Batteries have an role in the workings of a modern thermostats. For thermostats that do not have a C-Wire, they provide a constant source of power. They can also provide backup power in case of an outage, so you don't lost your settings, preferences and schedules.
Will a thermostat work without batteries?
The good news is, some thermostats can work without batteries. These thermostats usually do have slots for batteries, but they don’t always need them there. Such thermostats still need a source of power, so they rely on line voltage or a C-wire. The Nest thermostat can even power cycle your HVAC system to maintain a charge on it's inbuilt battery. While that sounds convenient, it’s actually not the best solution for many devices.
The reason is that if your house experiences a power outage, your thermostat will turn off as well. You can lose all of your pre-set schedules and programs due to a power outage. In the opposite case, if the thermostat also had a set of batteries installed, it would continue working by just switching to the batteries as a power source.
Sure, batteries need to be replaced, but that’s still easier to do than rewriting all of your routines due to a power outage.
Thermostats that can work without batteries
This is a programmable thermostat with a large display. The display can be customized to fit your interior design better.
- 7-day programmable thermostat.
- Easy-to-use touchscreen.
- You can create programs to fit your schedule and enjoy perfect temperatures around the clock.
User Interface
The display interface is quite easy to use. The screen shows you the weather outside, the forecast, and indoor and outdoor humidity.
Programming
You can program the thermostat to fit your needs. It can be warm when you wake up, you can turn the heating off when you leave to save money on energy and turn it back on right before you come back.
Mobile App
The Honeywell app is very easy to use to keep track of the temperature in your house. You can also use the Total Connect app to control your thermostat remotely. The thermostat connects directly to Wi-Fi so you can control it from anywhere.
The smart thermostat by Wyze comes in a sleek and modern black design that will fit in well with most decors. It is shaped like a vertical oval, different from most thermostats on the market today.
- Compatible with popular voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Comes in a sleek, black design that will fit into any decor.
- You can use a phone app to control the thermostat remotely.
Phone App
You can use the app to change the temperature remotely, like before your arrival, and prevent large temperature swings. The app can be used for the entire functionality of the thermostat. So you can set daily schedules, weekly programming, or use tracking to understand your energy usage.
Voice Assistant Compatibility
The smart voice assistant integrations allow you to speak to your thermostat using voice commands. Ask Alexa or Google Assistant to crank up the heat when you can’t get out of bed because it’s too cold.
The thermostat by ecobee comes in a classic design, which makes it suitable for any room in your house. It is so sleek that you won’t even notice it!
- Sleek, black design that will fit in with most home decors
- ecobee claims to save its customers up to 23% on HVAC costs annually.
- Use a phone app to control the thermostat remotely. Download it on your Android or Apple device.
Smart Energy Consumption
The thermostat presents itself as a smart investment, since it can save you up to 23% of your energy consumption. It does so by implementing smart technological solutions, such as automatically pausing the heating or cooling process when a door or window is left open.
Smart Home Compatibility
The device is compatible with most smart home assistants/hubs such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT. You can easily make the thermostat a part of your smart home system.
The thermostat by Bosch allows you to connect to your HVAC system remotely from anywhere in the world through an app.
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Attractive touch screen and a nice design.
Smart Alerts
The thermostat can communicate with you when you’re not home and send you alerts when something needs your attention. The thermostat will notify you when it’s time to change the air filter.
On-screen controls
The thermostat has 5 illuminated buttons so that you change the temperature using the display and buttons even at night. You can program the device to suit your heating and cooling needs every day. While you’re at it, you can also save some money on your energy bills.
The 5th Generation Vine Wi-Fi thermostat allows you to use your phone, laptop, or voice to control the temperature in your home. You can also change it remotely using the Vine smartphone app or use voice commands to crank the heat up without getting out of bed.
- 7-day programmable thermostat.
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
- Offers a stable connection to the internet at all times.
Installation
The installation process usually does not take longer than half an hour. The user interface is also easy to use.
Smart Home Compatibility
In addition to the Vine app, the thermostat can be controlled by voice commands through Alexa or Google Assistant. Vine also claims that its energy-saving mode can save up to 20% of your energy costs.
However, these numbers should always be taken with a pinch of salt. Still, it's safe to say that a programmable thermostat like this one will save energy and cut down on bills.
Emerson’s Wi-Fi thermostat is marketed as a device that will save money on energy costs using pre-programmed energy modes and multiple sensors.
- Features a color touch screen.
- Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings.
- Geofencing can help save energy.
In addition, geofencing allows the thermostat to detect when you are not home and cut back on energy use.
Installation
Use the step-by-step instruction manual in the app to install the thermostat in under 30 minutes. The standard size of the device makes it even easier to install. Just put it where your old thermostat used to be.
Energy management tools
You can use Emerson’s reporting and analytics tools to monitor your energy consumption over time. You can see how much money you’ve saved and how much more you can save by optimizing your heating habits.
Compatibility
Thermostat controls can be remotely accessed through a phone app. You can download the Sensi app on your Apple or Android device. In addition, the device is compatible with Alexa.