If you’re amid the typical American households who spends more than $2,000 every year on heating and cooling expenses, getting a smart thermostat is a good approach to keep energy bills managed. Although mosthomes use programmable thermostats, chances are yours isn’t being made the most of since it’s on “hold” every day.

When upgrading your thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the top sellers. That’s because it adjusts to your temperature preferences and schedule, and then creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also monitor and lower it from nearly anywhere with your smartphone.

For the typical 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 each year, which helps the product pay for itself in less two years. And the majority of 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 be sure it’s compatible with your HVAC system. This is especially essential if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you may experience issues, like weird furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s important to have a professional like Brookwood Inc help you pick 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 Runs with Many Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This includes heating and cooling systems powered by:

  • 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 checked it’s a match, your Nest will walk you through compatibility and wiring when you set it up.

The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with the biggest types of home comfort units, like heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also runs with very energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll often need a professional like Brookwood Inc to do the in-depth wiring and setup procedures.

Does the Nest Require 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 runs your smart thermostat when it can’t draw ample 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 made to use not much power. In most cases, this means they can run correctly without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and experiencing erratic heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like Brookwood Inc can install a C-wire for you.

Our Pros Make Smart Thermostat Installation Quick

Installing a new thermostat makes it a snap to stay on top of your utility and cooling costs while keeping your {house|residences|home comfy. If you want to add a Nest smart thermostat to your home, Brookwood Inc can help you find the ideal model for your needs and then professionally install it. Give us a call at 641-316-9803 to begin today!