If you’re amid the average American households who shell out more than $2,000 every year on heating and cooling bills, adding a smart thermostat is a great approach to keep energy expenses under control. Although mosthomes use programmable thermostats, yours probably isn’t being made the most of as it’s on “hold” all the time.

When upgrading your thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the best sellers. That’s due to the fact it picks up on your temperature preferences and routine, 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.

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

When you’re upgrading to 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 older. If it’s not, you could have problems, like weird furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like House of Heating Incorporated help you pick a new thermostat and handle your smart thermostat installation.

Here’s how to figure out if the Nest will work with your HVAC system.

Nest Works with Many Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This involves heating and cooling systems that use:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you buy a Nest, you can run the Compatibility Checker to ensure a smooth transition. Once you’ve confirmed it will work, your Nest will walk you through compatibility and wiring when you set it up.

The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the widest types of home comfort systems, 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 professional like House of Heating Incorporated to do the complicated wiring and setup process.

Does the Nest Have to Have a C-Wire?

If you’ve read up on the Nest, you’ve potentially found details about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire runs your smart thermostat when it can’t draw adequate power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s probably still ok to get a Nest. The company says its thermostats were designed to require small amounts of 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 erratic heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like House of Heating Incorporated can add a C-wire for you.

Our Professionals Make Smart Thermostat Installation Simple

Upgrading your thermostat makes it easier to stay on top of your energy and cooling costs while keeping your {house|residences|home comfy. If you want to add a Nest smart thermostat to your house, House of Heating Incorporated can help you choose the ideal model for your home and then professionally install it. Give us a call at 715-322-0009 to get started today!