Used a smart thermostat for a year, then switched to a manual one - night and day difference

I had one of those Nest thermostats for about 12 months in my apartment in Columbus. It was supposed to learn my schedule and save energy. But it kept turning the heat on when I wasn't home, or off when I was. My electric bill averaged $140 a month. Then I got tired of it and put in a cheap $20 manual dial thermostat. Now I just set it to 68 in winter and 74 in summer before I leave for work. My bill dropped to $95 last month. Has anyone else found the fancy smart stuff actually makes things worse for your situation?

3 comments

3 Comments

blair62622d agoTop Commenter

I actually read this article a while back that said smart thermostats really only save money if you have a super unpredictable schedule, and for most people they just complicate things. Sounds like your experience backs that up, the old manual ones are just simpler and cheaper to run. Did you notice any difference in how comfortable your place felt after switching?

jesse_craig2622d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, is it really that serious though? Like, we're talking about adjusting the temperature a few degrees, not flying a spaceship. I get that people love their gadgets and apps for everything, but a thermostat is about as simple as it gets. You set it, it kicks on, you forget about it until the next season change. All that extra hassle with schedules and connecting to wifi just feels like overcomplicating a thing that doesn't need fixing. Comfort wise, I bet if you blindfolded someone and asked them to tell the difference, they'd just guess random.

taylor.paige18d ago

Wait, have you actually tried a smart thermostat or are you just guessing? I set mine to cool down right before I get home and bump it up when I leave, and my electric bill dropped like 20 bucks a month.