If you’re among the usual American households who pay more than $2,000 each year on utility costs, getting a smart thermostat is an excellent approach to keep energy expenses under control. Although manyresidences rely on programmable thermostats, chances are yours isn’t being used to the full advantage since it’s on “hold” all the time.

When getting a new thermostat, the Nest smart thermostat is one of the best sellers. That’s because it adjusts to your temperature preferences and routine, and then makes an energy-efficient schedule to match. You can also check 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 expenses. That’s about $131 to $145 saved annually, which helps the thermostat pay for itself in under two years. And the majority of utility providers provide rebate programs that help you purchase a smart thermostat for free or close to it.

When you’re getting a smart home thermostat, you’ll want to ensure it’s compatible with your HVAC system. This is especially important if your equipment is aging. If it’s not, you may experience problems, like odd furnace or air conditioner behavior. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Tri City Fuel & Heating help you pick a new thermostat and handle your smart thermostat installation.

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

Nest is Compatible with the Majority of Heating and Cooling Systems

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

This involves heating and cooling systems that run on:

  • Natural gas
  • Oil
  • Electricity

Before you buy a Nest, you can use the Compatibility Checker to provide a smooth transition. Once you’ve confirmed it’s a match, your Nest will guide you through compatibility and wiring when you set it up.

The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the largest number 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 typically need a professional like Tri City Fuel & Heating to do the in-depth wiring and setup steps.

Does the Nest Need a C-Wire?

If you’ve read up on the Nest, you’ve likely come across information about the C-wire, or common wire. This wire runs your smart thermostat when it can’t pull ample power from the other wires.

If you don’t have a C-wire, it’s likely still ok to install a Nest. The company says its thermostats were made to require little power. Most of the time, this means they can work correctly without this wire.

Have a smart thermostat without a C-wire and running into strange heating and cooling behavior? An HVAC professional like Tri City Fuel & Heating can install a C-wire for you.

Our Pros Make Smart Thermostat Installation Easy

Upgrading your thermostat makes it simple to keep track of your utility and cooling costs while keeping your {house|residences|home comfortable. If you want to add a Nest smart thermostat to your house, Tri City Fuel & Heating can help you select the ideal model for your needs and then professionally install it. Call us at 803-265-4208 to start now!