Smart Thermostats vs Traditional Controls: Which Saves You More?

If you’re looking to save money around the house, you might hear recommendations to upgrade all of your radiator valves to thermostatic valves. Smart thermostats not only allow you to switch your central heating on and off while you aren’t at home, it will also allow you to control the temperature in each room in your home.

This could potentially save you money on your heating bills, as you won’t be heating your whole home to the same temperature. However, as with most money saving measures, it’s very much about how you use these tools, as there are ways to make smart thermostats operate in a wasteful way.

If you’re on the fence about smart thermostats, read on to learn more about how they work and how you can optimise them for savings.

Smart thermostats explained

The thermostat is the temperature control unit for your home. It’s usually in a central hallway, and it will measure the temperature in your home. When the desired temperature is reached, the thermostat powers down your central heating system. And when the temperature drops below a certain point, it will fire back up again.

With a smart thermostat, this can be controlled from a smart device like your phone, or through a voice controlled home hub. These are commonly paired with thermostatic valves, which will control the temperature for each radiator, so you could switch off single radiators, or set the temperature in one room lower than others.

Thermostatic valves are upgrades to manual valves. These control the flow of hot water from your central heating system, allowing you to isolate single radiators as required.

There is an ongoing debate about whether it is more effective to isolate the rooms in your home and heat them to different temperatures, or if the home should be heated up to the same temperature and controlled by a single thermostat. In general, you’ll pay less in heating bills if you use smart, thermostatic controls, but these need to be used correctly in order to optimise their function.

How to use smart thermostats to save money

First and foremost, you need to set up your system correctly. It will work best if your smart thermostat is connected to a system with thermostatic valves. You may be able to control the temperature in each room, creating zones in your house.

You can then set smart timers for each zone. You’ll want your central heating to trigger in the early evening in your living spaces like your lounge and dining room. Later in the evening, when you’re going to bed, you’ll want the heating to switch on in your bedroom.

You can also set your rooms to different temperatures. Your bedroom should typically be cooler than the rest of the house, and some people opt to only turn on their bedroom radiators when the temperature drops below a certain level.

You might want to set your bathroom to a higher temperature, but we warned that steam can interfere with thermostatic valves, so a manual valve is often recommended for this room.

You can also set smart timers based on your everyday activities. For example, you could set a rule that the heating switches on when you return home, so it doesn’t have to switch on if you are working late or have evening plans.

Another great way to save money with a smart thermostat is by using it to check if your heating is switched off when you are away from home. It’s easy to forget to switch off the heating, particularly when you are travelling, but this simple smart feature will ensure you never get caught out again.

Don’t forget to adjust thermostat schedules seasonally—like for summer off-peak use. Learn how with our energy‑efficient summer plumbing & hot water tips article.