SMART THERMOSTAT

Adjust it. The idea that holding a constant temperature is more efficient is one of the most persistent myths in home comfort, and it is not how heat transfer works.

Why setbacks save: a building loses heat in proportion to the difference between inside and outside temperature. When you let the house drift closer to outdoor temperature while you are away or asleep, it loses less heat, and the system does less total work. The energy used to recover is less than the energy saved during the setback period.

Where the myth comes from: the recovery cycle feels dramatic. The system runs hard for a while to bring the house back, and people assume that burst costs more than the savings. It does not, over the full period.

The legitimate exceptions:

• Heat pumps in cold weather, where deep setbacks trigger expensive auxiliary electric heat during recovery. Use modest setbacks instead
• Humidity control in hot, humid climates, where very deep setbacks can let indoor humidity climb

Usually placement rather than a faulty thermostat. A thermostat measures the air at exactly one point on one wall, and several conditions make that point unrepresentative of the room.

Common causes:

• Direct sunlight hitting the thermostat during part of the day, which reads high and shuts off cooling too early or heating too late
• Proximity to a supply vent, where conditioned air blows directly on the sensor
• An exterior wall, which runs colder in winter and warmer in summer than the room
• Drafts from a nearby door, window, or an uninsulated wall cavity behind the thermostat
• Heat from nearby electronics, lamps, or a kitchen
• Placement in a hallway, which is often the least representative space in the house

Solutions: relocating the thermostat to an interior wall in a frequently used room, adding remote sensors where the thermostat supports them, or sealing the wall cavity behind it. Your technician can diagnose which applies and relocate it if that is the right answer.

Most residential systems, yes. Compatibility depends on your equipment type and wiring rather than the age of the house.

Generally straightforward: conventional gas furnace with central air, electric furnace or air handler with AC, and standard heat pump systems with auxiliary heat.

Requires verification:

• Multi stage or modulating equipment, which needs a thermostat that supports the additional stages to deliver the comfort you paid for
• Communicating systems, where the equipment and thermostat use a proprietary protocol and are not interchangeable with generic thermostats
• Zoned systems with dampers and a zone control panel
• Boilers, radiant heat, and line voltage baseboard, which have different requirements entirely
• Dual fuel systems, which need proper crossover control between heat pump and furnace

The mismatch that costs comfort: installing a single stage thermostat on two stage equipment. The system runs on high stage only and you lose the quieter, steadier operation you paid for. We verify the match rather than assuming it.

A C wire, short for common wire, is the conductor that supplies continuous low voltage power to a thermostat. Older thermostats did not need one because they were mechanical or battery powered. Smart thermostats, with displays, wireless radios, and sensors, generally do.

How to check: pull your existing thermostat off its base and look at the terminal block. Common labels are R, W, Y, G, and C. If a wire is landed on the C terminal, you have one. If there is a spare unused wire in the bundle, it can often be repurposed.

If you do not have one, there are three normal solutions:

• Repurpose an existing unused conductor in the thermostat cable, which is the cleanest fix
• Install an adapter at the equipment that allows the existing wires to carry power
• Run new thermostat wire from the equipment, which is the most reliable long term answer

We verify your wiring during the estimate rather than on install day, and any needed work is included in the quote up front.

Smart thermostat app control lets you adjust your system remotely, which is genuinely useful in a handful of everyday situations: changing plans on the way home, checking that the system is running while you travel, and adjusting for an unexpected schedule change without waiting until you walk in the door.

What remote control is most valuable for:

• Travel. Setting deep setbacks while away and restoring comfort before you return
• Winter freeze protection. Confirming the heat is actually running during a cold snap while you are gone
• Vacation homes and rentals, where nobody is on site to notice a problem
• Irregular schedules, where a fixed program does not match your week

Setup requirement: app control requires a stable home internet connection and, on most thermostats, a common wire, usually called a C wire, to provide continuous power. Older homes sometimes lack one.

Your installer confirms your wiring during the estimate and includes any needed adapter or wire run in the quote, so it is handled before install day rather than discovered on it.

Scheduling is the single highest return thing you can do with a thermostat, because it stops the system from conditioning your home to full comfort when nobody is there or awake to notice.

A schedule that works for most households:

• Wake: comfortable setpoint, starting shortly before you get up
• Away: setback of several degrees during work or school hours
• Evening: back to comfortable when the house is occupied
• Sleep: setback again overnight, which most people find improves sleep quality as well

How large the savings are: the Department of Energy has long estimated that consistent setbacks of several degrees for roughly eight hours a day produce meaningful annual heating and cooling savings. The exact figure depends on your climate, your system, and how deep the setback is.

The mistake to avoid: extreme setbacks that force the system to run at full capacity to recover. Moderate and consistent beats deep and occasional.

Included, on every Peak Series package. Essentials, Builders, Economy, Comfort, Comfort Plus, and Deluxe all ship with the Aura thermostat as part of the installation rather than as an upsell.

What else is included on every installation:

• Manual J load calculation performed before equipment is ordered
• Full duct cleaning
• Removal and disposal of the old equipment
• Permits and inspection where required
• Manufacturer warranty registration
• Post install walkthrough of the system and thermostat

If you want a different thermostat: Peak also offers upgrades to third party smart thermostats as add ons, including Google Nest and ecobee models, for homeowners who want to stay inside a specific smart home ecosystem. Those are optional and priced separately, and your comfort advisor will show you the difference so you can decide based on what you actually want rather than a default.

There is no version of a Peak install that leaves you without a working smart thermostat.

Aura is the smart thermostat Peak includes with every Peak Series system installation, at no additional charge and on every package tier from Essentials through Deluxe. It is the control interface for your heating and cooling system and the piece you interact with daily.

What it does: maintains your setpoint, runs scheduled temperature changes so the system is not conditioning an empty house, controls both heating and cooling modes, manages fan operation, and reports system status.

Why it is included rather than optional: the thermostat is where a well installed system either delivers or wastes its efficiency. A new high efficiency furnace paired with an old mechanical thermostat that has no schedule gives up a meaningful share of what you paid for. Including a smart thermostat on every install means every Peak system leaves with the control side handled.

Your installer configures Aura, sets up an initial schedule with you, and walks through operation during the post install walkthrough rather than leaving you with a manual.

A smart thermostat is, by definition, one that allows a user to remotely control their home’s heating and cooling system through various devices such as smartphones, tablets, or computers. The PeakSeries Aura Smart Thermostat does much more than this—it learns your schedule and adjusts the temperature so you stay comfortable while it optimizes energy efficiency at the same time.

In addition to temperature control, the Peak Series Aura Smart Thermostat offers features like CO2 monitoring, energy usage tracking, smart scheduling, and customizable backlighting to enhance your home’s comfort and energy efficiency.

The PeakSeries Aura Smart Thermostat integrates with your home’s HVAC system to let you schedule set points, monitor energy usage, and set temperatures from anywhere. It learns your preferences from time to time to auto configure settings that help save energy without sacrificing comfort.

Installing a smart thermostat without a C wire can be a bit more complex, but it’s possible. The PeakSeries Aura Smart Thermostat comes with detailed instructions for installation without a C wire, or you can opt for professional installation to ensure everything is set up properly.

The PeakSeries Aura Smart Thermostat is designed to be compatible with a wide range of HVAC systems, including Peak Series air conditioners and furnaces. If you’re unsure about compatibility, our team can assist you in determining if the Aura Smart Thermostat is the right fit for your home.

Upgrading to the Peak Series Aura Smart Thermostat is easy. You can purchase it directly from Peak Heating and Cooling, schedule an install for your smart thermostat or call (616) 207-3434 for same-day installation. Our Peak Series Aura Smart Thermostat comes FREE with a Peak Club Maintenance Plan.

The PeakSeries Aura Smart Thermostat is designed to work with a variety of HVAC systems, including geothermal heat pumps. For specific compatibility questions, we recommend contacting our customer service team at (616) 207-3434.

Yes, a smart thermostat like the PeakSeries Aura can save you money by optimizing your home’s heating and cooling schedule, reducing energy usage when you’re not home, and providing insights into your energy consumption.

Yes, many homeowners can install the PeakSeries Aura Smart Thermostat themselves by following the included step-by-step guide. However, if you prefer professional installation, Peak Heating and Cooling offers the best smart thermostat installation services to ensure your system is set up correctly. Call (616) 207-3434 for same-day service.