Bought a 'smart' thermostat that promised big savings but barely made a dent

I spent about $250 on one of those learning thermostats last winter. The ads said it would cut my heating bill by 15% by learning my schedule. I set it up in my house in Portland, followed all the instructions, and let it run for three months. When I checked my gas bills, I had saved maybe $12 total compared to the year before. The thing kept making weird adjustments, like turning the heat way down when I was just reading on the couch. It felt like a lot of tech for almost no real gain. Has anyone else found a simpler way to manage home heating that actually works?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair6301mo ago

Honestly that sounds about right for smart home tech. My thermostat once decided it was a good idea to turn the AC on during a snowstorm because it "learned" I liked it cool. I went back to the old manual dial and a cheap timer plug for a space heater in my bedroom. Sometimes the dumb solution is just smarter.

skyler_fox721mo ago

Totally feel that, these things are way too clever for their own good. Mine kept cranking the heat up at 3 AM because it decided I was always cold then (I was just asleep). A basic programmable one from the hardware store and a warm sweater ended up being the real money-savers.