If you’re amid the usual American households who shell out more than $2,000 every year on utility costs, installing a smart thermostat is a great method to keep heating and cooling costs under control. Although manyhouses have programmable thermostats, yours likely isn’t being used to the full advantage because it’s on “hold” all the time.

When upgrading your thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the best sellers. That’s since it adjusts to your temperature preferences and activities, and then develops an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also check and lower it from nearly anywhere with your smartphone.

For the typical home, Nest says its thermostat saves about 10-12% on heating costs and about 15% on cooling bills. That’s about $131 to $145 saved annually, which helps it pay for itself in under two years. And many utility businesses offer rebate programs that help you install a smart thermostat for free or close to it.

When you’re upgrading to a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to ensure it’s compatible with your HVAC system. This is especially important if your equipment is aging. If it’s not, you may run into problems, like erratic furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s essential to have a pro like West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. help you choose a new thermostat and take care of your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest is Compatible with Many Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This covers heating and cooling systems that use:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you get a Nest, you can put your details into the Compatibility Checker to ensure a simple transition. Once you’ve double-checked it’s a match, your Nest will lead you through compatibility and wiring during the setup process.

The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the largest types of home comfort systems, including heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also works with extremely energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll often need a pro like West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. to do the complicated wiring and setup process.

Does the Nest Need a C-Wire?

If you’ve done research on the Nest, you’ve potentially found information about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire powers your smart thermostat when it can’t pull adequate power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s likely still all right to use a Nest. The company says its thermostats were designed to use not much power. Most of the time, this means they can operate normally without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and experiencing erratic heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC pro like West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. can install a C-wire for you.

Our Experts Make Smart Thermostat Installation Easy

Upgrading your thermostat makes it simple to stay on top of your utility and cooling bills while keeping your {house|residences|home cozy. If you’re thinking about adding a Nest smart thermostat to your house, West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. can help you find the right model for your budget and then expertly install it. Call us at 614-879-9091 to start right away!