Upgrading to a Smart Thermostat

This post is sponsored by Honeywell.

I received a Lyric thermostat and compensation in exchange for coverage. All opinions and thoughts about this product are my own.

We’re continuing to modernize our Victorian’s heating system. We’ve already replaced the boiler with a more energy-efficient model, and we had thermostatic radiator valves installed on our radiators throughout the second and third floors. Now our latest change has been upgrading to a Lyric thermostat.

The house’s existing 1980s model was missing its cover, and I was glad to replace it with something more attractive. This may be a bit dorky, but I actually have a favorite thermostat, design-wise! My grandparents had The Round in their home, and it has always been my standard for what a thermostat should look like. The Lyric draws on the design of The Round, marrying the look with smart new features.

The Lyric app walks you through the installation, and it’s pretty straightforward. I was all set with the power off, and with my phone and a screwdriver handy. There was some wall damage hidden beneath the old thermostat, so I used the Lyric’s optional backplate to cover it. (When I eventually wallpaper or paint the dining room, I’ll repair the plaster and remove the plate.) I mounted the new thermostat, reattached the wires, and connected to it wirelessly, but then I had to name it. Ack, the pressure! So I named it “Hottie” because, you know… it keeps us warm. Clearly I am not good at naming devices on the fly. (Also, I didn’t realize everyone would see what I named it!)

Besides an upgrade in appearance, our new thermostat will also help us save money. Weather and humidity are taken into account with its Fine Tune feature, insuring that 70 degrees actually feels like 70 degrees. You can also further adjust the temperature at any time manually or via the app. We’re keeping the house fairly warm during the day because of the baby, but I did program the thermostat to cool the house down by five degrees when everyone is asleep. The kids get up around 6am so I set that as our family’s awake time for the thermostat, but sometimes I’m up with Calvin for couple of hours before everyone else. I love that I can adjust the temperature through the Lyric app on my phone, without leaving my bed.

The Lyric also has a pretty interesting geofencing feature; it can detect when you’re away based on your phone’s location and adjust your home’s temperature to save energy. When you’re back within range (you choose the distance), your heating/cooling system will kick on and the house will be back at your preferred temperature for your arrival. It’s great for us because we don’t have a set schedule from day to day, and sometimes I do some solo traveling for the blog. Geofencing can be configured with multiple users, so it only kicks in when everyone is away. Smart!

We’ve made so many changes to the functional elements of our house that improve its comfort and efficiency, but that go unseen. Upgrading to The Lyric addresses those issues, and looks good too.