Smart technology has impacted many aspects of home life. From smart speakers that we can converse with, to smart TVs that provide a world of entertainment as we’ve never experienced before, this technology is making our lives more convenient and comfortable.
It’s also had an effect on home air conditioning (AC), too. Smart technology can now affect how our AC is installed, used and maintained, all for the better.
Just like traditional AC, smart AC is used to control an interior climate by cooling or warming it as necessary. However, while traditional AC is controlled by a remote control, smart AC is controlled via internet-connected devices. Thanks to this online connection, you can control your smart air conditioning through a dedicated phone app. You can often connect your smart AC to other smart home platforms, like home security or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Traditional AC often comprises cooling units and a thermostat, which share a wired connection. Smart AC often includes other sensors linked wirelessly that can communicate with each other to closely and successfully control your home’s climate.
Smart air conditioning units vary from one to the next, which means they may not have identical features. Here are some key features to consider when selecting a smart AC.
Smart thermostats are among the most important features of smart AC. Unlike traditional thermostats, which need to be manually adjusted, smart thermostats can learn your preferences and automatically adjust the temperature to suit your routine. For example, it might “learn” that you typically set the AC at a higher temperature during the day when you’re at the office, while you prefer a cooler home in the evenings, and automatically adjust your settings.
A great benefit of smart thermostats for homeowners is that many allow you to manually program various settings throughout the day. This gives you complete control over your home’s climate at all times. Another benefit of smart thermostats for air conditioning is that they can usually be controlled remotely, allowing you to adjust your home’s climate even when you’re not there.
Zonal cooling gives you further control over your home’s climate and is one of the best smart AC features and advantages. This feature allows you to set different temperatures for separate zones within your home. For homes that have multiple occupants with different climate preferences, this feature allows each person to enjoy their preferred temperature in their personal space.
Smart AC systems that have geofencing capabilities allow you to create rules that tell your AC what to do, depending on where you are. It does this by connecting to your phone and tracking its location.
For example, if it sees that you’re at the supermarket, you can program it to cool down your house in time for your return home. Similarly, if it sees that you’re at the office, you can program it to power down.
Many smart AC installations can be integrated with the wider smart-home system to let you control multiple smart devices from a centralized hub. Common smart home platforms such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa make this even easier. These platforms can incorporate voice control, too, giving you another easy way to control your AC.
Smart AC installations often have diagnostic tools that can monitor the status of the unit and send you notifications when it requires maintenance. This can include when routine maintenance is due or when the filter needs to be replaced. Notifications can be sent directly to your phone.
Many smart AC installations will also be able to give you performance updates, which can cover:
This performance data helps you to optimize how you use your AC. It also provides another opportunity to see when your AC may need maintenance.
Used and installed correctly, smart AC can provide a number of benefits to any home. Smart air conditioning can provide benefits like:
A smart air conditioning unit can reduce the amount of energy needed to control your home’s climate. Smart AC technology saves energy thanks to its:
By reducing how much energy your AC uses, you can save money on your energy bill while running a more eco-friendly home.
Smart AC can provide several convenient benefits that most traditional AC units can’t. First, smart AC units can be controlled via an app. This allows you to adjust the climate in your home even when you’re not there. This can be ideal if you forgot to power down your AC before leaving home, or you need to adjust it to circumstances that have changed since you left home.
When linked to a centralized smart home platform, you can integrate your smart AC into your wider home network. This makes it easy to create systems that help you adjust many aspects of your home with a single command. For example, you could create a night mode which increases your home’s temperature, turns on the lights and activates your security system. If this is linked to a smart speaker, this could be a voice-controlled command.
One of the primary reasons to install air conditioning is to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home, and a smart AC system makes this easy. Zonal cooling gives you the flexibility to fine-tune the climate in different areas of your home.
The ability to control your AC even when you’re not at home also means you can prepare your home’s climate for when you get home. This removes the need to adjust it once you get home and wait for it to reach your desired temperature.
Many smart AC units also have enhanced filtration, which cleans the air it sends into your home and removes any allergens.
Thanks to the various diagnostic tools and the alerts, you can easily keep on top of your AC’s maintenance. Whether it flags a problem with the unit or reminds you to book a routine maintenance check, these alerts mean you don’t have to remember to check your AC’s status yourself.
Keeping on top of routine maintenance and fixing problems before they snowball can reduce overall repair costs and keep your AC operating at full capacity. It also makes it easier to find an AC maintenance plan that meets your system’s needs.
It’s not easy to say definitively which provides a better return on your investment, but traditional AC and smart AC both have their financial pros and cons.
Traditional AC is cheaper up front, which can appeal to many budget-conscious buyers. However, while smart AC may cost more to buy and install, it does provide several cost savings over its lifetime.
Energy savings with smart cooling systems are likely, too. On average, Energy Star-approved smart AC units will reduce energy bills by 8% each year. Over the unit’s lifetime, this can save buyers hundreds of dollars. Energy Star-approved units may also qualify for a rebate, providing further savings for homeowners and tenants. The reduced likelihood of major maintenance can also lower maintenance costs.
The smart AC installation process is generally simple, but it’s different from the process for a traditional AC system. Here’s what a typical smart AC installation will look like:
First, your provider will discuss your needs with you. They’ll determine your priorities and budget before recommending the best AC units for you. They’ll then assess your home to suggest the best locations for your smart AC installations, taking into account your home’s size and insulation, as well as its layout and the number of occupants. They’ll also consider the local climate.
Once you’ve chosen your smart AC units and where they’ll be placed, your provider will install them as planned. They’ll also install the smart thermometer in a central location in your home and place smart sensors in strategic locations. Most providers will also disconnect your existing AC system, if you have one, and take it away.
After your provider has installed your smart AC and any other equipment, they’ll connect it to your internet service. They’ll also set up the smart controls, ensuring the system is working as expected. They’ll set the AC to your preferred settings and teach you how to use the smart controls so you can adjust it as needed. They’ll also explain how you can integrate the smart AC with your wider smart-home system.
Your provider will do a final walk-through with you to ensure the entire AC system is working as expected. This will also give you the chance to ask any last questions about your new smart AC system.
When you’re exploring smart AC options, you need to be sure that you choose a system that will meet your needs. To do this, you should consider:
Smart AC is still a relatively new technology, so it’s unsurprising that there are often questions about it. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions by those considering a smart AC system:
If you want to install smart AC technology yourself, be aware that it may cause issues with your AC. While there are many smart thermostat products that advertise simple self-installation, it can be challenging to ensure that all of your system’s components — from the AC unit to the smart thermostat and sensors — are properly connected.
Some homes may also not have a common wire, or C-wire, which is essential to smart thermostat connections. So, while it is possible to install smart air conditioning yourself, incorrect installation can lead to a less energy-efficient system and increased maintenance demands.
Smart AC is absolutely worth getting in a small home or apartment. Even if you only require one unit and won’t need zonal control capabilities, smart AC can still:
The cost for a smart AC system can vary depending on the unit you choose. If you are only installing a smart thermostat, your costs will be lower than if you opt for a full system upgrade. You can speak with your HVAC professional about your choices and financing options.
An AC installation is a great addition to virtually any home, helping to maintain the ideal temperature. At Strada Air Conditioning & Heating, we help you enjoy these benefits to the fullest. Our family-run business has put your needs and comfort first since 2003.
Through our expert air conditioning services, we’ll help you find your perfect smart AC system, install it and then ensure it’s working at full capacity. We’re always happy to help and are dedicated to ensuring that you’re fully satisfied with your system. That’s why we offer a best price guarantee on new AC systems and a 10-year warranty.
So whether you need a smart AC system to be installed, repaired or maintained, we’re here to help. To learn more about how we can help meet your smart AC needs, please contact us today.
Joe Strada, owner of Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning, started working at the young age of 14. He’s never attended college, but he has spent his life dedicating his time and energy to his trade and providing high-quality services to his customers. At 19, Joe started working at a well-known air conditioning company and developing his commitment to excellence. He has state certifications in electric, plumbing, air conditioning, residential building and general contracting. During his years of training and experience, Joe noticed a sincere need for a dependable electrical contractor in Florida who embodied the same dedication to customer service in which he believed. In 2003, Joe co-founded Strada Electric, Security & Air Conditioning. Since then, the company has been in the business of providing peace of mind to customers. We offer expert electric, security and air conditioning solutions for homes and businesses, leveraging our experience to deliver professional and responsive service with reliability and respect.
