If you’re one of the typical American households who pay more than $2,000 annually on utility bills, adding a smart thermostat is a good way to keep energy costs low. Although mostresidences have programmable thermostats, yours probably 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 learns your temperature preferences and activities, and then creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also keep an eye on it and lower it from nearly anywhere with your smartphone.

For the average home, Nest says its thermostat saves about 10-12% on heating expenses and about 15% on cooling costs. That’s about $131 to $145 saved every year, which helps it pay for itself in under two years. And many utility providers offer 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 be sure it works with your HVAC system. This is especially important if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you could run into problems, like weird furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s critical to have a specialist like Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning help you select a new thermostat and handle your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest is Compatible with the Majority of Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This involves heating and cooling systems powered by:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you purchase a Nest, you can put your details into the Compatibility Checker to ensure a simple transition. Once you’ve confirmed it will work, your Nest will walk you through compatibility and wiring when you start using it.

The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with the widest range of home comfort units, such as heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also works with extremely energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll typically need a professional like Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning to complete the complicated wiring and setup steps.

Does the Nest Require a C-Wire?

If you’ve done research on the Nest, you’ve potentially found details about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire powers your smart thermostat when it can’t pull enough 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 designed to require small amounts of power. Many times, this means they can operate correctly without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and running into weird heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC pro like Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning can add a C-wire for you.

Our Experts Make Smart Thermostat Installation Simple

Upgrading your thermostat makes it a snap to manage your energy and cooling costs while keeping your {house|residences|home cozy. If you’re considering adding a Nest smart thermostat to your house, Pure Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning can help you select the best model for your budget and then professionally install it. Reach us at 630-313-2509 to get started right away!