Smart thermostats are definitely convenient, but honestly, they're not always the best fit for everyone. I've had a few experiences where tenants messed around with the settings too much, and it ended up causing more issues than it solved. Plus, if you're not comfortable with wiring or tech troubleshooting, it can turn into a bit of a headache.
Personally, I stick with basic programmable thermostats in most of my properties. They're straightforward, reliable, and easy enough to replace every 8-10 years without breaking the bank. If your thermostat is already acting weird and it's around that age, I'd just swap it out now rather than wait for it to fail completely—especially if you're dealing with tenants or family members who might not handle sudden heating or cooling issues well.
Just my two cents from dealing with similar situations over the years...
"Personally, I stick with basic programmable thermostats in most of my properties."
I get where you're coming from—smart thermostats can be finicky. Had a place once where the tenants kept overriding settings and then calling me confused about why the heat was off at midnight... fun times. Honestly though, if your thermostat's already acting up and it's nearing that 10-year mark, swapping it out now could save you some hassle later. Better safe than sorry, right?
I've had mixed luck with those smart thermostats too. Last year ours started randomly resetting itself—middle of winter, of course. Woke up freezing twice before deciding enough was enough. Switched back to a basic programmable one and haven't had an issue since. Honestly, if yours is acting weird and getting older anyway, I'd just bite the bullet and replace it now. Better than dealing with a surprise breakdown when temps drop...
"Honestly, if yours is acting weird and getting older anyway, I'd just bite the bullet and replace it now."
Yeah, gotta agree here. Smart thermostats are great when they work, but once they start glitching, it's usually downhill from there. Better to swap it out now than risk waking up to a freezing house mid-January...
