If you’re one of the typical American households who shell out more than $2,000 each year on energy expenses, installing a smart thermostat is an excellent way to keep energy expenses low. Although manyresidences use programmable thermostats, yours likely isn’t being used to the full advantage as it’s on “hold” every day.

When installing a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the top sellers. That’s due to the fact it picks up on your temperature preferences and activities, and then makes an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also monitor and change 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 bills. That’s about $131 to $145 saved every year, which helps the thermostat pay for itself quicker than two years. And many utility companies offer rebate programs that help you purchase a smart thermostat for free or close to it.

When you’re installing a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to make sure it’s compatible with your HVAC system. This is especially important if your equipment is getting old. If it’s not, you could run into problems, like erratic furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s critical to have a professional like Titan Heating & Air Conditioning 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 Most Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This involves heating and cooling systems powered by:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you purchase a Nest, you can run the Compatibility Checker to ensure an easy transition. Once you’ve checked it’s a fit, your Nest will work you through compatibility and wiring when you set it up.

The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with the widest range of home comfort systems, such as heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. It also operates with highly energy-efficient multistage systems, dual-fuel equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, but you’ll typically need a professional like Titan Heating & Air Conditioning to complete the in-depth wiring and setup steps.

Does the Nest Require a C-Wire?

If you’ve read up on the Nest, you’ve potentially found details about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire runs your smart thermostat when it can’t draw enough power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s usually still ok to use a Nest. The company says its thermostats were designed to consume small amounts of power. Most of the time, this means they can operate correctly without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and running into strange heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like Titan Heating & Air Conditioning 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 utility and cooling bills while keeping your {house|residences|home cozy. If you want to add a Nest smart thermostat to your house, Titan Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find the best model for your home and then expertly install it. Reach us at 541-286-6617 to get started right away!