SmartRent, a US-based provider of connected technology for rental housing, has introduced an automated thermostat function to reduce the risk of weather-related damage to apartment buildings and residential communities.
Called Climate Protection Mode, the feature is built into the company’s Alloy SmartHome Hub+ and Alloy Fusion thermostats. It monitors conditions inside an apartment and responds when the temperature or humidity reaches preset extremes, including when the heating or cooling system is switched off.
The function addresses risks such as frozen pipes, water damage and mould, particularly in vacant apartments and units between tenancies.
Automatic response to extreme indoor conditions
Climate Protection Mode remains inactive under normal conditions and does not change a resident’s usual thermostat settings. It switches on when the temperature falls below 42°F (5.6°C), rises above 98°F (36.7°C), or humidity exceeds 80%.
Once activated, the system adjusts the indoor climate towards what SmartRent describes as a safe baseline. The company positions it as a secondary safeguard, not a replacement for everyday thermostat controls.
The thresholds are programmed into the hardware, so property staff or residents do not need to activate the function. This may prevent problems in vacant apartments or units undergoing maintenance, where the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system has been switched off.
SmartRent introduced the Alloy SmartHome Hub+ in 2024 as the first thermostat with an integrated smart hub, developed under its Alloy hardware brand. A smart hub connects and controls devices within an apartment. Hub+ can manage connected locks, lights and leak sensors, and send alerts and notify maintenance teams when a sensor detects a leak.
Deployment reported across 54 properties
SmartRent said 20 enterprise customers are using Climate Protection Mode across 54 properties.
An unnamed multifamily real estate investment trust (REIT), a company that owns, operates or finances income-producing property, recorded more than 1,200 activations across properties in several US states, according to SmartRent. The customer estimated that the system prevented $6.7 million in damage.
The release does not explain how the estimated savings were calculated or identify the property owner. An activation shows that a preset threshold was crossed but does not establish that damage would otherwise have occurred.
SmartRent estimated the average repair cost for a burst pipe at a multifamily property at about $15,000. It said operators sometimes report damage costing between $30,000 and $50,000, particularly in mid-rise and high-rise buildings, where water can spread across several floors. The company also cited average additional losses of $7,650 per incident from displaced residents and lost rent.
SmartRent reports nearly 891,000 deployed units
SmartRent reported 890,870 deployed units with active subscriptions at the end of 2025, up from 809,497 a year earlier. It defines a deployed unit as one with a hub device installed and an active subscription. According to its regulatory filing, a typical SmartRent-equipped rental unit combines a hub with a thermostat, a smart lock and leak sensors.
The 890,870 figure refers to SmartRent’s wider installed network, not the number of homes using Climate Protection Mode. The company has separately reported adoption of the new function across 54 properties.
Launch comes amid higher insurance costs
The launch comes as insurance costs rise for US apartment operators. National Apartment Association data show that average annual insurance costs rose from $502 per unit in 2021 to $777 in 2024, a 55% increase.
SmartRent said the automated controls could reduce the likelihood of weather-related claims. Any impact on premiums would depend on the insurer, the property and the terms of cover.
