System EstimateWater Heater
Estimate
Everyone knows we live in a digital world. It’s almost impossible to get through the day (or even an hour or two) without accessing the Internet and digital technology in some way. When it comes to looking after our homes, we at Modernize believe that homeowners should embrace technology. Home automation makes monitoring, tracking, and adjusting energy use simple, streamlined, and easily accessible.
Here are some of the best home automation apps that can help you monitor your home’s HVAC systems.
The most popular of the home automation products currently on the market is the smart thermostat from Nest. While the thermostat is relatively simple to install and use, the smartphone and tablet app that comes with it is what sets it apart from its competitors. The user friendly interface sends messages and alerts from any number of your Nest products (they also make home security systems and smoke/CO2 alarms) when you need to make changes, shows your daily Energy History, and sends a monthly Home Report detailing your usage over time.
You can control up to 20 thermostats across your home with the app, view Nest’s tailored heating and air conditioning schedule, and even turn your thermostat to energy saving and auto away modes when you are away from home. Available on iOS and Android, this clever app really does do it all.
via iDownloadBlog
The makers behind Hive products are a few steps behind Nest in terms of product linking and connectivity, but once their additional services are fully functional, they will surely give the big guns a run for their money by offering automated lighting, window and door sensors, and smart plugs in addition to their HVAC monitoring systems.
As they currently stand, Hive creators have developed a crisp, modern app that matches the style of their smart thermostat. In addition to the functions offered by their competitors, the Hive app can also control hot water and use geolocation technologies to alert you of too high and too low temperatures when you leave and return to your house.
Unfortunately, this app does not adjust the temperatures automatically like other learning thermostats would, so it falls short in this regard. Available on iOS, Android, and from the Amazon store, the Hive app is prettier—but not better—than its competitors.
via Hive
Honeywell as a brand is tried and trusted by many homeowners because of its longstanding presence in HVAC technology. Lyric, their smart thermostat, is futuristic in both appearance and spec. While Hive’s thermostat and accompanying app are unable to learn and anticipate your heating and air conditioning needs, Lyric does this effortlessly. In fact, it combines the geolocation technologies that Nest lacks with the learning capabilities it is famed for and makes a winning combination that beats both its competitors.
Lyric’s geofencing feature allows the thermostat to automatically adjust temperatures based on your distance from home. As with other apps, you can monitor your energy usage and patterns on a daily basis. With Lyric you can also set shortcuts for particular events and occasions, keeping your home’s heating at a specific level for parties, late nights, and other special occasions. iOS and Android users will be able to use this app and will likely agree that Honeywell is a trusted brand for a reason and has hit the nail on the head with their smart thermostat.
via The Verge
Although Nest, Hive, and Honeywell have the automated HVAC market cornered, there are several other brands with equally smart thermostats and smartphone applications.
Netatmo’s modern, minimalist design tracks usage and sends monthly usage reports via email has Auto-Adapt and Auto-Care functions that turn heating on and off based on external temperatures and home insulation, and sends alerts for low batteries and troubleshooting your appliances.
The smart thermostat app from Tado functions the same way but has the added benefit of geofencing, telling you how far you are from your home via smartphone alert.
Finally, ecobee tracks, monitors, and adjusts your heating and AC use with geofencing capabilities and, most interestingly, links to Siri and all your Apple products, including the new Apple Watch. If you are looking to branch out from one of the top three smart thermostat apps, one of these brands will be worth the leap of faith.
