First things first: what is smart home technology?

Making your home smarter. It's a phrase you probably see rushing by on a regular basis, but what does it even mean. Quite simply, making your home smarter is about connecting it to the internet. A smart thermostat then, for example, is the temperature controller in your home that you can control at the touch of a button without touching the device itself. Wonderfully lazy, we hear you thinking. But smart home technology is more than that. It's about comfort, of course some luxury, but also safety. We're going to tell you all more about that.

What is a smart thermostat?

We use a thermostat in our home or office to regulate the temperature. Not too hot and not too cold, with economy always in mind. After all, letting a room cool down completely at night is not sustainable because the heating has to work so hard the next day that it actually uses a lot of energy. So opt for a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius when you are not at home or in the office. A smart thermostat relieves you of this extra headache. You set the thermostat in advance - when you do think about it - for the day and you don't have to worry about it.

A smart thermostat is connected to your home by the internet and the use of a companion app. At the touch of a button, you change your temperature preferences and your thermostat neatly follows its orders. We're going to explain to you exactly how it works and the benefits you enjoy.

The benefits of a smart thermostat

Let us list the benefits of a smart thermostat for you.

A smart thermostat is sustainable

You will save a lot of energy (and money) by investing in a smart thermostat. After all, it will never again stand idle because it learns from your lifestyle patterns in the house. The smart thermostat can learn to detect when you are not at home or automatically switches itself off when you open a door or window. This way, you don't use energy unnecessarily and you're not heating for the neighbours. This way, you can save around 300 euros a year in energy. That's well worth it! Moreover, you use much less energy, also because the smart thermostat keeps the temperature stable.

A smart thermostat is convenient

You can control your smart thermostat via its app. The most convenient thing about this is that you can control your thermostat from a distance. And by that we don't mean 10 metres, but for example before you get on your bike or in the train heading home. You turn on your smart thermostat with the app and your house is nice and warm when you get home. Moreover, the smart thermostat learns from your daily routine - for example, when you have fixed times of leaving and coming home. Do you ever come home at an unexpected time? Then you can use the app to control your smart thermostat from a different location.

Your smart thermostat gives you insight into your consumption

The thermostat is linked to an app, which is more than just an on/off button. What is precisely so useful about this link is that the app collects data about your energy consumption. On the one hand, it learns from your daily routine and stores this specific data. On the other hand, it measures exactly the energy consumption at your home which you can easily view. So you can see exactly how much energy you use per day and even per hour. Based on this, you can change the patterns to save even more energy. Go green!

Your smart thermostat means you don't have to get up

We just said it: but smart devices in your home are of course great if you don't feel like getting up. This way, you can control everything in your home from the comfort of your armchair. You can turn the heating up or down a degree, close the curtains and adjust the lighting to your liking. And all from the comfort of your chill sofa. Sometimes you don't even have to reach for your phone because some smart home technology is connected to Google Assistant or Alexa, so all you have to do is give the command with your voice.

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A smart thermostat is a modulating thermostat?

To give more force to this statement, we first need to explain what a modulating thermostat is and what it has to do with a smart thermostat.

What is a modulating thermostat?

A modulating thermostat is primarily the durable counterpart of the on/off thermostat. The latter turns the boiler fully on when it detects that it is 2 degrees too cold. It only turns off when it is 2 degrees warmer than you actually wanted. Therefore, the boiler sometimes works very hard and thus consumes a lot of energy. A modulating thermostat, on the other hand, asks for a little heat when it detects that it is already getting a little colder. It gradually releases some heat so the boiler doesn't have to work so hard. So you can save energy as well as money.

Is a modulating thermostat smart?

A modulating thermostat is not necessarily smart. But a pairing is possible here. A modulating thermostat actually also refers to a modulating central heating boiler to which you can connect your smart thermostat. This way, you control the heat in your home smartly and economically.

What is the difference between a smart thermostat and a smart radiator?

A smart thermostat is often limited to one room. It usually hangs in the living room and goes off temperature there. It may then be that further away in the house, for example in the bedroom or bathroom, it remains a bit chilly. This is because when the thermostat has measured that it is up to temperature in the living room, the radiators in other rooms also stop heating.

A smart radiator, however, can be set much more specifically. You then buy a smart radiator knob per radiator. You can also control these via an app. But instead of setting one temperature, you can set the temperature for each room where you use such a knob. Slightly cooler in the bedroom, nice and balmy in the bathroom and cosy and warm in the living room and kitchen. You easily add all rooms in the app and assign any schedule just like the smart thermostat.

You easily attach the smart radiator buttons to your radiators in your home and then link them to the app you want to use to control the heating automatically. By the way, the smart radiator buttons are fine to look at - they don't really stand out. They don't allow you to still manually sit on the heating per room. Because the control is done via the app, conveniently in one place. The smart radiator buttons are a godsend for anyone who wants customised heating in any place in their home.

Can I also opt for smart underfloor heating?

Don't have radiators at home, but instead have the heating in the floor? Even then you can easily (and warmly) get by with a smart thermostat. You just have to make sure the underfloor heating is linked to this specific thermostat. This is because sometimes there are several separate thermostats and boilers in the house. If you can make the thermostat regulating the underfloor heating smart, it's a piece of cake.

Which system do I use to control my smart thermostat?

There are several systems that allow control via an app. But which smart thermostats are the best smart thermostats? Below, we dive into some brands that sell smart thermostats to explain to you the different functionalities.

The Google Nest Learning Thermostat V3

Learning: One of the most notable features of the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is that it learns from your preferences and habits and then automatically adjusts the heating schedule to save energy.
Remote control: You can control the Nest Thermostat remotely via the Nest app, which is handy if you come home later than usual, for example.
Compatibility: Nest Learning Thermostat V3 works well with other smart devices, such as Google Home, allowing you to create an integrated smart home ecosystem.

The Tado smart thermostat

Geolocation: Tado uses geolocation technology to detect when you leave or come home, and adjusts the temperature accordingly to save energy.
Open window detection: Tado has a smart feature called Open Window Detection, which turns off the heating when a window is open for a certain amount of time to prevent unnecessary energy loss.
Smart scheduling: The Tado smart thermostat offers intelligent scheduling options based on your lifestyle and routines, making it more comfortable while saving energy.

The Honeywell Lyric T6

Geofencing: Like Tado, the Honeywell Lyric T6 uses geofencing to detect when you leave or come home, and adjusts the temperature accordingly.
Compatibility: The Honeywell Lyric T6 works well with Apple HomeKit, making it a good choice if you already have other Apple devices in your smart home.
Customisable schedules: It offers customisable heating schedules and notifications to keep you informed about energy consumption and savings.

The differences between these smart thermostats

In general, these thermostats are similar in features like geofencing and remote control via an app, but there are subtle differences in advanced features like learning algorithms, integration with other smart devices and special energy-saving features like Open Window Detection. The choice between them may depend on your personal preferences, existing smart home systems and budget.

How do I install a smart thermostat in my home?

Installing a smart thermostat is usually a piece of cake. With clear instructions and often even helpful installation videos in the accompanying app, users without much technical knowledge can quickly and easily install the thermostat themselves. For those who prefer a little extra help, many brands also offer professional installation services. This makes the process even more accessible, even for those who are not so handy with technology.

Buying the best smart thermostat at Productpine

Are you convinced too? Which smart thermostat will you buy to make heating even easier and more carefree? Take a look at our smart thermostats and go for your best choice! Even better: if you buy your smart thermostat at Productpine, you will contribute to sustainability projects. That's because we invest 1.5% of every order - and it costs you absolutely nothing extra. Nice touch, right? So take a look around. Still have questions? Then contact our customer service team.