If you’re one of the typical American households who spends more than $2,000 annually on utility bills, installing a smart thermostat is a fantastic method to keep utility bills low. Although manyresidences have programmable thermostats, chances are yours isn’t being used to the full advantage since it’s on “hold” every day.

When upgrading your thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the top sellers. That’s since it learns your temperature preferences and schedule, and then creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also keep an eye on it and raise it from almost 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 thermostat pay for itself in under two years. And most utility businesses have rebate programs that help you install 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 works with your HVAC system. This is especially important if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you may have issues, like erratic furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s essential to have a expert like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling help you pick a new thermostat and handle your smart thermostat installation.

Here’s how to figure out if the Nest can run with your HVAC system.

Nest Runs with Many Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This covers heating and cooling systems powered by:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you buy a Nest, you can run the Compatibility Checker to ensure a smooth transition. Once you’ve confirmed it will work, your Nest will work you through compatibility and wiring during the setup process.

The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the biggest types of home comfort systems, such as 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 professional like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling to handle the complicated wiring and setup process.

Does the Nest Have to Have a C-Wire?

If you’ve done research on the Nest, you’ve probably found details 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 probably still okay to use a Nest. The company says its thermostats were designed to consume not much power. Many times, this means they can work correctly without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and experiencing weird heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC pro like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling can add a C-wire for you.

Our Professionals Make Smart Thermostat Installation Easy

Getting a new thermostat makes it easier to stay on top of your heating and cooling bills while keeping your {house|residences|home comfortable. If you’re considering adding a Nest smart thermostat to your home, Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling can help you choose the right model for your home and then professionally install it. Reach us at 515-207-6569 to begin today!