Is It Possible to Replace a Regular Thermostat With a Smart Thermostat?

Smart thermostats are becoming increasingly popular as they provide many benefits compared to standard thermostats or even non-smart programmable units. If you’ve been considering a smart thermostat, you may be wondering if you can simply replace your old regular unit with a new smart unit. The answer is yes, you can absolutely replace any standard thermostat with a smart thermostat. However, despite many manufacturers claiming that this is something you can do on your own, we would never recommend it for reasons we’ll now look at.

Why You Should Always Hire an HVAC Technician to Install a Smart Thermostat

All thermostats are wired into the building’s electrical system and draw low-voltage power from the HVAC system. This means that trying to install or work on any type of thermostat on your own always carries with it the risk of electrocution. If not wired correctly, a smart thermostat can also draw too much current, which means you could easily fry your new unit before you ever get to use it.

Another issue is that smart thermostats tend to draw quite a bit more low-voltage current than standard thermostats. If your HVAC system also has an air scrubber, whole-house humidifier or dehumidifier, the system often won’t have enough low-voltage current to power these units and your thermostat at the same time. In this situation, you will need to have a new low-voltage transformer installed onto your HVAC system or else your thermostat or indoor air quality units may stop working frequently due to a lack of power. This isn’t something that you can really check for on your own, which is another reason why it’s always best to leave the job to a professional technician.

Benefits of Using a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats are far more convenient since they allow you to control and program your heating and cooling remotely using the connected app. These units will also learn about your routines and even sense when people are home and moving around so that they can automatically adjust your HVAC system to improve both your comfort and the energy efficiency of your system. Smart thermostats also allow you to track your energy usage, which makes it even easier to adjust your HVAC settings so you can save even more money on your heating and cooling costs.

If you’re looking to have a smart thermostat installed in your home or business, Aircon Heating & Cooling Inc. is here to help. We install, service, and repair all types of heating and cooling units, and we also specialize in indoor air quality services. For more information or to schedule any residential or commercial HVAC service in Las Cruces, give us a call today.