During the hot summer days, you want nothing more than a cool and relaxing home environment. However, blasting the temperature settings means hefty energy bills that nobody wants to deal with.
Smart air conditioning is an option to enjoy comfort and peace of mind without worrying about increased bills.
But replacing all conventional air conditioners in your home with smart air conditioners is a hassle itself, not to mention the cost of thousands of dollars. Even if you are in the market for a brand-new unit, smart ACs can be quite expensive.
Luckily, the world of smart HVAC devices brings about excellent alternatives!
Smart devices can revolutionize how your dumb air conditioner works and help conserve energy as well.
This article enlists three devices that you can use to DIY smart air conditioning in a few simple steps without breaking your bank.
Depending on the type of air conditioning system you have, discover which DIY smart air conditioning device is best suited for you along with the pros and cons of each.
Smart Air Conditioner Controller
Smart AC controllers, also known as mini-stats or smart thermostats for ductless ACs, give brains to conventional air conditioners in your home.
They allow your mini-split, window, or portable AC to connect to your WiFi, allowing you to send commands to your unit using your phone.
They don’t require any extensive wiring system; you can plug them in and follow the simple steps to connect with your AC. The installation process takes no more than 1 to 2 minutes.
Moreover, a smart AC controller can also be integrated with your existing smart home system, such as Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.
You can set routines and automate your air conditioning along with your other smart home devices. How amazing is that!
Most homeowners are in search of air conditioners that can help lower their bills. Old HVAC models have low SEER ratings, which means their energy consumption is high.
However, even if you have an AC with good energy ratings, a smart AC controller can help with the reduction in bills by up to 25 percent.
In addition to temperature sensors, smart AC controllers also have high-precision humidity sensors to provide you a comfortable home environment. To take your comfort to the next level, brands like Cielo Breez have Comfy Mode.
This mode automatically changes the settings if the temperature/humidity deviates from your pre-set value, basically eliminating all your temperature worries and automating your home environment through intelligent triggers.
For people who forget to turn their HVAC unit off, geofencing and global control features are quite useful. Geofencing turns your AC on/off when you enter or leave a pre-defined location.
Global control allows you to change the settings of your AC from anywhere in the world using your smartphone.
Moreover, you can set a weekly schedule, keep track of your air filter’s cleanliness level, track your AC usage, and so much more – all through the addition of one simple yet powerful device.
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Smart Thermostats
If you have central air conditioning, smart thermostats are the perfect AC accessory for automated home climate!
They connect your cooling system with the internet and allow for remote temperature control. But they are not limited to that; they have numerous other features that can provide you a comfortable home environment.
Smart thermostats can sense when a room is occupied and change the settings accordingly. Also, they use their geofencing mode to know when you enter the house after a long tiring day and can tweak the AC settings to welcome you with a perfect temperature, just the way you like it.
They are a great addition for homeowners who have busy schedules and are looking to minimize their energy usage. The best part about programmable thermostats is that they can automatically learn your routine and set your preferred air conditioning temperature accordingly.
Smart thermostats provide convenience as you can lower or turn off your cooling system when you are in your office when you are doing grocery shopping, or even when you are vacationing in another country.
Smart thermostats help you save money through intelligent use. They make sure that you never leave your air conditioner running unnecessarily.
Moreover, they send you reports about your cooling usage, which can help you adjust your routine to save energy. Some advanced smart thermostats can even detect a problem within your HVAC and send you notifications on your mobile so you can take action immediately.
You can also integrate your smart thermostat with other devices. Moreover, you can set reminders for maintenance and cleaning/replacing your AC filters and get notified on the phone.
To get extra smart, integrate your thermostat with a smart home system and have Alexa or Siri remind you of your HVAC maintenance appointment.
Smart Plugs
Want to make your air conditioner smart without the addition of an extra device? Smart plugs can be a possible solution, however not very ideal!
Smart plugs are just like any other plug but are internet-enabled and linked to your phone, allowing you to remotely turn on/off any device connected to them.
To make your air conditioner smart using a smart plug, plug it in a regular wall outlet and install the mobile application on your phone.
Then plug your air conditioner into the smart plug adaptor, and you are good to go. The process is relatively simple, and you can have smart air conditioning in a few minutes!
While smart plugs can make your AC smart, they aren’t an ideal automation solution. There are some downsides of using these adaptors that should be taken into account.
Smart plugs cannot communicate with your air conditioner and thus do not have the additional features that smart thermostats or smart AC controllers provide.
They do not offer complete control, and you would still require your AC remote for other features.
Smart plugs only work with ductless systems such as mini-splits, portable or window ACs, and even within the ductless category, not all models are compatible.
When power is cut off abruptly, new AC models are designed to remain off even when the power is restored. So, if you turn your AC on using a smart plug, it won’t work. You will have to do it manually using the AC remote.
Before purchasing a smart plug, be sure to check its compatibility with your AC.
A smart HVAC solution is instrumental in maximizing your comfort level and reducing your electricity costs. And now that you know all about automated climate control, it’s time to boost your HVAC capabilities via smart air conditioning!
