What is a smart thermostat?

1. What is a smart thermostat?

2. What is the difference between a smart meter and a smart thermostat?

3. What can a smart thermostat do?

4. Does a smart thermostat save money?

5. Do smart thermostats save energy?

6. How does a wireless thermostat work?

7. Smart thermostat FAQs

A smart thermostat is not the same as a smart meter, although the two are sometimes confused. The difference is:

• A smart thermostat controls heating. It helps you manage how your central heating is set and adjusted.

• A smart meter measures the energy that you use. It records how much gas or electricity your home uses and sends readings to your energy supplier.

If your main goal is to monitor energy usage, getting a smart meter may be useful. If you want a more connected way to control your heating, a smart thermostat might also be a helpful tool for your home. The sections below explain what a smart thermostat can do, how they work, and whether it could support better energy efficiency in your home.

The features available will depend on the model you choose, as different smart thermostats offer different levels of control, automation, and compatibility. Before buying one, you should check whether the thermostat works with your heating system and includes the features you are most likely to use.

So, what does a smart thermostat do? Depending on the model, a smart thermostat may allow you to:

• Control your heating from an app: adjust your heating from a smartphone or tablet, even when you are away from home.

• Use voice control: manage your heating through a compatible smart speaker or voice assistant.

• Control hot water settings: adjust hot water schedules or temperature.

• Use location-based heating: allow the thermostat to adjust your heating based on whether you are at home, away, or close to returning.

• Receive reminders or alerts: get a notification if your heating is still on after you leave the house.

• Detect possible open windows: some models can notice sudden temperature drops and alert you or adjust the heating.

• Learn your routine: certain smart thermostats can learn your habits and suggest or apply heating schedules based on your preferences.

• Track heating use: view information about when and how your heating is used, which may help you spot patterns and make more efficient choices.

Keeping track of your heating use in this way can be useful, but it is different from the information provided by a smart meter. A smart thermostat focuses on how your heating is controlled, while a smart meter shows how much gas and electricity your home is using. If your goal is to understand your wider energy usage, you may also want to read our guide to smart meters and saving money.

Unlike a standard thermostat, a smart thermostat can offer more flexible heating control and may respond to changes in your home, schedule, or preferences. However, not every smart thermostat includes every feature, so it’s important to compare models carefully.

When deciding which option is right for you, think about what the purpose of a smart thermostat is in your home. For example, you may want easier remote control, better scheduling, more insight into heating use, or access to features that support energy efficiency.

A smart thermostat could save you money, but savings aren't guaranteed. The answer to "Does a smart thermostat save money?" depends on your home, heating habits, existing controls, energy prices, and how you use the thermostat’s features. As a general rule, any cost benefit comes from reducing wasted heating rather than from the thermostat itself, so results will vary from home to home.

Good to know: advice from installers and manufacturers suggests that any savings will depend on things like your heating setup, how the thermostat is installed, and how you use it day-to-day. That means two homes with similar systems could still see different results.

In practical terms, it may help reduce costs if it helps you:

• Avoid heating an empty home by making it easier to turn the heating down or off when nobody is in.

• Adjust heating remotely if your plans change and you will be home later than expected.

• Use schedules more effectively by setting heating around your actual routine.

• Reduce unnecessary heating by making temperature settings easier to manage.

• Spot patterns in heating use that could help you make more cost-conscious choices.

However, the savings may feel smaller if you already manage your heating effectively. For example, if you already use a standard thermostat, boiler timer, or programmer controls to turn heating on and off at the right times, you may already be reducing unnecessary energy use.

A smart thermostat is unlikely to save money simply by being installed. The biggest difference usually comes from how well it is set up, whether its features suit your routine, and whether you use those features consistently.

Smart thermostats can help reduce wasted heating, particularly if your current heating schedule does not match your routine or if your heating is often left on when it is not needed.

A smart thermostat may support better energy efficiency by helping you:

• Match heating to your routine rather than relying on the same schedule every day.

• Lower the temperature when less heat is needed, such as overnight or when you are away.

• Avoid heating at unnecessary times, especially if you're not home.

• Review heating-use insights, where available, to understand when your heating is running.

• Make quicker adjustments through app controls, schedules, or compatible smart home features.

However, smart thermostat energy efficiency depends on how the device is used. The energy-saving benefit may be limited if:

• Your heating is already well controlled.

• Your home is poorly insulated and loses heat quickly.

• The thermostat is not set up correctly.

• You do not use the scheduling, remote-control, or energy insight features.

• Your heating habits stay the same after installation.

Monitoring how and when you use energy can make it easier to spot patterns and adjust your habits over time. Some smart thermostats can help with heating-use insights, but a smart meter can give you a wider view of your household energy use and how much it costs.

In simple terms, it communicates with your heating system without needing a direct wired connection between the thermostat control and the boiler. Instead, it usually sends a signal to a receiver connected to the boiler, which then tells the boiler when to turn the heating on or off.

This is slightly different from a smart thermostat. Many smart thermostats are wireless and Wi-Fi-enabled, but a wireless thermostat is not always smart. Some wireless thermostats simply let you control your heating without installing a wired wall thermostat, while smart thermostats usually add app control, internet connectivity, automation, or other connected features.

In a typical setup:

1. The thermostat measures the temperature in the room where it is placed.

2. The thermostat sends a wireless signal to a receiver when heating is needed.

3. The receiver communicates with the boiler, usually through a wired connection.

4. The boiler responds by turning the heating on or off.

For a smart thermostat, there may also be an internet connection involved. For example, instructions from a smartphone app may be sent over Wi-Fi to the thermostat or hub, before being passed on to the boiler. Both the smart thermostat and the device controlling it will usually need internet access for remote app control to work.

A lot of boilers aren’t Wi-Fi-enabled, so many smart or wireless thermostat systems still include a wired element. This is often a receiver or hub that must be connected to the boiler. In practice, that means installation is not always as simple as pairing an app or mounting a thermostat on the wall. It’s worth checking the boiler and thermostat guidance first, and if wiring is involved, asking a trained professional to install it.

Before buying a smart thermostat, check that it’s compatible with your boiler and heating system. You can usually find this information in the product description or on the thermostat manufacturer’s website.