How a Smart Thermostat Can Save You Money on Heating This Winter

If you’re looking for ways to save on your winter energy bills without impacting your comfort, installing a smart thermostat is one of the best and easiest options. Although it usually doesn’t cost that much to heat a home in the Burbank, CA area, a smart thermostat can still save you money on heating. We’ll explain how smart thermostats work and explore the various ways they can help you reduce your energy bills this winter.

How a Smart Thermostat Works

Many think smart thermostats are just programmable units with Wi-Fi and app control—but today’s models offer much more.

✅ Learning & Automation

Smart thermostats learn your schedule and preferences in 10–14 days. After that, they automatically adjust temperatures to save energy when you’re away and maintain comfort when you’re home.

✅ Motion & Occupancy Sensors

Built-in motion sensors detect activity. If no motion is sensed for a set time, the thermostat switches to Away mode, reducing heating or cooling to save energy.

✅ App & Wi-Fi Control

Easily control your thermostat via a mobile app, even while on vacation. Adjust settings, delay schedules, or switch to Home mode remotely.

✅ Geo-Fencing & Phone Detection

Advanced models use geo-fencing or Wi-Fi presence detection to track if anyone is home. If everyone leaves the area, the system enters energy-saving mode automatically.

✅ Customization

Worried it might switch modes too soon? You can adjust motion sensor timing or override it using phone-based presence tracking.

Smart thermostats offer automated comfort, lower energy bills, and smarter home heating and cooling—without lifting a finger.

How Much Can You Save on Heating Costs With a Smart Thermostat?

A smart thermostat can save you money by regularly switching to Away mode to limit how much your heating system runs. The exact savings you can get with a thermostat vary from house to house. That’s because it depends on things like how much someone occupies the house, what temperature you program the Home and Away modes to, and how efficient your HVAC system is.

Nonetheless, the majority of homes will see around an 8%–10% reduction in how much their heating runs and how much energy it uses. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), you can usually expect a smart thermostat to save you around $50–$100 a year when factoring in both heating and cooling costs. That means the thermostat could more than pay for itself within a couple of years.

What to Look for When Choosing a Smart Thermostat

When choosing a thermostat, check that it’s compatible with your phones and mobile devices. Most work with both Apple and Android, but some support only one. If you use Apple, Amazon, or Google smart home hubs, make sure the thermostat connects so you can control it with voice commands.

For seamless integration, consider matching your thermostat with other smart devices you own, like Nest or Ring. This allows your system to learn your patterns and detect occupancy more effectively.

Always look for an ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostat. These models improve efficiency, track energy use, and provide insights to lower heating and cooling bills. Many also include performance monitoring, sending alerts if your HVAC system isn’t working properly, shuts off unexpectedly, or needs maintenance.

At Air Max HVAC, we provide expert thermostat installation in Burbank. Our team will connect your unit, set it up for maximum efficiency, and show you how to use all its features. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and explore our full range of smart thermostat options.