will do. Smart Wi-Fi thermostats, or wireless thermostats, connect to the Internet in your home instead of being wired directly to your HVAC system. This is what actually enables the communication between it and your device.
There is a wide variety of models available with a slew of different features that you may or may not need or want, including voice control, the ability to control a humidifier, and remote access. You first want to decide which features you want and need, then you can choose between the best smart thermostats on the market.
Which Thermostats are Compatible with Which Apps and Integrations?
That being said, when you choose a thermostat for your Napa Valley HVAC system, you’ll want to make sure that it will be compatible with the wireless service or app that you will control it with on your device. Many thermostats will work with a variety of apps and wireless programs, but not all.
Some of the best and most popular Wi-Fi thermostats are from Nest, Honeywell Lyric, and Ecobee.
Let’s look at four popular choices for ways to sync your HVAC to your mobile device:
The Best Apps and Smart Thermostats for HVAC Control
- Google Home
Google Home sits on a table and is a voice-activated “command center”. The Google Assistant will activate when it processes that someone has said, “Okay, Google”, and proceeds with the person’s request. What many people like about Google Connected Home is that the device can control appliances, security systems, lights, and other devices in addition to a smart thermostat. It can also stream audio, complete hands-free calling, and more. Many smart thermostats are compatible with Google Home, including Nest, Ecobee4, Emerson Sensi, Honeywell Lyric, and others.
- Nest
Nest refers to both the app and the thermostat; they work hand-in-hand, allowing remote capability over your thermostat for complete control whether you’re home or away. Nest is a popular choice for those looking for proven energy savings, remote accessibility, and a reduction in energy waste to keep utility bills low. What’s great about Nest is that it offers other smart home devices that can all be controlled with the free Nest app, including locks, camera-enabled doorbells, smoke alarms, and home monitoring systems. An important note about Nest: If you’re planning to invest in Apple’s up-and-coming HomeKit ecosystem, you’ll want to skip Nest products, as they are not compatible. However, you can still use the Nest app on Apple products just fine. Nest is compatible with many other integrations, including Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Belkin WeMo, and more.
- Alexa
Pairing Amazon’s Alexa with one of the best Wi-Fi thermostats on the market, Ecobee, will guarantee you’ll never go back to programmable thermostats again. Ecobee is consistently a top-ranked thermostat, and its 5th-generation model is no exception. Powered by Alexa, it has a vivid display, a quad-core processor, an updated microphone for voice control, Bluetooth, and the option of connecting speakers for audio streaming. If that isn’t enough, Ecobee works to really focus heat in rooms you actually use; traditional thermostats often sit in hallways no one uses much. With Ecobee, you can place remote sensors in various rooms to communicate with your HVAC system. Other compatible home integrations with the Ecobee thermostat along with Alexa include Samsung SmartThings, Control4, Apple HomeKit, and Wink.
- Nexia
Nexia is a pioneer when it comes to smart home products, being one of the first to make them available to consumers back in 2008. Homeowners have relied on Nexia for control in their homes and accessibility from any location. Popular from Nexia is its all-in-one solution for homes with options like garage door control, lighting, appliances, irrigation systems, windows and doors, and yes – HVAC systems and thermostats. Nexia can connect with Google Home and Google Mini devices, bringing in voice control capability. Some smart thermostats that are compatible with Nexia include Trane ComfortLink, Trane XL824/XL850 Connected Control, American Standard Acculink, and American Standard Gold 824/850.
Although once upon a time, programmable thermostats were the “latest and greatest” for automatic indoor climate control, those days are quickly coming to an end as smart thermostats (wireless or Wi-Fi thermostats) are rapidly gaining popularity. The promise of saved energy, ultimate convenience, remote accessibility, and lower HVAC bills pave the way for wireless technology to hook up to the most important home systems we have. For more information on smart thermostats, climate controlling apps, and compatibility with your HVAC system, contact our experts in HVAC in the Bay Area today!
