If you’re among the average American households who spends more than $2,000 each year on heating and cooling bills, adding a smart thermostat is a good method to keep energy expenses managed. Although manyhouses have programmable thermostats, yours likely isn’t being used to the full advantage since it’s on “hold” all the time.

When installing a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the best sellers. That’s because it picks up on your temperature preferences and schedule, and then creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also monitor and lower it from almost anywhere with your smartphone.

For the typical home, Nest says its thermostat saves about 10-12% on heating expenses and about 15% on cooling expenses. That’s about $131 to $145 saved annually, which helps the product pay for itself in under two years. And the majority of utility providers provide rebate programs that help you install a smart thermostat for free or close to it.

When you’re installing a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to make sure it works with your HVAC system. This is especially important if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you might experience troubles, like weird furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s important to have a expert like Northern Comfort Inc help you choose a new thermostat and handle your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest Runs with Most Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This includes heating and cooling systems that use:

  • 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 can run with the widest number of home comfort systems, like heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also runs with extremely energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll typically need a specialist like Northern Comfort Inc to do the detailed wiring and setup steps.

Does the Nest Have to Have a C-Wire?

If you’ve read up on the Nest, you’ve probably found information about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire energizes your smart thermostat when it can’t pull adequate power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s likely still okay to install a Nest. The company says its thermostats were created to consume not much power. Many times, this means they can run normally without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and experiencing erratic heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC specialist like Northern Comfort Inc can add a C-wire for you.

Our Experts Make Smart Thermostat Installation Simple

Upgrading your thermostat makes it easier to keep track of your energy and cooling costs while keeping your {house|residences|home comfortable. If you want to add a Nest smart thermostat to your residence, Northern Comfort Inc can help you select the best model for your budget and then expertly install it. Give us a call at 507-387-6596 to start right away!