Still Paying Too Much to Heat Your Home? Experts Recommend This $59 Smart Thermostat to Lower Bills

You could reduce your annual heating bills by up to 12 percent

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In the depths of winter, heightened energy bills are unavoidable. But, if there's any way to keep them as low as possible, it's using a smart thermostat, says our HVAC pro.

In fact, as he advises, investing in one now could actually reduce your annual heating bills by approximately eight to 12 percent this year.

Why Investing In a Smart Thermostat Is Absolutely Worth It

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

A smart thermostat is a smart home must-have that we always recommend, for cutting energy bills and maintaining the exact temperature to keep a thermostat in winter.

Josh Mitchell, HAVC expert and founder of AirConditionerLab, agrees. 'A smart thermostat helps cut down energy bills by learning your schedule and adjusting the heat when no one's home,' he says. 'Most people forget to lower the temperature when they leave, especially during busy moments.'

Therefore, in winter, they work well to keep a home warm all day, without driving up energy bills at the same time. 'On average, that means about eight to 12 percent off your annual heating bills,' he adds.

They're not only useful for winter, either, and will work equally as well to keep a home cool this summer, and eliminate hot and cold spots in your home all year round.

In particular, Josh recommends the meross Smart Thermostat, available at Amazon, as it supports 'geofencing'.

'This means it knows when everyone's away, and adjusts automatically,' he explains. 'App control makes it easy to track usage trends and runtime.'

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Using a smart thermostat year-round will keep your home warm in winter, and cool in summer.

(Image credit: Future / Future Publishing Ltd)

It's not just Josh who recommends this model – it also features a host of five-star reviews on Amazon.

One, from John Cannon, titled, 'Simple installation and use. Amazing product,' reads, 'The thermostat looks amazing, and the installation was super simple. After getting all the wires in, it connected to the internet super easily and was added to the Meross app and my Apple Home app.

'I can control the temperature from anywhere, set up schedules, and share control with my roommates. It was compatible with my system, and runs great.'

Another, by AKDTENGR, echoes John's, dubbing it 'a simple, reliable thermostat without the gimmicks,' while a third, from Eric Kern, simply calls it a 'nice smart thermostat.'

'Really happy with this thermostat so far,' they write. 'Install[ation] was easier than I expected, and the app walks you through everything step by step. Took me maybe 25-30 mins, and I’m definitely not an HVAC expert.

'I like that it works with Alexa and Google – super convenient to just ask it to adjust the temperature. Scheduling is easy to set up, and I’ve already noticed we’re not running the heat as much during the day, which should help on energy bills.

'The app is simple, reliable, and I like getting alerts for filter reminders. Also nice being able to adjust the temperature when I’m not home (have definitely done this more than once).

'Overall solid smart thermostat for the price. Does what it’s supposed to do without being complicated. Would buy again.'

So, if you've been on the fence about setting up a smart home in 2026 and investing in this smart home trend, there's no time like the present.

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Meet the Expert

Profile photo of Josh Mitchell in sunny backyard with palm trees in the unfocused background
Josh Mitchell

As an HVAC technician and the founder of AirConditionerLab, Josh has been publishing his industry expertise on his site for over a decade. He primarily covers heating, cooling, air purifiers, and dehumidifiers.

Smart thermostats are also one of the smart home features designers love.

Ottilie Blackhall
Ottilie Blackhall
Sleep Editor

Ottilie joined Homes & Gardens in 2024 as the News Writer on Solved, after finishing a Master's in Magazine Journalism at City, University of London. Now, as the Sleep Editor, she spends her days hunting deals and producing content on all things sleep – from mattresses and sheets to protectors and pillows, all of which she tests in her own home. She also has particular expertise in home fragrance, covering everything from candles to reed diffusers.

Previously, she has written for Livingetc and Motorsport Magazine, and also has a Master's degree in English Literature and History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, where she developed a love for inspiring interiors and architecture.