If you’re amid the typical American households who shell out more than $2,000 every year on energy bills, installing a smart thermostat is a good way to keep utility costs low. Although many homes use programmable thermostats, yours probably isn’t being maximized because it’s on “hold” permanently.
When getting a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the top sellers. That’s since it picks up on your temperature preferences and schedule, and then creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also keep an eye on it and raise it from nearly anywhere with your smartphone.
For the typical home, Nest says its thermostat saves about 10-12% on heating expenses and about 15% on cooling expenses. That’s about $131 to $145 saved each year, which helps the thermostat pay for itself faster than two years. And most utility businesses offer rebate programs that help you purchase a smart thermostat for free or close to it.
When you’re getting a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to make sure it will work with your HVAC system. This is especially true if your equipment is older. If it’s not, you could have issues, like odd furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning help you pick a new thermostat and handle your smart thermostat installation.
Here’s how to find out if the Nest can run with your HVAC system.
Nest Runs with Many Heating and Cooling Systems
The good news is that Nest made its thermostat to operate with many different 24-volt systems, including older ones.
This covers heating and cooling systems powered by:
- Natural gas
- Oil
- Electricity
Before you get a Nest, you can use the Compatibility Checker to ensure a simple transition. Once you’ve checked it’s a fit, your Nest will guide you through compatibility and wiring during the setup process.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with the biggest range of home comfort systems, such as heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also works with very energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll typically need a professional like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning to complete the detailed wiring and setup steps.
Does the Nest Require a C-Wire?
If you’ve read up on the Nest, you’ve potentially come across information about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire energizes your smart thermostat when it can’t get ample power from the other wires.
If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s likely still ok to use a Nest. The company says its thermostats were designed to consume not much power. In most cases, this means they can run normally without this wire.
Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and running into erratic heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC pro like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can add a C-wire for you.
Our Professionals Make Smart Thermostat Installation Easy
Installing a new thermostat makes it simple to manage your heating and cooling expenses while keeping your home cozy. If you’re thinking about adding a Nest smart thermostat to your residence, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can help you choose the right model for your budget and then professionally install it. Give us a call at 952-373-0377 to begin today!