If you’re one of the usual American households who pay more than $2,000 each year on heating and cooling costs, installing a smart thermostat is a good approach to keep energy costs managed. Although mosthouses have programmable thermostats, yours likely isn’t being used to the full advantage since it’s on “hold” permanently.

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 develops an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also keep an eye on it and raise it from nearly anywhere with your smartphone.

For the average home, Nest says its thermostat saves about 10-12% on heating costs and about 15% on cooling costs. That’s about $131 to $145 saved every year, which helps the product pay for itself quicker than two years. And many utility businesses 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 will work with your HVAC system. This is especially essential if your equipment is aging. If it’s not, you may have problems, like weird furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s critical to have a pro like TopTec help you pick a new thermostat and do your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest Runs with Many 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 covers heating and cooling systems powered by:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

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

The Nest Learning Thermostat can run with the biggest range of home comfort units, 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 specialist like TopTec to handle the detailed wiring and setup process.

Does the Nest Require a C-Wire?

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

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s probably still ok to use a Nest. The company says its thermostats were designed to require little power. Many times, this means they can run properly without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and noticing strange heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like TopTec can put in a C-wire for you.

Our Experts Make Smart Thermostat Installation Simple

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 residence, TopTec can help you choose the ideal model for your budget and then expertly install it. Reach us at 847-362-0262 to get started today!