Smart thermostats: are they worth it?

A smart thermostat is a thermostat you can control from your phone, and one that’s a lot easier to schedule than the button-heavy models most of us grew up with.

What’s different about it

• Easy scheduling. Set it cooler at night and while you’re out, and warm again before you wake up, using a simple app instead of tiny buttons.
• Control from anywhere. Turn the heat up on the way home, or check the house is warm while you’re away.
• Smarter adjustments. Many can tell when nobody’s home and ease off automatically.
• Alerts. Some will warn you if the house gets unusually cold, which is useful in a Canadian winter.

Will it save money?

It can trim your heating and cooling bills, mainly by not heating an empty house. How much depends on your home and how consistently you used your old thermostat’s schedule. If you already adjust the temperature carefully every day, savings will be smaller. The comfort and convenience are often the bigger win.

Will it work in my home?

Most homes with a furnace and central air are compatible, but not all. Two things to check:

• Your system type. Baseboard electric heaters and some older systems need a different kind of thermostat.
• A “C-wire.” Many smart thermostats need a constant power wire. If your home doesn’t have one, there’s usually an adapter, but it’s better to know before you buy.

Snap a photo of the wires behind your current thermostat (with the power off) and we can usually tell you in a minute whether it will work.

See our picks for the thermostat we recommend most.