If you’re among the usual American households who pay more than $2,000 annually on heating and cooling bills, installing a smart thermostat is a great way to keep utility bills under control. Although mosthomes use programmable thermostats, chances are yours isn’t being made the most of as it’s on “hold” permanently.

When getting a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the most popular options. That’s because it learns your temperature preferences and routine, and then creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also monitor and change it from nearly anywhere with your smartphone.

For the typical 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 each year, which helps the product pay for itself in under two years. And most utility providers offer rebate programs that help you install a smart thermostat for free or close to it.

When you’re getting a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to be sure it works with your HVAC system. This is especially essential if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you could have problems, like erratic furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Retro HVAC Service & Installation help you choose 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 aging 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 make sure you have a simple transition. Once you’ve confirmed it’s a match, your Nest will walk you through compatibility and wiring when you start using it.

The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with the biggest types of home comfort systems, including heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also runs with extremely energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll likely need a professional like Retro HVAC Service & Installation to complete the complicated wiring and setup procedures.

Does the Nest Require a C-Wire?

If you’ve done research on the Nest, you’ve likely run into details about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire runs your smart thermostat when it can’t get enough power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s usually still ok to install a Nest. The company says its thermostats were made to consume not much power. Many times, this means they can operate properly without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and experiencing odd heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC specialist like Retro HVAC Service & Installation can install a C-wire for you.

Our Experts Make Smart Thermostat Installation Easy

Upgrading your thermostat makes it a snap to manage your heating and cooling costs while keeping your {house|residences|home comfy. If you’re considering adding a Nest smart thermostat to your home, Retro HVAC Service & Installation can help you select the ideal model for your budget and then skillfully install it. Call us at 267-277-3851 to begin today!