If you’re amid the usual American households who shell out more than $2,000 every year on utility costs, getting a smart thermostat is a good approach to keep utility costs under control. Although manyhomes use programmable thermostats, chances are yours isn’t being made the most of as it’s on “hold” every day.

When getting a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the most popular options. That’s because it learns your temperature preferences and activities, and then creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also monitor 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 bills. That’s about $131 to $145 saved annually, which helps the product pay for itself in less two years. And many utility providers 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’s compatible with your HVAC system. This is especially true if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you could run into issues, like weird furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s important to have a professional like Air-Right Energy Design help you select a new thermostat and handle your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest Runs with the Majority of Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This involves heating and cooling systems that use:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you purchase a Nest, you can use the Compatibility Checker to provide a simple transition. Once you’ve double-checked it will work, your Nest will work you through compatibility and wiring when you start using it.

The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the biggest range of home comfort systems, including 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 specialist like Air-Right Energy Design to do the complicated wiring and setup process.

Does the Nest Require a C-Wire?

If you’ve done research on the Nest, you’ve probably run into info about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire energizes your smart thermostat when it can’t draw enough power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s probably still all right to install a Nest. The company says its thermostats were created to use small amounts of power. In most cases, this means they can work properly without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and experiencing weird heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like Air-Right Energy Design can add a C-wire for you.

Our Professionals 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 want to add a Nest smart thermostat to your house, Air-Right Energy Design can help you select the best model for your needs and then professionally install it. Give us a call at 703-260-1148 to begin today!