Facilitating yourself at this age is not a demanding task for home comfort and a luxurious lifestyle. However, many homeowners feel the need to add a technical dimension to their home features allowing them to reside in comfort and amenities. This usually happens in residences where the owners look for modern technology to assist them in everyday situations.
Common examples include a television remote installed in smartphones, window blinds controlled by a remote or a smartphone application, and home security gadgets that genuinely work on modern equipment and services. Similarly, people are also interested in controlling indoor temperature using modern devices and thermostats beyond the conventional heating and cooling system. Since then, things have changed, and technology has taken over, allowing individuals to adjust the temperature with one touch or a single command. Installing a smart Nest thermostat is one of the examples giving owners complete freedom and liberty to choose the desired temperature from wherever they are sitting.
What is Nest Thermostat?
The Nest Learning Thermostat is a smart thermostat developed by Nest Labs. It is an electronic-based, self-learning device that works on Wi-Fi and enhances homes’ heating and cooling to preserve energy. The device operates on a machine learning procedure in which the first few weeks, the users are getting the data set by making their habits as references. The Thermostat will then customize and work on people’s schedules and set the owners’ temperature. This device is functional with sensors and smartphone locations and can shift into energy or power-saving mode when nobody is home. The device works on human behaviors and automatically turns on the heat or air at certain times of the day. All you need to do is tailor it for the first few weeks for efficient results.
Since it is a self-learning device, it makes it easy for the owners to save money and energy bills. It also keeps sending cues now and then to save energy. There is no monthly fee for this device, and it can be easily controlled by Alexa and Google Assistant to change the temperature using voice commands easily. It is also equipped with a NestCam security camera to monitor the home throughout the day, eventually providing a live stream with Nest Cam’s access from any location. The company claims that it is refined, has habit-changing features, and is well equipped with intelligent learning attributes over time, allowing homeowners to save around $130 to $145 per year.
Can I install a Nest Thermostat in the apartment?
Yes, Nest Thermostat is designed to be installed anywhere where a traditional thermostat can be installed. To install a Nest thermostat in an apartment, you will need to remove the old Thermostat and then connect the Nest thermostat to the current wiring.
Do I need to charge my Nest Thermostat before installing it?
No, you do not need to charge Nest Thermostat before installation. Nest Thermostat will automatically charge from the power provided by HVAC equipment. Usually, the Nest Thermostat will take 30 minutes to recharge.
Now let us see how to install a Nest thermostat using Google Nest instructions:
How to install a Nest thermostat in the apartment?
To install a Nest thermostat in the apartment, please do the following steps:
- Step 1: Shut off the circuit breaker to the Thermostat
- Step 2: Label the old wires to match the corresponding wires on the Nest thermostat
- Step 3: Remove your old Thermostat
- Step 4: Feed the wires through the middle of the base plate.
- Step 5: Mark the position of the screw holes
- Step 6: Attach the Nest Box trim plate to the base plate
- Step 7: Using the included screws and a screwdriver., attach the Nest base to the wall
- Step 8: Connect the wires to the Nest thermostat
- Step 9: Then attach the Nest thermostat display
- Step 10: Turn the circuit breaker back on.
- Step 11: Test the new Thermostat
Can you install a Nest thermostat without Wi-Fi?
Nest Thermostat can work without Wi-Fi and control temperature in the home as a traditional thermostat. However, without Wi-Fi, users can not use smart and remote features.
The days of the old-fashioned thermostats are gone when you have to move out of the couch or bed to adjust the temperature manually. With the Nest Smart thermostat, you do not have to worry about the expensive bills or waste of energy. Although the offer sounds appealing, as a renter, it might not sound too convenient at all. People living on rental property must always take permission before pursuing any installation or even minor renovations. However, the installation is super easy and requires less labor, but to get maximum benefits from the Smart Thermostat, it is essential to take authorization from the landlord first. Outdated and conventional thermostats also waste tons of energy, generating costly electricity bills at the end of the month, heavy on the pockets, and not energy efficient.
Contrary to the Nest device, they do not detect human behavior and are switched on throughout the day, increasing the bill even when no one is home. Usually, in conventional thermostats, a long wait is needed for the device to gradually start heating the entire place, therefore taking up a lot of time and investing energy. This feature is not available in Nest devices as it can instantly heat or cool up the place without living in fear of increased cost.
The best part about having a smart thermostat at home is the ability to install it without wiring or drilling the walls. The landlords may have reservations about puncturing and damaging the walls; however, all you need to do with the Nest thermostat is take out the old Thermostat and connect the Nest device with the current wiring. This can be a complicated task, and without prior knowledge, it can be life-threatening too. The wires that connect the Thermostat are small and require professional handling. If you are lucky enough to get a green signal for installing the Nest device, all you need to do is take out the old one and replace it with the modern device.
Installing the Nest thermostat is not tricky and can be quickly done by following basic guidelines. However, if the old Thermostat has thick wires or contains a voltage above 120V, it indicates an effective voltage system, which should not be handled with prior understanding. In this situation, do not directly attach the wires to the Nest thermostat. Instead, begin by shutting off the circuit breaker to the Thermostat. After that, try indicating the old cables that correspond with cables on the Nest thermostat. Next, remove the previous Thermostat, insert the wires through the base plate on the Nest device, and label the position for screw holes. Next, attach the Nest Box trim plate to the base plate and attach it to the wall using the (included) screws and screwdrivers. Next, connect the wires with the Nest thermostat and attach the display. After attaching firmly, turn the circuit breaker on and test if it is functioning correctly. The steps are simple and fair, but you can always ask the landlord for assistance and provide professional help with a bit of charge to avoid problems later on.
How to set Nest Thermostat to hold temperature?
To set Nest Thermostat to hold temperature, you need to do the seven following steps:
- Open Home application
- Select your Thermostat
- Check if your Thermostat is in relaxed mode or heat mode, or heat-cool method. I need to be in one of these three modes.
- Tap the hold temperature icon (it looks like a clock)
- Select temperature to hold.
- Select the end time.
- Tap Start to begin to hold temperature.
There are multiple benefits to installing the Nest thermostat. The main reason is that it comes with energy-saving benefits. They are friendly to the environment and go easy on the pockets in terms of energy bills. They tend to switch off automatically when no one is home, reducing the heating or cooling bill to half. Other than that, it has gained immense popularity due to its convenience. You can easily change the temperature, adjust the heating schedule, and check the heat or air conditioner’s current status simply on the smartphone. In addition, you can connect the app to your phone when you are not home. So there is no need to worry if you accidentally leave the heating on. This is a significant problem in manual thermostats as it is a safety concern as well. Additionally, they are password protected and give enhanced security, allowing the homeowners to change the temperature and settings. Finally, the Nest thermostat is durable and lasts long, whereas manual thermostats only work for 5 to 20 years, but this device has a long lifespan.
How long to charge Nest Thermostat?
You will need half an hour (30 minutes) to charge Nest Thermostat. However, if Thermostat’s battery is fully drained, in that case, you can wait up to 2 hours to charge the battery 100%.
There are other smart devices available, which can be installed in place of a Nest thermostat. If the landlord has disapproved of this installation, you can facilitate yourself according to the budget and installation process. Crane 1500 Watt Infrared smart heater is also a Wi-Fi-connected energy-efficient device that can serve the same purpose as a Nest thermostat. Like the Nest thermostat, it can be used with a smartphone to control the device, and it contains features such as overheating protection and convenience. Similarly, there are Sensibo Air Conditioning Pods that link to the air conditioning unit. It also enables you to control the temperature with the smartphone. Lastly, Quirky Aros Smart AC is designed to study the home cooling requirements and provide cooling whenever you want. Again, smart scheduling is used to get acquainted with the habits and then make arrangements according to them.
How to turn off Nest Thermostat?
To turn off the Nest Thermostat click unit, go to the main menu and navigate the “Thermostat” option. Next, use the silver wheel to select “Off” and push on the Nest Thermostat unit. Your Thermostat will be turned off.
Is the Nest thermostat worth it?
Yes, Nest Thermostat is worth it because it can save between 10% and 15% on users’ heating and cooling bills which are around $150 per year for the average US household. Additionally, it has excellent design, offers rebates, incorporates weather data, monitors HVAC issues, and works with all Nest devices.
There are many advantages to using a smart thermostat in homes, and very few to not installing one. First, they can practically save you tons of energy and money, making your home smart and secure. Second, they work on human behavior, a novel innovation in technology, making life convenient. Finally, it is improbable that the landlord will disapprove of it, but it is good to ask them first before meddling with the wires.
From 2022 onwards, Mark has also been contributing author of home repair articles at nimblefreelancer.com.
Read more on Mark Brown's biography page.
Contact Mark: mark@nimblefreelancer.com
