If you’re amid the typical American households who shell out more than $2,000 annually on energy bills, adding a smart thermostat is a fantastic method to keep energy costs low. Although manyhomes have programmable thermostats, yours likely isn’t being made the most of since it’s on “hold” all the time.

When getting a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the top sellers. That’s because 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 lower it from just about anywhere with your smartphone.

For the average home, Nest says its thermostat saves about 10-12% on heating expenses and about 15% on cooling bills. That’s about $131 to $145 saved each year, which helps it pay for itself in under two years. And most utility providers provide rebate programs that help you purchase 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 works with your HVAC system. This is especially true if your equipment is aging. If it’s not, you might run into problems, like odd furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s essential to have a professional like 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning help you select a new thermostat and take care of your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest is Compatible with Most Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This covers heating and cooling systems that run on:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you purchase a Nest, you can run the Compatibility Checker to ensure a smooth transition. Once you’ve double-checked it will work, your Nest will guide you through compatibility and wiring during the setup process.

The Nest Learning Thermostat can run with the widest number of home comfort systems, such as heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also runs with highly energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll often need a specialist like 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning to handle the in-depth wiring and setup steps.

Does the Nest Require a C-Wire?

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

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s likely still okay to use a Nest. The company says its thermostats were created to use small amounts of power. Many times, this means they can work normally without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and noticing strange heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning can add a C-wire for you.

Our Experts Make Smart Thermostat Installation Quick

Upgrading your thermostat makes it simple to manage your heating and cooling bills while keeping your {house|residences|home cozy. If you’re considering adding a Nest smart thermostat to your house, 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning can help you select the right model for your budget and then expertly install it. Reach us at 949-204-0859 to begin today!