If you’re amid the average American households who spends more than $2,000 annually on energy costs, installing a smart thermostat is an excellent approach to keep heating and cooling expenses low. Although manyhouses rely on programmable thermostats, chances are yours isn’t being used to the full advantage since it’s on “hold” every day.

When upgrading your thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the most popular options. That’s since it learns your temperature preferences and schedule, and then makes an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also keep an eye on it and raise it from just about anywhere with your smartphone.

On average, Nest says its thermostat saves about 10-12% on heating costs and about 15% on cooling costs. That’s about $131 to $145 saved annually, which helps it pay for itself quicker than two years. And many utility companies provide rebate programs that help you get a smart thermostat for free or close to it.

When you’re installing a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to make sure it’s compatible with your HVAC system. This is especially true if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you might experience troubles, like weird furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s essential to have a specialist like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning help you pick a new thermostat and handle your smart thermostat installation.

Here’s how to figure out if the Nest is compatible with your HVAC system.

Nest Runs with the Majority of Heating and Cooling Systems

The good news is that Nest made its thermostat to work with many different 24-volt systems, including old ones.

This covers heating and cooling systems that run on:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you purchase a Nest, you can use the Compatibility Checker to provide an easy transition. Once you’ve double-checked it’s a fit, your Nest will walk you through compatibility and wiring when you set it up.

The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the biggest number of home comfort equipment, like heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also works with highly energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll typically need a pro like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning to handle the complicated wiring and setup steps.

Does the Nest Require a C-Wire?

If you’ve read up on the Nest, you’ve potentially run into details about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire energizes your smart thermostat when it can’t get enough power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s likely still ok to get a Nest. The company says its thermostats were made to consume not much power. Most of the time, this means they can run normally without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and running into strange heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC specialist like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can add a C-wire for you.

Our Pros Make Smart Thermostat Installation Simple

Getting a new thermostat makes it simple to manage your utility and cooling costs while keeping your {house|residences|home cozy. If you want to add a Nest smart thermostat to your home, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can help you find the best model for your budget and then professionally install it. Reach us at 952-373-0377 to start right away!