By There’s no arguing this point. Smart thermostats have now become an integral part of any modern household, offering convenience, energy savings, and remote control abilities. What, though, happens when your Wi-Fi goes down? Should it drop connections in the future, or if you live in an area where internet connections are unreliable? In a word, can a smart thermostat still work without Wi-Fi enabled?
The quick answer is yes; most smart thermostats can still work without Wi-Fi, but not in all respects. In this blog, we’ll explain how smart thermostats work without an Internet connection, which functions are lost, and whether it is still worth installing one in these circumstances.
How Smart Thermostats Work Without Wi-Fi
Smart thermostats are designed to actively control the heating and cooling of your home through a combination of programmed settings, sensors, and even learning algorithms. Even with advanced features available over WiFi, these thermostats can still operate independently by relying on their built-in controls.
If your Wi-Fi goes offline, a smart thermostat will continue to:
Manually adjust the temperature: You can still adjust the thermostat’s temperature using its physical buttons or touch screen.
Follow pre-set schedules: Even without an internet connection, the thermostat will follow your timetable.
Control HVAC systems: The thermostat takes care of turning signals to your heating, air conditioning, or heat pump, keeping the indoor temperature as desired.
What Features Are Lost Without Wi-Fi?
Although the essential functions of a thermostat remain the same, any of several features that make a thermostat “smart” without an internet connection could not exist. If your Wi-Fi signal goes out, or you unplug the cable from your router to switch it off at night and forget to turn it back on before bed, the following becomes unavailable:
Remote Access: You can adjust the temperature in your home with an easily installed app and correspondingly enabled web service on your smartphone or tablet. This is also not possible through control methods like Google Assistant Alexa without Wi-Fi to connect to.
Energy Reports & Insights: Many smart thermostats offer data on how much energy you are using and efficiency reports. These both rely on an internet connection to sync with cloud-based analytics, which provides the grunt work for all that number crunching.
Smart Integrations: If your thermostat communicates with a smart home system (such as one provided by Google Nest), its integrations are simply not usable without an internet connection. Other examples include remote control systems and voice assistants from Amazon (Amazon Echo).
Automatic Software Updates: Most smart thermostats will undergo software updates that tweak features or make your home more alert to intruders. If your device cannot receive these updates automatically without Wi-Fi, it stays dead in the water once a new one emerges. Each new update can mean more security features and repairs.
Geofencing & Smart Adjustments: Many thermostats use your smartphone’s location to regulate temperature as you move between home and away. This depends on Wi-Fi, and it can’t do it without an internet connection.
Is a Smart Thermostat Still Worth It Without Wi-Fi?
Indeed! Despite having an unreliable network, a smart thermostat still has a few benefits over conventional ones:
Increased Energy Efficiency: Smart thermostats can continue to operate according to a preset schedule, which lowers electricity costs.
User-Friendly Interface: Many smart thermostats have simple touchscreen terminals for making temperature adjustments.
Forward-Looking: Even if your home currently lacks Wi-Fi, after the installation of a smart thermostat, you’ll be prepared for future updates.
Local Networking: Several smart thermostat models with Zigbee or Z-Wave offer local connections even without internet access.
Conclusion
If you don’t connect your smart thermostat through Wi-Fi, it will continue functioning. However, you’ll lose some extra features: remote control by cell phone, control of loudspeaker commands, and tracking of energy usage. Still, if you are looking for the most efficient and convenient way to run your house’s heating and cooling system, a smart thermostat is a good investment, provided it is connected to Wi-Fi.
If you are considering installing a smart thermostat, Aire One Milton services can help you select and install one. Our professionals give detailed recommendations based on personal circumstances. Feel free to contact our technicians today for advice.