What Is a Smart Thermostat & How Does It Work?
A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi-enabled device that connects your HVAC system to the internet, allowing you to control home temperatures remotely via smartphone and automate climate settings to help manage energy use and comfort. ENERGY STAR reports that certified smart thermostats can reduce heating and cooling bills by more than 8% on average, or about $50 per year, based on real-world field data.1 Unlike a standard model, some smart thermostats can learn your habits, use occupancy information, or automate temperature adjustments to help optimize energy usage and comfort.
What Is a Thermostat and What Makes It Smart?
To understand the value of upgrading, we must first answer the foundational question: what is a thermostat? At its simplest, a thermostat is the command center of your HVAC system, monitoring ambient temperature and signaling your equipment to turn on or off to maintain a set point.
A smart thermostat elevates this function by connecting to Wi-Fi. It allows you to manage heating and cooling from devices like phones or tablets, and compatible models can use schedules, sensors, or other smart features to automatically adjust settings based on your lifestyle. By analyzing user schedules, set points, and occupancy, compatible smart thermostats can help reduce unnecessary heating and cooling when your home is unoccupied.
There are many benefits of smart thermostats, ranging from intuitive operation to remote access, energy-use insights, and maintenance notifications.
Smart Thermostat vs. Programmable vs. Manual Thermostat
| Feature | Smart Thermostat | Programmable Thermostat | Manual Thermostat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature control | Automatic and manual | Scheduled and manual | Manual |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Yes, on Wi-Fi models | Typically no | No |
| Remote control | Yes, through a compatible app | Typically no | No |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes | No |
| Occupancy or geofencing | Available on some models | Typically no | No |
| Energy-use insights | Available on some models | Limited or no | No |
| Smart-home integration | Available on compatible models | Limited | No |
Carrier smart thermostats, including the Carrier Smart Thermostat and Infinity® System Control, offer features such as remote access, scheduling, and smart-home connectivity.
Key Capabilities
Beyond simply regulating temperature, Carrier smart thermostats offer advanced features that define modern home comfort:
- Programmable Schedules: Carrier smart thermostats allow homeowners to create customized comfort schedules based on their routine to help reduce unnecessary heating and cooling while they are away.
- 24/7 Remote Control: Compatible Carrier smart thermostats can be controlled through the Carrier SmartHome App, allowing you to adjust your home's temperature remotely from a compatible smartphone or other connected device.
- Occupancy Sensors: Some smart thermostats use occupancy detection or other sensors to adjust heating and cooling when the home is occupied or unoccupied.
- Smart Home Compatibility: Compatible Carrier controls can integrate with smart-home ecosystems such as Amazon® Alexa® to connect climate control with other smart-home features.
- Indoor Air Quality Integration: Compatible Carrier systems can monitor indoor air quality and humidity and, depending on the equipment and control, connect with indoor air quality products such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ventilators.
Brad Gooch, HVAC manager of Lawson Air Conditioning and Plumbing in Gainesville, GA explains how smart thermostats work and how they can help homeowners manage heating and cooling costs.
“We live in a busy society today, and many homes are unoccupied for eight or 10 hours a day,” Gooch said. “That's where a programmable thermostat can make a big difference. You can set automatic temperature adjustments for when you're away and have the thermostat return to your preferred setting before you get home.
“Modern smart thermostats take that a step further with features such as motion sensing and geofencing. Instead of manually adjusting the temperature every time you leave and return, the thermostat can automatically adjust based on your schedule or whether you're home.
“Those automatic setbacks can help reduce unnecessary heating and cooling when the home is unoccupied while keeping the house comfortable when you return.”
How Do Smart Thermostats Work?
How does a smart thermostat work? Smart thermostats work by using built-in sensors and algorithms to monitor your home's environment and automate temperature settings based on programmed schedules, user preferences, occupancy, or other available data. They communicate with your HVAC system via standard wiring to activate heating or cooling, while simultaneously using a Wi-Fi connection to accept remote commands and, on compatible models, provide information such as energy use or indoor air quality.
While traditional units rely solely on manual input, smart thermostats use data to make decisions. For example, geofencing technology uses your phone's location to determine when you are approaching home, allowing a compatible thermostat to adjust the temperature before you arrive.
Operational Features
- Setting Schedules: Carrier smart thermostats typically offer scheduling features that can help conserve energy by adjusting the home’s set point when the home is unoccupied.
- Energy Tracking: By monitoring usage, compatible Carrier controls can provide insights into your heating and cooling habits and system performance. Learn more about energy saving thermostats.
- Safety Temperatures: Some smart thermostats allow you to program temperature limits to help protect your home from extreme conditions, such as frozen pipes in winter or overheating in summer.
- Maintenance Reminders: The device tracks system performance and notifies you when it's time for HVAC maintenance, such as changing air filters, ensuring your HVAC system runs efficiently.
Smart Thermostats from Carrier
Now that you understand what a smart thermostat is and how it works, you can take the next step toward more convenient, connected home comfort. Explore Carrier’s range of smart thermostats, designed to help manage energy use and comfort through features such as scheduling, remote access, and connected controls.
With remote control capabilities and insights into your energy use, you can manage your home’s comfort and HVAC operation from virtually anywhere. Talk to your local Carrier dealer about the type of smart thermostats right for your home and take control of your energy savings today!
1 https://www.energystar.gov/products/heating_cooling/smart_thermostats/smart_thermostat_faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Smart thermostats know the temperature through built-in sensors that measure the ambient temperature of your home. These sensors continuously monitor the environment and send real-time data to the thermostat's algorithms, which then adjust the heating or cooling to maintain your desired temperature.
Smart thermostats connect to your HVAC system through standard 5-conductor thermostat wiring that communicates with the system's control board. They interface with the HVAC unit by sending signals to activate or deactivate heating and cooling components based on your settings and preferences.
How to work a thermostat that is smart is often easier than a traditional one. Most are controlled via a dedicated smartphone app where you can adjust dials digitally. Physically, they usually feature touchscreens or intuitive dials. Once you set your initial schedule and preferences, the device largely works itself, though you can always override settings manually or via voice command.
In most cases, you can install a smart thermostat in any house as long as you have a compatible HVAC system and compatible wiring (or an add-a-wire kit). However, it's important to check the thermostat's compatibility with your system. If you're unsure, consulting a professional can help ensure a smooth installation.
Yes, smart thermostats can help save money by optimizing your home's heating and cooling based on your schedule and preferences, which reduces energy consumption. Some models provide insights into your energy use and suggest adjustments to help lower energy bills.
Some smart Wi-Fi thermostats save energy by learning your heating and cooling preferences, adjusting the temperature automatically based on your schedule. They allow remote control through apps, so you can make energy-saving adjustments even when you're not home.
A common wire, often labeled as the “C wire,” provides continuous 24-volt power to a thermostat. Unlike other thermostat wires that only carry power when the system is running, the common wire completes the electrical circuit, allowing smart thermostats and Wi-Fi models to stay powered at all times.
About The Author: Ryan Mayes is a Senior Digital Brand Marketing Manager at Carrier who focuses on creating clear, helpful resources on HVAC topics. Ryan’s goal is to guide readers toward smart, confident decisions about their indoor comfort.
About The Author: Janet Shaw is a Product Manager for Residential Thermostats at Carrier Corporation, where she focuses on developing innovative thermostat solutions that help homeowners improve comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency. Janet's goal is to help consumers better understand smart thermostat technology so they can make informed decisions about managing their home's comfort.