If you’re amid the typical American households who shell out more than $2,000 annually on utility costs, getting a smart thermostat is an excellent method to keep heating and cooling bills under control. Although manyresidences have programmable thermostats, chances are yours isn’t being made the most of because it’s on “hold” all the time.

When installing a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the most popular options. That’s because it picks up on your temperature preferences and schedule, and then makes an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also monitor and raise it from almost 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 thermostat pay for itself in less two years. And many utility companies provide 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’s compatible with your HVAC system. This is especially true if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you may have problems, like odd furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s critical to have a expert like Patterson & Stirling help you choose a new thermostat and take care of your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest is Compatible with Many Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This includes heating and cooling systems that run on:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you purchase a Nest, you can use the Compatibility Checker to ensure an easy 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 widest types of home comfort units, including heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also operates with extremely energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll likely need a pro like Patterson & Stirling to handle the in-depth wiring and setup steps.

Does the Nest Need a C-Wire?

If you’ve looked into the Nest, you’ve probably run into information about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire powers your smart thermostat when it can’t get ample power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s usually still all right to use a Nest. The company says its thermostats were created to consume little power. Most of the time, this means they can work normally without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and running into strange heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like Patterson & Stirling can install a C-wire for you.

Our Experts Make Smart Thermostat Installation Easy

Upgrading your thermostat makes it simple to keep track of your utility and cooling bills while keeping your {house|residences|home comfortable. If you’re considering adding a Nest smart thermostat to your residence, Patterson & Stirling can help you find the right model for your budget and then skillfully install it. Call us at 814-308-0416 to get started now!