Smart Thermostats Lower Utility Bills While Maintaining Comfort in South Jersey
Cranking up the thermostat in your home on the South Jersey shore feels right when the wind is howling, and winter temperatures fall well below freezing.
You might be tempted to keep the thermostat above 70°F until the spring thaw, but raising the indoor temperature 24/7 needlessly spikes your energy bills. Your house will be toasty—whether you are there or not—while you burn through your utilities budget needlessly.
At Comfort Now By Bob McAllister, we promote comfort strategies that maintain warmth while reducing energy consumption. We are big supporters of smart thermostats in South Jersey, and we recommend them to homeowners from Egg Harbor Township to Cape May County and beyond as a convenient way to track and adjust indoor temperatures remotely.
Get Paid to Upgrade: NJ Utility Rebates
One of the best reasons to switch now is that New Jersey utility companies are currently paying homeowners to make the upgrade. If you are an Atlantic City Electric or South Jersey Gas customer, you likely qualify for significant savings:
- Atlantic City Electric: Offers a $100 rebate for ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostats installed as part of an HVAC upgrade. You can also earn up to $50 in annual bill credits by enrolling in their Energy Wise Rewards program.
- South Jersey Gas: Provides rebates of up to $100 for smart thermostats. You can also find instant discounts by shopping directly through the South Jersey Gas Marketplace.
Our technicians ensure your new device is eligible for these programs, helping the upgrade practically pay for itself.
What Is the Best Thermostat Setting for New Jersey Winters?
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends balancing comfort and savings by keeping your thermostat between 68°F and 70°F when you are awake and at home. When you are asleep or away from home for more than eight hours, the DOE suggests a setback to 58°F to 62°F.
Many homeowners worry that letting the house cool down while they are away means the furnace has to work harder to warm it up later. However, physics tells us that a house loses heat more slowly when the interior temperature is closer to the outside temperature.
By letting the house cool down while you're at work, you actually reduce the total amount of energy lost to the outdoors.
Smart Thermostats Work Like Magic
Manually changing your thermostat several times a day is a chore most of us forget. Smart thermostats shine by handling the heavy lifting for you:
- Adaptive Learning: Many models learn your habits. If you consistently turn the heat down at 10 p.m., the thermostat eventually starts doing it for you.
- Geofencing: Some units track your phone’s location with your permission. When you pull out of your driveway in EHT, the thermostat senses you’ve left and enters energy-saving mode. When you’re five miles away on your return trip, it kicks the heat back up so you’re warm the moment you walk through the door.
Smart Thermostats: A Must-Have for Jersey Shore Cottages
A smart thermostat is one of the best investments you can make if you own a seasonal home or rental cottage that sits empty during winter on the Jersey Shore.
You need to maintain a baseline temperature in a winterized house that is closed for the season.
With a smart thermostat, you can monitor your shore house from your primary residence using an app on your phone. If the weather forecast calls for freezing temperatures on the coast, you can bump the heat up a few degrees from your couch at home.
Pro Tip: Many smart thermostats will send an emergency alert to your phone if the temperature in your home drops below a certain threshold, giving you time to call Comfort Now before a crisis occurs.
Avoiding Pipe-Freezing Temperatures
While we want you to save money, setting the thermostat too low is dangerous. In South Jersey winters, frozen pipes are a very real threat. If you set your thermostat below 55°F, you are entering the danger zone.
While the air in the center of the room might be 55°F, the air inside your walls or in the crawl space where your pipes live could be much colder. We recommend a minimum temperature of 58°F to ensure all your plumbing stays safely above freezing.
Why Professional Installation Matters
You might see smart thermostats at home improvement stores and think it's a simple do-it-yourself weekend project. However, HVAC systems can be finicky. Here’s what you should consider before tackling thermostat installation as a DIY project:
- C-Wire: Many smart thermostats require a common wire, also known as a C-wire, for constant power. Older South Jersey homes often lack this, and forcing an installation can blow a fuse on your furnace's control board.
- System Calibration: When our team at Comfort Now installs a smart thermostat, we ensure the device communicates correctly with your specific HVAC unit.
- App Setup: When our team installs your smart thermostat, we don't just walk away. We help you set up the smartphone app, program your first schedule, and make sure you know how to use the energy-saving features.
Switch to a Smart Thermostat Today!
A smart thermostat is one of the few home upgrades that actually pays for itself. Between Jersey Shore utility rebates, the energy savings, and the peace of mind you gain knowing your pipes are safe, it’s an essential HVAC tool for any New Jersey homeowner.
At Comfort Now By Bob McAllister, we can recommend the best smart thermostat for your Ocean City home, whether you want to save on your monthly bills or keep a closer eye on your seasonal shore property. Call us at 609-241-9268 or request service online.