If you’re amid the average American households who shell out more than $2,000 each year on utility expenses, adding a smart thermostat is a fantastic approach to keep heating and cooling expenses under control. Although manyhomes use programmable thermostats, yours likely isn’t being used to the full advantage as it’s on “hold” every day.

When upgrading your thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the top sellers. That’s since it picks up on your temperature preferences and activities, and then creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also monitor and lower it from nearly anywhere with your smartphone.

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

When you’re installing a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to be sure it’s compatible with your HVAC system. This is especially important if your equipment is older. If it’s not, you might have problems, like odd furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s critical to have a expert like Ambient Air help you choose a new thermostat and do your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest Works with the Majority of 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 includes heating and cooling systems that run on:

  • 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 will work, your Nest will work you through compatibility and wiring when you set it up.

The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with the largest number of home comfort systems, such as heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also runs with very energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll typically need a specialist like Ambient Air to complete the detailed wiring and setup process.

Does the Nest Have to Have a C-Wire?

If you’ve done research on the Nest, you’ve potentially run into info about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire runs your smart thermostat when it can’t pull 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 created to consume not much power. Many times, this means they can operate correctly without this wire.

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

Our Pros Make Smart Thermostat Installation Easy

Getting a new thermostat makes it easier to keep track of your energy and cooling costs while keeping your {house|residences|home comfortable. If you want to add a Nest smart thermostat to your residence, Ambient Air can help you select the right model for your needs and then expertly install it. Reach us at 520-357-4912 to get started now!