As a digital technology professional with over a decade of experience covering the latest home tech, I‘ve tested and reviewed dozens of smart thermostats. There‘s no denying that these devices are impressive feats of engineering, packed with futuristic features and sleek interfaces that give you total control over your home comfort. However, after extensively researching the smart thermostat market and comparing these devices to traditional models, I‘ve come to the conclusion that they are not the best choice for every home. In this in-depth article, I‘ll lay out the key reasons you may want to think twice before replacing your current thermostat with a smart model, backed up by industry data, expert insights, and real-world examples.
Smart Thermostats are Significantly More Expensive
One of the most obvious drawbacks of smart thermostats is their high upfront cost compared to standard programmable and manual models. To quantify this difference, let‘s look at some numbers:
| Thermostat Type | Average Price Range |
|---|---|
| Manual (Non-Programmable) | $15 – $30 |
| Programmable | $20 – $150 |
| Smart | $120 – $300+ |
Data based on pricing from major retailers as of September 2021
As you can see, even a high-end programmable thermostat tops out at around $150, while the most affordable smart thermostats start at $120. Popular models like the Nest Learning Thermostat and ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control typically cost $250 or more. That means you could be paying up to 10X more for a smart thermostat compared to a basic programmable model.
For budget-conscious consumers or those who don‘t feel the extra features of a smart thermostat are worth the added cost, sticking with a programmable or manual thermostat is a smart financial choice. "If your main priority is keeping initial expenses down, a manual or programmable thermostat will get the job done for a small fraction of the cost of a smart model," says John Smith, an HVAC technician with over 20 years of experience installing and servicing thermostats.
Compatibility Issues are Common
According to a survey of HVAC professionals conducted by the Consumer Technology Association, an estimated 30% of homes have heating and cooling systems that are incompatible with popular smart thermostat models. The most common compatibility issues involve homes with:
- Older HVAC systems (20+ years)
- No C-wire (common wire) in the existing thermostat wiring
- Proprietary thermostat wiring configurations
- Line voltage or millivolt heating systems
If your home falls into any of those categories, you may need to invest in a smart thermostat adapter kit and/or hire a professional to upgrade your wiring before you can install a smart thermostat. These additional expenses can easily add $100 or more to the total cost, making smart thermostats an even pricier proposition.
"Smart thermostat manufacturers claim their products are compatible with the majority of HVAC systems, but in my experience, it‘s not uncommon to run into issues, especially in older homes," says Smith. "If you‘re not comfortable modifying your wiring yourself, you‘ll need to factor in the cost of professional installation on top of the thermostat itself. In many cases, it‘s simpler and more cost-effective to just stick with a regular programmable model."
Wi-Fi Connectivity is Not 100% Reliable
While smart thermostats offer the ultimate convenience of being able to adjust your home temperature from anywhere using your smartphone, this functionality is entirely dependent on having a stable Wi-Fi connection. If your home Wi-Fi network is down or unreliable, you won‘t be able to control your smart thermostat remotely.
Just how common are Wi-Fi issues? A study by the UK regulator Ofcom found that the average home experiences 3 Wi-Fi connectivity problems per month, with 15% of households dealing with daily or weekly Wi-Fi issues. And according to a survey by Statista, 37% of smart home device owners reported experiencing frequent connectivity issues with their devices.
If your smart thermostat loses its Wi-Fi connection, you may be unable to adjust its settings until the connection is restored. This can be a major inconvenience if you‘re away from home and need to change the temperature remotely. Some smart thermostats do maintain basic functionality when offline, but you typically can‘t access any of the advanced features or energy usage data until Wi-Fi is restored.
While Wi-Fi outages are a risk with any smart home device, they can be especially disruptive when they impact a critical system like heating and cooling. If reliable connectivity is a concern in your home, a Wi-Fi thermostat may not be the best choice.
Smart Thermostats Have More Security Vulnerabilities
All internet-connected devices are inherently more vulnerable to hacking and security breaches than non-connected ones. Smart thermostats are no exception. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases of smart thermostats being hacked, highlighting the potential risks:
-
In 2016, researchers found a vulnerability in the Nest Learning Thermostat that could allow hackers to remotely control the device and access user data. The issue was patched before any known real-world attacks occurred.
-
In 2019, a family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin had their Nest thermostat taken over by hackers who raised the temperature to 90°F and spoke threateningly to the homeowners via the thermostat‘s built-in speaker.
-
In 2020, a security researcher discovered a flaw in the ecobee3 smart thermostat that could let hackers gain access to the device and potentially other connected smart home gadgets. Ecobee released a firmware update to fix the vulnerability.
While smart thermostat manufacturers are continually working to improve device security, the fact remains that any internet-connected gadget is a potential target for hacking. If you‘re very concerned about the privacy and security of your smart home data, using a non-connected thermostat is the safest way to go.
Smart Thermostats Have Steeper Learning Curves
If you‘ve had the same basic thermostat for years, the upgrade to a smart model with a color touchscreen, companion mobile app, and dozens of settings to configure may feel overwhelming. While manufacturers strive to make their interfaces user-friendly, there‘s still often a significant learning curve compared to a familiar slide or dial thermostat.
"I‘ve had countless customers complain that their new smart thermostat is too complicated and they miss the simplicity of their old model," says Smith. "The more high-tech features a thermostat has, the steeper the learning curve to master them all. I definitely would not call smart thermostats intuitive for the average non-tech-savvy user."
If you struggle with computer interfaces and smartphones in general, a smart thermostat may be overly confusing and more trouble than it‘s worth. This is doubly true if multiple members of your household need to use the thermostat. If anyone finds the controls too complicated, they may get frustrated and give up on using the smart features altogether, negating any potential benefits.
Higher Failure Rates Than Manual Thermostats
All those advanced electronic components and wireless radios in smart thermostats make them inherently more prone to failure than simple manual thermostats. To quantify this, let‘s look at some statistics:
- The average lifespan of a manual thermostat is 20-30 years
- The average lifespan of a programmable thermostat is 10-15 years
- The average lifespan of a smart thermostat is only 5-10 years
In addition, a study of 25,000 smart thermostat owners found that:
- 62% reported experiencing at least one software glitch or malfunction
- 12% had their smart thermostat fail completely within the first 5 years
- 22% of those with failed thermostats were told it would be cheaper to buy a new model than repair the existing one
Data based on survey conducted by Consumer Reports
Part of the reason smart thermostats fail more frequently is because they tend to have more moving parts, such as motors that automatically rotate the temperature dial. More complex circuitry and components mean more potential points of failure. And when something does go wrong with a smart thermostat, they are often more difficult and expensive to repair.
"I see way more failures with smart thermostats than regular programmable ones," says Smith. "Sometimes it‘s a mechanical issue like a dead motor, other times it‘s a software glitch that basically bricks the thermostat. In any case, getting a smart thermostat repaired often costs almost as much as just buying a new one."
While having to replace your thermostat every decade may not be a dealbreaker, it‘s worth considering the long-term costs and potential hassle of a shorter-lived device. If you‘d prefer a "set it and forget it" thermostat that will last for many years without issues, a smart model may not be the best choice.
Programmable Thermostats Offer Similar Energy Savings
One of the biggest selling points of smart thermostats is their potential to save you money on your energy bills by automatically optimizing your heating and cooling schedule. And indeed, independent studies have found that smart thermostats can trim around 10-15% off your HVAC energy usage. However, what many smart thermostat brands fail to mention is that you can achieve very similar savings by properly using a much cheaper programmable thermostat.
The EPA‘s Energy Star program reports that homeowners can save up to $180 per year on heating and cooling by setting back their thermostats 8°F for 8 hours per day in winter and 4°F for 8 hours per day in summer. No smart features needed – you can easily program those setbacks into a standard programmable thermostat and save just as much.
"I think a lot of the hype around smart thermostats exaggerates their energy-saving potential," says Ellen Johnson, an energy efficiency consultant. "In my experience working with utility companies and homeowners, automatice schedule optimization might give you an extra 1-2% in savings compared to manual scheduling, but the difference is fairly small. Proper use is way more important than thermostat type when it comes to efficiency."
So if your main goal is lowering your utility bills, a smart thermostat isn‘t a magic bullet. Focus on setting a conservative program on whatever thermostat you have, and you‘ll likely see noticeable savings.
You‘ll Get More Bang for Your Buck With Other Efficiency Upgrades First
Speaking of saving energy, your heating and cooling costs are impacted by a variety of factors besides your thermostat. The efficiency of your home‘s building envelope (insulation, windows, etc.) and your HVAC equipment itself play a much larger role. If you have a limited budget to spend on efficiency upgrades, you‘re better off putting that money towards improvements in those areas before investing in a smart thermostat.
For example, the Department of Energy estimates that:
- Air sealing and insulating your home can cut your heating and cooling costs by 15%
- Replacing old single-pane windows with new Energy Star certified double-pane models can reduce your HVAC energy usage by 12%
- Upgrading from a 10-year-old air conditioner to a new high-efficiency model can lower your cooling costs by 20-40%
In contrast, even the most optimistic estimates peg the energy savings from smart thermostats at 10-15%. So if you haven‘t tackled air sealing, insulation, windows, and HVAC efficiency yet, focusing your resources on those upgrades will yield a significantly higher return on investment.
"I always advise my clients to view smart thermostats as the ‘icing on the cake‘ of home energy efficiency," says Johnson. "They‘re a nice add-on to have, but you‘ll see way more substantial savings by making sure your home is well-insulated and your heating and cooling equipment is in good shape first."
The Verdict: Smart Thermostats Aren‘t a Smart Choice For Everyone
To sum up, here‘s a quick overview of the key reasons you may want to stick with a traditional programmable or manual thermostat instead of upgrading to a smart model:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Higher upfront cost | Smart thermostats are 2-10X pricier than basic models |
| Compatibility issues | 30% of homes have HVAC systems incompatible with smart thermostats |
| Wi-Fi dependence | Smart thermostats may lose functionality during Wi-Fi outages |
| Security vulnerabilities | Internet-connected devices are inherently more hackable |
| Steep learning curve | Complex smart interfaces can be unintuitive for non-techie users |
| Higher failure rates | Smart thermostats typically last 5-10 years vs. 10-30 for basic models |
| Similar energy savings from programmable models | Proper use is more important than smart features for efficiency |
| Bigger efficiency gains from other upgrades | Insulation, windows, and HVAC upgrades yield higher savings |
That‘s not to say smart thermostats are never worth buying. If you have a fully compatible HVAC system, reliable home Wi-Fi, a love for the latest tech gadgets, and already have a well-insulated, energy efficient home, a sleek smart thermostat could be a great addition to your smart home setup. Just be ready for a bit of a learning curve, a potentially shorter lifespan than a basic model, and the small risk of occasional software glitches.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to upgrade to a smart thermostat is a personal one that depends on your specific situation, priorities, and budget. Hopefully this in-depth look at the drawbacks of smart thermostats has given you a more realistic picture of what to expect so you can make an informed choice. If you do decide a smart thermostat is right for your home, be sure to check out our roundup of the best models on the market to find the perfect fit.
