Guide to Using Your Thermostat With Alexa and Other Voice Assistants

Thanks to technology, we can automatically unlock doors, dim the lights from our smartphone, and adjust our home’s temperature by saying, “Hey, Alexa …”

Today, many people speak to their voice assistants at least once per day, making voice-enabled device interaction a big part of our everyday lives.

One of the biggest benefits of voice assistants is the ability to control your home’s temperature with voice commands. But to make this happen, your thermostat must be compatible with Alexa or your other voice assistant.

In this guide, learn everything you need to know about controlling your home’s temperature using just your voice.

How do smart thermostats work?

Long gone are the days when you had to manually choose the desired temperature of your home. Today, smart thermostats are taking over our lives.

Smart thermostats use your internet connection to give you remote control of your home’s temperature from your smartphone. This means you can change your home’s temperature from far away, create a schedule, and set up automations.

The great thing about smart thermostats is that they can connect with voice assistants — like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Microsoft Cortana, and Apple’s Siri — to allow you to perform functions using voice control.

Moreover, most smart thermostats can track your energy usage, helping you save energy and money on cooling and heating bills. For instance, you can set your thermostat to turn off while you’re at work.

About the Vivint Smart Thermostat

If you’re looking for a smart thermostat, Vivint has the answer. The Vivint Smart Thermostat is designed to keep your home comfortable while helping you save energy.

Benefits

• Control the temperature from a distance. The Vivint Smart Thermostat connects to your network to allow you to adjust your home’s temperature remotely, whether you’re near or far away.
• Connect with smoke detectors. To add an extra layer of safety to your home, you can connect the Vivint Smart Thermostat with smoke detectors like the Vivint Smoke and CO Detector and other smart sensors. In the event of a fire, your HVAC system will automatically turn off to minimize the spread of flames.
• Use your voice to control your device. The Vivint Smart Thermostat connects with voice assistants to allow you to control your home’s temperature hands-free using just voice commands.
• Combine products for an automated home experience. If you want to enjoy more benefits, you can integrate your Vivint thermostat with other Bluetooth or Wi-Fi-enabled devices and integrations (e.g., Apple HomeKit, Google Nest, IFTTT, SmartThings)

Features

• Weight: 10.1 oz.
• Compatibility: Works with common heating and cooling systems, including conventional forced air, radiant, and heat pump systems
• Integrations: Google Home, Amazon Echo, and others
• Size: 4.5” H x 4.5” W x 0.9” D
• Battery: Battery-powered (4AA) or 24VAC wired power from HVAC system
• Sensors: Temperature, humidity, proximity, ambient light
• Connectivity: Z-Wave

How to pair a smart thermostat with a voice assistant

Pairing your smart Wi-Fi thermostat with a voice assistant is quick and easy. Here’s how to make it happen.

Pairing a smart thermostat with Alexa

If you want to get the most out of your smart thermostat, you may want to connect it with Alexa.

Not only can you control your device from your mobile app, but you can also set up automations that make your life easier and more convenient. For example, you could say “Alexa, good morning” for the heating to start as soon as you wake up.

Simply download the Amazon Alexa app on your iPhone or Android device, create or log into your account, and pair the smart home devices.

Pairing a smart thermostat with Google Assistant

Pairing your smart thermostat with Google Assistant isn’t much different.

Log into your Google Home app to connect your thermostat with Google Assistant. The app is a central place for managing compatible home devices, such as your smart speakers, TVs, and air conditioner, and is available for both iOS and Android users.

From there, follow the steps and your device will be up and running in no time.

What commands can you say to control a smart thermostat?

When you connect your smart thermostat to voice assistants, you can do just about anything with your voice. Here are a few examples:

• “Set the temperature to 70.”
• “Turn the heat up 2 degrees.”
• “Turn on the thermostat.”
• “What’s the weather like today?”
• “Make the house warmer.”
• “Turn off the air conditioner.”

Tips to save on energy costs with smart thermostats

Apart from added safety and convenience, smart thermostats can help you save on energy costs. Here are a few ways to reduce your heating and cooling bills:

• Create a schedule. The great thing about smart thermostats is that you can program everything from your smartphone (or a touch-screen control panel like the Vivint Smart Hub). You might create a daily schedule based on your routine, so your programmable thermostat works only when it’s really needed.
• Track your energy usage. Sometimes, we don’t realize how much energy we’re consuming until we see a detailed report. A smart thermostat will track your energy usage through time — meaning you can see your consumption behavior and potentially change tactics.
• Let artificial intelligence match your home’s needs. Over time, smart thermostats “learn” what temperature you prefer and adjust accordingly. Moreover, advanced thermostats will know when you’re home or away and give you suggestions for optimizing your home automation ecosystem.
• Control each room’s temperature. If you’re spending your evening in the living room, there’s no point in heating the entire home. Install room sensors to control each room’s temperature and save on energy costs.
• Use your voice to turn on/off your thermostat while you’re busy. You may ask Alexa questions, play music, or even turn your thermostat on/off when your hands are full. This can come in handy when you’re busy doing chores around the house and your phone isn’t around.

Discover how the Vivint Smart Thermostat works

If you’re searching for a smart thermostat that suits your needs, take a look at the Vivint Smart Thermostat. Featuring advanced capabilities and seamless functionality, this smart thermostat from Vivint will make your life easier, safer, and more convenient.

Book a free consultation with our Smart Home Pros by calling 855.822.1220 today.