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Are you looking for the Nest Thermostat that is the best fit for your needs? To help you discover the best, there are thermostats with special and specific features that will be most suitable for you.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with 95% of HVAC systems. Google also makes a budget model, The Nest Thermostat, that they claim is compatible with 85% of HVAC systems. Google has a compatibility checker on its website for specific wire types.
If you want to know your best options for a Nest Thermostat, keep reading! We will only be focusing on the models that are currently for sale.
Table of Contents
Smart Thermostats
Nest has been one of the leaders in smart home technology for several years now. They were purchased in 2014 by Google for $3.2 billion. Since then, Nest still had its own app you could control your system through, but as of 2022 Google has officially discontinued the app, and now all Google Nest products are controlled with the Google Home App.
Google has also simplified its smart thermostat line by making only two thermostats. You can now buy the Nest Learning Thermostat or the more basic Nest Thermostat. Both thermostats are easily controlled via WiFi and are compatible with most systems. We’ll go over the two options below.
Nest Learning Thermostat
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The Nest Learning Thermostat* has a metal body for a great look and feel and comes in 7 different colors so that you can match the design of your house.
Color/Metal Nest Learning Thermostat Options:
- Stainless steel
- Brass
- Copper
- Mirror Black
- Polished Steel
- White
- Black
The best part about the learning model is that it is a learning thermostat. It learns your preferences over time and begins to automatically adjust the temperature for you.
For example, if you lower the temperature in your home frequently before bed to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and then raise it to 72 degrees Fahrenheit when you get up in the morning, the thermostat will learn that pattern and begin to adjust automatically. It is always learning and adjusting based on how you adjust your thermostat to keep your home where you like it.
This thermostat can also sense when you are away from home due to integration with your Google account and it will switch to an energy-efficient mode while you are away so that it saves you the most energy possible.
You can also still control the temperature of your home while you are away using the Google Home app. So, if you’re having a party right after work and want to make sure your home is just the right temperature, you can change it on the go.
This thermostat works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa to allow you to control your home’s temperature with your voice. In order to use the thermostat with Alexa, you need to enable the Google Nest Skill on your Alexa app and connect your Nest system to your Google account.
This thermostat has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that charges on the wires it’s attached to.
Nest Thermostat
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The Nest Thermostat* is the basic model that Google has released. It is missing a few features compared to the learning thermostat, but it may still be the right choice for you.
This thermostat is made with a plastic body with an LED display that is the same color as the body of the thermostat. The Nest Thermostat comes in 4 different colors.
- Snow
- Sand
- Charcoal
- Fog
The Nest Thermostat is missing the learning feature, but it is still a very capable smart thermostat. This thermostat is also controlled via the Google Home App and can be controlled via voice with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The Nest Thermostat can be put on a schedule so that it adjusts the temperature throughout the day based on your preferences. While this Thermostat doesn’t learn your habits, it will give you occasional suggestions over time on ways you can save energy.
It may suggest raising or lowering the temperature or a change to the time that you have set in order to save you money and reduce your energy consumption.
This thermostat is also still able to know when you leave the house and it will turn itself down to save energy while you are away from home.
Google says that this thermostat is compatible with 85% of HVAC systems, which is a little less than their other model. So, you’ll want to use their compatibility checker when choosing this route. If it is compatible, the thermostat is easy to install.
Nest Temperature Sensor
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Google sells a temperature sensor* that you can use to customize your system. Since most homes aren’t able to keep the same temperature consistent in every room, you can place sensors in important rooms and schedule your system so that it prioritizes certain rooms at certain times of the day.
If you want to make sure your bedroom is at the right temperature every night, you can put a sensor in your room and tell your system you want that room to be exactly the temperature you want at night. Your system will then adjust the HVAC system so that that room is at the right temperature.
These sensors are only compatible with the Nest Learning Thermostat, which is another reason why you may want to consider getting that thermostat over the basic one, especially if your home doesn’t heat or cool evenly.
Conclusion
Both of Google’s Nest Thermostats are great options that will help you save money and be more energy efficient in your home. If you’re looking for a thermostat that will automatically adjust based on your habits without input from you, the Learning Thermostat is a great option. It’s also a better option if your home has rooms that are different temperatures from the other parts of the house.
If you don’t need those features, the basic Nest Thermostat is a fantastic option that will save you a bit of money. Those really are the biggest differences, but if you’re also concerned about the design of your home, you might also want to consider the different looks that the two thermostats have and which fits your home better.
Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
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