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The following blog post is dedicated to an interview with Sergey Staroseletski, a professional integrator currently working at Stardome.

Read on to learn about the challenges of integrating HVAC with home automation systems and why it's so important.

Sergey Staroseletski, of Stardom, integrator

  • Hi Sergey! Great to have you with us today. First, why would you recommend integrating HVAC into a home automation system?
Sergey: In general, I would recommend integrating all the appliances that the homeowner would like to control, and HVAC is one of them. 

Many homeowners want to integrate HVAC systems, as it is very comfortable to control them remotely. A properly integrated HVAC system allows the homeowner to turn the air conditioning on before they get home, so that the house will be cooler and more pleasant when they arrive.

  • Does integration offer other benefits for homeowners?
Sergey: Integrating HVAC into home automation allows the homeowner to set a timer for its operation, determining how long it will be working, and the desired setpoint.

It’s more energy efficient, but that’s not the only benefit. Here’s a perfect example: We have a client who said that 22°C (71.6°F) is too cold for him, but 23°C (73.4°F) is too hot.

We decided to program the HVAC system's timer through the home automation platform to set the temperature to 22°C/71.6°F for two hours, then change to 23°C/73.4°F, and repeat. This solved the problem perfectly and automatically. 

  • Are there more benefits for HVAC integration that you can tell us about? 
Sergey: Once the HVAC system is integrated, it can be a part of a single-click scenario – a set of actions that are activated in a single app click. 

For example, it can be part of a “leaving the house” scenario. When a homeowner wants to go out, he or she can click on a single button, and this will activate a set of actions: It’ll shut the shutters, turn off the lights and HVAC, and activate the alarm. The homeowner can even program the system to leave a single indoor unit working for ventilation purposes. 

One of the most popular scenarios is that of the home movie theater. Let’s say the homeowner wants to watch a movie. He or she can program a “watching a movie” setup, in which the lights will turn on for 10 minutes and then dim; the audio-video and the projector systems will turn on; the TV will turn on; and the HVAC will turn on to a setpoint of, let’s say, 25°C (77°F).

  • What HVAC integration challenges have you encountered?
Sergey: I’ve been using CoolAutomation’s solutions for years now. But I have to tell you that before that, the whole process of HVAC integration wasn’t easy. As each HVAC manufacturer has its own unique protocol, we had to understand each and every one of those protocols and write a separate module for every HVAC brand. Even if just one component changed HVAC-wise, we had to readjust the module accordingly. 

We also used different adapters that sometimes worked well – and sometimes didn’t.

These issues made HVAC integration cumbersome, inefficient, and very time-consuming.

You need to remember that clients don’t care if you have to go through this long process: they want a working product, quickly and at a reasonable price.

  • How did you solve this challenge?
Sergey: It was solved once CoolAutomation came along.  

Once we started using CoolAutomation’s solutions, everything became easier, simpler, and faster. 

These days, we’re not concerned with which HVAC brand or model is installed on-site. All we need to do is connect the HVAC system to CoolAutomation’s devices and the home automation controller, and the HVAC system is integrated in no time.

  • What would you recommend for those seeking to automate their home?
Sergey: I would suggest they take time to fully understand the potential capabilities of a smart home, and consider the benefits of integrating each appliance or system into it: electricity, lightning, security, doors, shutters, audio-video, HVAC, etc. This includes considering what they would like to include as part of different operational scenarios. 

Oh, and of course, pick a reliable and experienced integrator to do the work.

Learn more about CoolAutomation's integration solutions here.

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