Smart Thermostats

The best smart thermostat will significantly impact not only how comfortable you are in your home and but also your household budget. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling your home accounts for nearly half of the average home's utility bills. A programmable thermostat can help cut costs because it only runs when it needs to. It turns your HVAC system on when you anticipate being home and turns it off when you don't think you'll need it. But a smart thermostat goes far beyond relying on a simple schedule. It will enable you to create more sophisticated schedules and give you complete control over your HVAC system, even when you're not home.

There are several good smart thermostats on the market, and it can be difficult to know which one is best for you and your home. We at Air Butler Heating and Cooling have researched and picked out the best smart thermostats based on cost and efficiency.

Best Smart Thermostat: Ecobee SmartThermostat

The smart thermostat we recommend is the Ecobee SmartThermostat with voice control. Ecobee's latest smart thermostat that works with Alexa is the best one you can buy. The new model builds on its preceding model, which was itself very well-executed. Many other smart thermostats only measure the temperature where the thermostat is located. The trouble is, that spot is usually in a hallway or somewhere else that you don't spend a lot of time in. Ecobee lets you install multi-purpose sensors in various rooms in your home. So the rooms you're in are the ones that the thermostat instructs your HVAC system to heat or cool to keep you comfortable.

Runner-Up: Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation)

Although it is not our top pick, the Nest thermostat is still an excellent choice. Nest has a comprehensive smart home ecosystem with its own products, like the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and the Nest Cam security camera seriesNest, as well as a wide array of third-party products. They make everything from lighting controls to ceiling fans and smart appliances. Their recent addition of the Nest Temperature Sensor makes the thermostat even better. So why do we consider Nest a runner-up? Because it counts on you buying other Nest products to help determine when you're home and away, which the Ecobee does on its own.

Best Budget Smart Thermostat: Wyze Thermostat

Wyze Thermostat is by far the best budget-priced digital thermostat. Wyze Labs is the market leader of inexpensive smart home products, and its new Wyze Thermostat is undoubtedly no exception. It's not the prettiest device, but it does offer more features, it supports more HVAC system types than the Nest Thermostat, and it costs just $50.

Runner-Up: Nest Thermostat

The new budget-priced Nest Thermostat is easy to recommend, but it does not support Nest's remote sensors that can eliminate cold or hot spots in your home. The Nest Thermostat boasts an attractive industrial design. It is a good choice if you don't care that it doesn't support remote sensors or if you don't need to support more sophisticated HVAC systems.

Best Smart Thermostat For High-Voltage Heaters: Mysa Smart Thermostat

The Smart Thermostat is designed for baseboard, fan-forced convector, radiant, and similar heaters, as opposed to the more common central HVAC systems. So there are far fewer choices in this category. The Mysa Smart Thermostat is our top choice because of its elegant industrial design and support for other smart home devices, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant.

Best Controller For A Stand-Alone Air Conditioner: Sensibo Air

The Sensibo Air's homerun feature is a remote sensor that detects motion as well as temperature and humidity. This feature ensures that you get the most comfortable environment in the exact area of the room you're occupying. It also saves you money by turning the air conditioner off when you're not in the room. If you don't have a central HVAC system, or you supplement with a stand-alone air conditioner or two, the Sensibo Air will make those units smarter and more efficient. It's expensive but very much worth the investment.

Runner-Up: Cielo Breez Plus

While this isn't the most attractive AC controller, it is the most versatile and the easiest to set up and use. It's compatible with more air conditioner models than its competitors. The Cielo Breez Plus doesn't have the discrete room sensor that comes with the Sensibo Air, but it will still significantly improve the performance of your stand-alone air conditioner, and it's less expensive than its more sophisticated competitor.

Questions About Smart Thermostats?

Our expert technicians at Air Butler Heating and Cooling can help. We include a smart thermostat with every HVAC installation, and we can help you decide which one is right for you. We can also install smart thermostat replacements for existing units. Call, email, or schedule an appointment with us today!