Out of all the industries positively affected by the arrival of smart technologies and automation, few have seen the explosion of improvements that the HVAC industry has. Not only are today’s smart home systems making HVAC systems more convenient, but the level of efficiency is improving significantly, too. Customers should understand how smart technologies are driving efficiency so they can make the best possible decisions for heating and cooling their homes. Here is what you should know about the role of smart technologies in the current HVAC revolution.
Remote Control
Much of the waste of a traditional HVAC setup comes from operating the system when it simply isn’t needed. While you do want to maintain the heating levels on cold nights enough to keep the house comfortable, it is hard to find the right level for when you’re at work, on vacation or otherwise away. Cooling your house presents a related problem for summer, while also adding the necessity of humidity control.
One of the best aspects of smart home systems for HVAC systems is the ability to remotely control the system. For example, you might keep your house’s temperature in the mid-70s on a hot day while you’re away. You can then use the smart system to ramp up the air conditioning before you get home. Simply setting a timer is a good way to achieve the desired results.
Even better, many smart technologies integrate with other systems. Particularly, remote control is a common feature for phone apps that connect to your home’s HVAC system. Some systems will trigger once your GPS location indicates that you’re close to home. For example, you might set the app to notify your home’s HVAC system to kick up the air conditioning when you’re 15 minutes away.
The efficiency benefit comes from only using the HVAC system when you need it. Otherwise, the system operates in a low-demand mode and saves you money.
Predictive Maintenance
From swapping out the filters to replacing the fan motors in the HVAC system, preventative maintenance is a good way to keep costs down. Likewise, preventative maintenance can reduce the risk of catastrophic failures and extend the life of the overall system. Most modern HVAC equipment manufacturers have a pretty good idea of how long different components will last. Consequently, electronically monitoring system run times is a good way to predict when preventative maintenance is likely coming up. Once a component approaches a percentage threshold of its expected service life, the smart system can notify you that it’s due for heating or cooling maintenance.
Predictive technologies also can spot signs of premature trouble. Suppose you have a heating system that keeps short cycling. Too many short cycles in a limited period will trigger a notification. You can then ask our HVAC technicians to take a look at what’s happening, getting in front of a potentially bigger problem.
Integrating Weather Data
Using the internet connection to collect weather projections is a good way to anticipate upcoming conditions. Some smart systems can gather data and adjust the HVAC system’s settings accordingly. If the expected humidity level is going to be high, the system can cycle a couple of more times before the weather changes to maximize the level of humidity control.
You also can track weather data with the system using logging. The digital log can tell you what the weather was on a particular day or even at a specific hour. You can then compare that information to your utility bills to see how well your house’s HVAC system is performing.
Demand Response
If your utility provider offers incentives for using less energy during peak demand periods, a smart system can be especially useful. For example, some companies offer lower rates in the middle of the night, when demand is usually at its lowest. You can program the smart thermostat for your house to take advantage of the cheaper electricity by running at night. Some utility providers even have demand response programs that can integrate into your system. When they signal a need for demand reduction, the HVAC system can kick into a lower-output mode to keep your expenses down. When demand gets heavy on the hottest and most humid days of the summer, this is a great way to improve efficiency and save money.
Zonal HVAC Systems
Very few homeowners use every part of their house, which makes heating and cooling everything equally expensive. You might have a guest bedroom or a workshop that isn’t always in use. Breaking the house into zones allows you to control them more efficiently. You might have the guest bedroom set to a higher temperature during most of the summer. However, you can change the zone’s settings in the smart thermostat whenever you do have guests.
Zonal HVAC systems are also useful during the day. You probably don’t need to cool your bedroom every hour on a hot day, for example. However, you would like it to be comfortable before you go to bed. Just as you can use the smart system to cue the AC to kick up before you get back from the store or work, you can also cue it to increase output before bedtime. Even if you don’t always go to bed at the same time, you can use the panel or the app to adjust things a few minutes before you plan to go to your bedroom.
Zonal control allows you to accommodate everybody in your household, too. You might have a family member who has a condition like COPD that requires tight climate controls in your house. You can set the conditions where they address your family member’s needs while using different settings elsewhere to improve efficiency.
Occupancy and Activity Sensing
Modern smart technologies are getting very good at detecting whether people are in a room. Likewise, they are also getting very good at detecting activity changes within a space. If you’re throwing a party, the HVAC system can automatically detect the uptick in room occupancy so it can add some cooling. The systems can also detect activity shifts. If you start baking in the kitchen, your HVAC system will note the temperature change and provide more cooling.
Integration with Adjacent Smart Systems
Today’s smart technologies are often highly capable of talking to each other. Suppose you have your home’s shades connected to a smart system. There isn’t anything wrong with setting the shades to a schedule or operating them using the app. However, you could have the smart system connected to the thermostat take control of the shades. On sunny and hot days, the HVAC system’s smart panel will tell the shades to close so you can save on cooling costs. Also, the system can open the shades on cool days when it knows the sun is out to help with your heating bills.
Ahoy! Cooling & Heating performs heating and AC work for customers in Tampa, FL, and the surrounding areas. We handle installations, repairs and maintenance. Qualified homeowners should also ask about our financing options.
If you’re intrigued by the possibilities of today’s smart HVAC technologies, contact us today for a consultation.
