If you’re among the average American households who shell out more than $2,000 annually on energy bills, getting a smart thermostat is a great method to keep utility bills low. Although manyhouses have programmable thermostats, chances are yours isn’t being used to the full advantage since it’s on “hold” permanently.

When getting a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the top sellers. That’s since it adjusts to your temperature preferences and routine, and then makes an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also monitor and raise 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 annually, which helps the product pay for itself in less two years. And the majority of utility businesses have rebate programs that help you get a smart thermostat for free or close to it.

When you’re upgrading to a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to ensure it will work with your HVAC system. This is especially essential if your equipment is older. If it’s not, you could run into troubles, like odd furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s essential to have a professional like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning help you choose a new thermostat and take care of your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest Works with Most Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This includes heating and cooling systems powered by:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you buy a Nest, you can use 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 during the setup process.

The Nest Learning Thermostat can run with the biggest range of home comfort systems, including heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also works with extremely energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll likely need a specialist like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning to do 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 found information 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 likely still all right to use a Nest. The company says its thermostats were created to require not much power. Most of the time, this means they can run normally without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and noticing weird heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning can install a C-wire for you.

Our Experts Make Smart Thermostat Installation Easy

Installing a new thermostat makes it simple to stay on top of your heating and cooling bills while keeping your {house|residences|home comfy. If you’re thinking about adding a Nest smart thermostat to your home, Bain Heating & Air Conditioning can help you choose the right model for your needs and then professionally install it. Reach us at 256-270-1196 to begin right away!