If you’re living the life of an Airbnb host, you are quite familiar with how expenses tend to accumulate and therefore lower your return on investment. One of the major money-absorbing expenses is utilities. While you can’t control how much water your guests use, you can get more control over energy bills by investing in the right thermostat.
A thermostat can save you a lot of money, time, and hassle, so we’ve taken on the task of looking into which is the best thermostat for Airbnb. Our search led us to the Google Nest Learning Thermostat.
Read on to find out more about the efficiency of using a thermostat and how you can pick the best one.
How Can Upgrading Your Thermostat Improve Your Airbnb?
A thermostat is a convenient gadget for both guests and owners. Guests will have an easy way of controlling the temperature to set up an enjoyable ambiance. Since different people have different preferences regarding the room temperature, a thermostat will eliminate the complaints about the unit being too cold or warm since the guest will be able to adjust the conditions.
On the other hand, you can cut down your costs by programming the temperature to reduce unnecessary electricity and gas consumption. For example, you can lower the temperature as soon as guests leave the unit. Some thermostats even have a sensor that registers when no one is occupying the room and automatically changes the temperature settings.
A wi-fi thermostat that you can control remotely can even help you make a more cozy atmosphere for your guests. If the weather suddenly gets colder, you can increase the temperature in the rental so that the guests are welcomed by a warm home when they arrive. You can forget about driving for hours to turn up the heating or turn on the air conditioner as you can set it all up on your phone.
Where Should You Place a Thermostat?
A thermostat should be placed on an interior wall where the temperature is most consistent within the room. Avoid walls that are directly exposed to sunlight or close to doors and drafts.
You want the thermostat to be visible so your guests can spot it easily. Make sure to include it in the guidebook or inform the guests directly that they are free to adjust the room temperature.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Thermostat for Your Airbnb
You don’t need to be a tech wiz to pick the best thermostat. As a short-term rental owner, you should focus on these key points and you’ll have no trouble picking the right one:
Ease of Use – Both you and your guests should be able to use the thermostat with ease. That means that you want an intuitive thermostat with comprehensible features. The room temperature should be clearly shown on the screen and the temperature adjustment should be easy to navigate. With touch-screen thermostats, you get both ease of use and extra points for a modern look.
Programmable thermostats are also useful for Airbnb owners as you can set up the temperature in advance. Remote access via wi-fi will enable you to control the temperature even if you’re on a different continent.
Cost of Thermostat vs Utilities Savings – You should define your budget depending on your utility bills and how much you can save by using a thermostat. If you own a small unit, a more profitable option should be a cheaper thermostat. However, smart thermostats have nifty features such as the occupancy sensor that will automatically adjust the temperature when no one is home. Options such as those can help you save much more.
Ease of Installation – Most thermostats are easy to install and they usually come with easy-to-follow instructions. If you have any issues with figuring out the intricate mind of a smart thermostat, you can find how-to videos on the internet which will lead you through the process step by step.
Warranty – If you are ready to shell out the big bucks for a smart thermostat that will maximize your savings, you should look for one that has a warranty. In case you notice a glitch, you’ll have the ability to get your money back or exchange it for a new one.
The Best Thermostat for Airbnb and Vacation Rentals
We spent hours and hours researching and revising the most praised thermostats in the market, and we can now confidently say that we recommend the Google Nest Learning Thermostat as the best overall thermostat for Airbnb.
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
These are the features that convinced us that the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is the best and most efficient for short-term rentals:
Sleek Design – Google Nest is an absolute winner when it comes to design. It will complement any aesthetic, and the minimalistic look won’t interfere with your decor. The touch screen even illuminates when the sensor detects nearby movement.
Easy to Use – The temperature is adjusted by rotating the ring through the options. To select the one you want, you just press the ring. Every guest can figure that out.
Remote Controlled – You can change the temperature at any time by using the Nest app.
Occupancy Sensor – The Home/Away feature lowers the temperature when it detects an empty home.
Auto-Schedule Feature – Google Nest thermostat learns your patterns (it learns at what point of the day you prefer which temperature) and programs itself according to them, so you’ll have less to worry about.
Energy Efficient – This thermostat can lower your energy bill considerably as it constantly makes energy-efficient adjustments to lower consumption. It can reportedly save you around 10% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills.
Easy to Install – You should need more than 30 minutes to set up the Nest thermostat.
2-Year Warranty – If you buy this thermostat from Google or an authorized seller you get a 2-year warranty.
Other Airbnb Thermostat Alternatives
We have picked out a couple of contenders that also have glowing reviews so you can weigh the pros and cons and take your pick:
The ecobee Smart Thermostat is a techy, feature-enhanced thermostat that works very well when it comes to lowering the use of energy. It can reportedly save around 26% per year on heating and cooling costs. It has a Smart Sensor feature that allows you to place sensors around the rooms in your unit and control the temperature throughout the home.
In addition to temperature control, this thermostat also has an air quality monitor (for example, you’ll get a reminder when it’s time to change your furnace’s air filter), built-in smoke alarm detection, and a potential break-in alert. You can connect the thermostat with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Home Kit to use the voice control feature.
This newest model has the SmartSensor and voice control, but if you’re looking for something less flashy, you can head to the ecobee store and check out simpler versions without all the extras.
If you want a budget-friendly option, we suggest the Honeywell Home Wi-Fi 7-Day Programmable Thermostat. It has an intuitive screen and connects with all the major voice assistant devices (Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.).
You can control the thermostat remotely through an app that will give you complete access to all its features. The app lets you adjust the heating and cooling, check the humidity level, and it sends you alerts so you can stay on top of things. We also love the 7-day programmable feature that lets you set up the temperature seven days ahead based on your guest itinerary.
Final Thoughts
With gadgets such as a smart thermostat, a smart lock, and security cameras, you’ll get more control over your rental with less hassle. Once you find devices you can trust, you can minimize your effort and maximize your profit. With tens of thousands of happy customers confirming its value, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat is hands down our top pick. This is a top-of-the-line thermostat that can upgrade your rental and reduce your utility costs.
