Today, it’s smart everything: Smart cars, smartphones … and smart thermostats? Yes, that too.

By now, you’ve probably heard about these latest-and-greatest HVAC gadgets. And, while there are plenty of articles talking about how they benefit you, have you considered the ways they help out your furnace?

Let’s remember: Your furnace, boiler, or heat pump is an essential part of your home. If you want it to keep you warm all winter, you want to make sure it’s in great shape.

Getting a tune-up at the beginning of the cold season is a good start, of course. But, pairing your furnace with a smart thermostat can help you get the most out of your HVAC system.


We’re putting a different spin on the old “Benefits of a Smart Thermostat” article.

You know, stuff such as, how it knows when you’re home and when you’re not, and starts adjusting itself. Instead, here we’re looking at things from the perspective of your other HVAC equipment. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, or want to see how a smart thermostat would fit in with your equipment, give Airquip a call at (585) 641-3080. We’ve served the Greater Rochester area for decades. We’re happy to help make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient.

Providing More Accurate Readings

A smart thermostat provides more accurate temperature readings than digital thermostats and especially old analog ones. As a result, you end up with fewer temperature fluctuations — and less wear and tear when your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as much.

With traditional systems, the heat kicks on once the thermostat shows the temperature has dropped.

So, the system doesn’t maintain as much as it course-corrects. In fact, it’s common to see the temperature change by as much as three or four degrees, even when you haven’t changed the setting.

Now, a smart thermostat won’t change that entirely on its own. We’ll get into how to really optimize it toward the end of this post. For now, sending more accurate readings to the furnace is an important first step. The sensors are more sensitive and precise than even the ones that were out a decade ago.

Tracking Energy Usage

Next, smart thermostats track how much energy your HVAC system uses every month. When you’re connected to the device through an app, you can keep tabs on increases over time.

This is useful to you, the person who pays the bills. But, it can also help keep your furnace healthy.

There can be plenty of problems with your HVAC system, where a primary symptom is a higher energy bill. Something’s not right, and the machine is working harder than it should to get the job done. If your energy usage is going up and nothing has changed in the house, the problem could be the system.

If you also notice the house getting colder or less air coming through the vents, it’s even more likely that’s the problem. In this case, the energy spike your smart thermostat reports is like the canary in the coal mine. Make it your cue to get your system checked, and you may just avoid a breakdown.

Sending Alerts When Something’s Wrong

Finally, your smart thermostat knows when something’s not right. It’s usually when the furnace is suddenly working a whole lot more than usual. There could be any number of causes. If you’re at work, for instance, or not at your vacation home, and someone breaks a window, you’ll get an alert.

Not because of the broken glass. Instead, the system is suddenly working a whole lot harder to keep the house warm. But, if there’s no damage or noticeable change in the house, then a sudden spike in usage means a problem with your HVAC system. Like a gradual increase, it’s a sign you need to get a professional to look it over. But, in this case, time is of the essence.

Signs You Need a Repair

As long as the furnace is still running, sometimes you can get away with a relatively small repair. It’s possible just one component broke. Or, a part is really worn down. But, leave it too long, and things will get much worse. Eventually, the one part that’s not working correctly will affect another. And another, and another, until finally, the system breaks down completely.

At that point, you’re looking at a much higher repair bill when there’s more damage to fix. Or, worse: Things are so bad you need to buy a new furnace. The point is not to ignore the warning signs of a furnace problem. And, a smart thermostat will help you spot them quickly.

Pair Your Smart Thermostat With Inverter Technology

Finally, we wanted to talk about a way your smart thermostat works with certain types of HVAC systems to dramatically increase your comfort and lower your bills. The idea here is to pair the thermostat with a variable-speed furnace or one with inverter technology.

Inverter and Variable Speed

Both those terms pretty much mean that your system doesn’t just turn on or off. Instead, it works at various power levels, depending on how much heat you need.

With traditional systems, the furnace runs until your house reaches the temperature you want. Then, it shuts off until it cools down too much.

When we mentioned that three- or four-degree difference, that’s what we were getting at. Instead, the variable speed or inverter blowers adjust the power. This way, they hover right at the temperature you want all the time.

It adds up: less wear and tear on the system, lower energy bills, and a much more comfortable home. And, when you use these systems using a smart thermostat, you get even more of those benefits. The more accurate readings help your furnace stay much closer to the temperature you want.

As we said earlier, that will happen with any system. But, it’s even more powerful with a variable-speed furnace or heat pump. If you’re interested in learning more about how these work, or how a smart thermostat can improve the comfort in your Rochester, NY home, call at (585) 641-3080, or email Airquip at info@airquipheating.com for a consultation.