Connected Thermostats: How They Reduce Your Bill
Smart heating is not just for comfort, it is a major source of savings. Discover how a connected thermostat adapts to your life to heat only when necessary.
Recommended Materials
- Connected Thermostat (Netatmo, Tado, Nest...)
- Smartphone
- Screwdriver
- Wifi Connection
Steps to follow
Step 1
Before buying, imperatively check the compatibility of your current heating system (gas, oil, wood boiler, heat pump or pilot wire electric radiators) with the targeted thermostat on the manufacturer's website. Most standard individual boilers are compatible (dry contact or OpenTherm).
Step 2
Installation generally consists of replacing your old wired wall thermostat with the new one, and connecting a small relay box to the boiler itself. If you are not comfortable with electricity, call a pro, but it is often accessible to careful DIYers (you just have to cut the power and connect 2 wires).
Step 3
Once installed and connected to Wifi, the thermostat asks you questions about your lifestyle habits (wake up times, leaving for work, return, presence on weekends) to create a custom heating schedule. No more heating running for nothing in an empty house!
Step 4
The real strength of these devices is algorithmic intelligence (PID): they learn the thermal inertia of your house (how long it takes to heat up and cool down) and take into account local outdoor weather. If it is very cold outside, the thermostat will anticipate starting 1h earlier so that it is exactly 20°C when you return at 6pm, neither before nor after.
Step 5
The 'Absence' or geofencing function is crucial for savings: if you leave for the weekend unexpectedly, the heating switches to 'Frost Protection' or 'Eco' mode automatically as soon as you move away from the house. You can turn it back on remotely from your smartphone 2h before returning to find a warm house.
Step 6
Follow your temperature and consumption curves in the app to refine your settings and concretely see the savings made month after month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I save ?
Manufacturers announce up to 30%. In reality, in a moderately insulated house, we often see between 10% and 20% real savings on the bill, which pays for the device (150-200€) in just 1 or 2 winters.
What if I have collective heating ?
You cannot change the building's central thermostat. However, you can install connected thermostatic heads directly on your individual radiators to manage temperature room by room and create schedules.
Precautions
- Cut the boiler power before any manipulation.
- Place the thermostat well away from heat sources (direct sun, fireplace) and drafts.
