Nest Thermostat Review, Pros & Cons and Specs 2022

THE BOTTOM LINE for Nest Thermostat

The relatively inexpensive entry-level Nest Thermostat lets you control your heating and cooling system by phone or voice, set temperature schedules, and offer energy-saving features that help reduce your bills. 

Nest Thermostat PROS

Affordable

Attractive design

Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands

Supports scheduling and routines

Lets you monitor your energy usage and suggests ways to cut back

Warns you about potential HVAC issues

Nest Thermostat CONS

No touch screen

Geofencing can be finicky

Can't automatically set schedules

NEST THERMOSTAT SPECS

Compatibility                                 Multi-stage

C-Wire                                         No

Self-Install                                 Yes

Multiple Zones                         No

Sensors                                         Yes

Motion Activation                         Yes

Geofencing                                 Yes

Smart Home Integration None

Replacing your old thermostat for the smart one is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your home and make your life easier, but research shows that less than 15% of homes open (in a new window) ) It happens. With its latest model, Nest is addressing the key deterrent to people: price. At just 129.99, the Nest Thermostat is the company's cheapest model to date - and arguably the most attractive. Like the $ 250 Nest Learning Thermostat, it lets you control your heating and cooling system by phone or voice, set temperature schedules and remotely monitor your energy consumption. The main difference is that it does not automatically learn your temperature preferences and does not set a schedule, but you can still do it manually. This makes it a strong alternative to the Learning Thermostat at almost half the price, and is the winner of our Editors' Choice for the Cheap Smart Thermostat.

Price and design of nest thermostat

At 9 129.99, the Nest Thermostat is a cheaper alternative to the $ 250 Nest Learning Thermostat, which is still available. With the introduction of this new model, the $ 170 Nest Thermostat E will now move to become a Pro Channel Special.

The Nest Thermostat offers most of the features of the more expensive learning model, including app and voice control, HVAC system alerts, and the ability to reject yourself when you leave home. The main difference between a properly named learning model is that it learns your temperature preferences and automatically sets a schedule. Although the more affordable Nest Thermostat supports scheduling, you need to configure it manually in the app.

The Learning Thermostat also supports the Nest Temperature Sensor (opens in a new window), a $ 39 accessory that helps ensure that certain rooms stay at your desired temperature, making this feature a more affordable model. Not available with

In addition, their main differences are in aesthetics. The Nest Thermostat measures 1.07 inches thick and 3.3 inches in diameter, which makes it slightly thinner than the learning model (1.2 x 3.3 inches). It comes in snow (white), sand (tan pink), fog (mint green), or charcoal (gray) color options.

Nest also sells matching trim kits for. 14.99 that are designed to make up for any flaws on your wall by removing your old thermostat. The learning model, by comparison, comes in seven neutral tones, ships with trim plates so you don't have to buy one separately, and it comes with a two-year warranty (Nest Thermostat one year) Comes with warranty).

For this review, Google has sent me a fog-colored nest thermostat with a matching trim kit. The thermostat and trim kit coincidentally matched my walls, which were painted Benjamin Moore's Paladin Blue. I never thought a thermostat could be beautiful, but it's especially comparable to my old white slab.

On the front, the Nest Thermostat has a circular mirror touch display that shows the target and current temperature, whether in active heating or cooling mode. The display is slightly larger than the Learning Model (2.4 inches vs. 2.1 inches), but lower resolution (320 by 240 pixels vs. 480 by 480).

The Nest Thermostat has a cheaper plastic frame than the Learning Model's metal enclosure, but the company says it's more durable, as it's made of 49% post-consumer plastic.

The thermostat is compatible with 85% of 24V heating and cooling systems, including gas, electric, oil, forced air, variable speed, heat pump, and radiant. Nest says it is designed to work without C (normal) wire, which is lacking in many older homes. To check if it is compatible with your heating and cooling system, go here (Opens in a new window).

Nest says thermostats can help you save an average of 10 to 12 percent on heating and 15 percent on cooling costs (this is Energy Star certified). Before you buy one, be sure to check out your local utility website for any discounts or rewards that can save you money. You can also type your zip code through the Google Store (opens in a new window) to check for discounts and, in some cases, apply them at checkout. For example, you may be eligible for Nest's Rush Hour Rewards program, which will adjust the temperature of your home in times of high energy demand in exchange for rewards from your local utility provider. 

Installing Nest Thermostat

The Nest Thermostat comes with a base plate, mounting screws and labels, a quick start card, and a welcome guide. Nest says most people will be able to install a thermostat in 30 minutes or less with the Google Home app (available for Android and iOS), which takes you through every step of the process.

I've never worked with wiring before, but thought I'd give it a try. To save your suspense, I removed it and installed it professionally through an HVAC technician. At checkout, Nest gives you the option to add a professional installation for $ 99 if you wish to go this route.

If you want to do this yourself, you will need a Philips screwdriver and a flat head screwdriver. You will also want to grab a power drill, pliers, wire strippers and a flashlight.

To get started, download the Google Home app if it doesn't already exist on your phone, then tap the Add button (a plus sign) in the upper left corner. The app asks what you're setting up. Select the thermostat. You will then scan a QR code on the back of the device, and the app will take you through the process of removing your old thermostat and installing a new one. You can also watch videos here (opens in new window) for visual instructions.

Before stirring with any wiring, be sure to turn off the power on the circuit breaker. Since turning off the power can also disable your Wi-Fi, make sure your phone has mobile data enabled. Once you turn off the power, the app advises you to try adjusting your old thermostat to check that the system is off.

If you are using an optional trim kit, you must install it before the Nest Thermostat. For instructions on how to do this, tap "I have a trim kit" in the app during setup.

When I was trying to install it myself, I reached out to expose the wiring to remove the cover of my old thermostat, but when the app tried to loosen the patch and disconnect the wires. When I said that, I felt a little on my head. For starters, I didn't have that small screwdriver. Secondly, having never worked with wiring before, I made the best decision to call a specialist.

My HVAC technician said he often installs a smart thermostat, so when I gave up, I was relieved to know that I was not the only one who would leave it at that. He made it in about 20 minutes. I drove along and realized it wasn't too hard.

When you expose the wiring panel of your thermostat, you see that each colored wire is connected to a place with a letter in front of it. For example, the green wire is probably connected to the spot labeled G, and the red is probably connected to R. Next, you will see a small screw under each colored wire. Use your screwdriver to counterclockwise, then pull the wire out. Nest provides label stickers so you can mark each wire with the appropriate letter to remember where it goes when you hook up your new thermostat.

You then open your old thermostat, pull the wires through the new trim and base plate, attach the two parts to the wall using the screw provided (make sure the small surface of the base plate is straight). , Then connect the wires properly. Place on base plate. When you're done wiring, you can connect the thermostat display, turn on the power again, and you should be fine.

Before guiding you through the app setup process, ask some questions about your heating fuel source and type of transmission. Once you connect the thermostat to your Wi-Fi network and wait for the updates to be installed (which only takes a minute to test), the app lets you choose home, remote and sleep modes. Will help in setting the temperature for. Create a schedule; And set routines so that it can automatically adjust the temperature when you leave or when you get home.

Nest Thermostat setup

When setting up the thermostat, I go with the sets at the default temperature: 69 degrees Fahrenheit (heating) and 75 degrees (cooling) for comfort (home) mode; 56 degrees (heating) and 82 degrees (cooling) for eco (remote) mode; And 65 degrees (heating) and 75 degrees (cooling) for sleep mode.

Since I live in Florida where it's almost always hot, and work from home, I keep my thermostat set at 75 degrees all the time, so I didn't really need to set a schedule. But in the Google Home app, you can select the start time for each preset temperature mode. For example, you can set it to enable comfort mode in the morning and evening when you are at home, eco mode during the day so that you are not cooling or heating the empty house while you are at work. , And when you're going down to sleep mode. You can also have a different schedule for each day of the week.

During the setup process, you can enable Home and Oye routines, which use Google's Solly Motion sensors in the device, and determine the location of your phone (with your permission), Because you can go home and when you come, and adjust the temperature accordingly. When enabled, the thermostat will apply your Eco temperature when it feels like everyone is out of the house, then return to its default or last used temperature when the first person comes home Will

If you want it to use your phone for geofencing, you'll need to allow the Google Home app "always" access to your location. Once you have done so, it will ask you to confirm your home address. You also need to make sure that everyone in your household has this setting enabled in the Google Home app on their phone so that it works properly.

When enabled, the Home app keeps track of every time you enter or leave your Geofence area, and you can view and delete your location history at any time. Google says the home app "does not track where you are or where you are without knowing if you are inside your home geofence." The company added that the data was "used only to determine when you come home or when you go."

How does a nest thermostat work?

You can control the Nest Thermostat from your smartphone or a smart speaker like the Nest Mini with the device itself, the Google Home app, or the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice commands.

When you leave, the thermostat's display turns off, so you only see its smooth, mirrored finish. It uses a sole motion sensor to turn on the screen when you walk in front of the device, but if it turns you out, the Google Home app sets you up to wake it up with just one press. Lets do

Unlike other Nest thermostats, it does not have a touch screen (which is actually good because it displays fingerprints). If you're looking for a smart thermostat with a touch screen, check out the $ 249 Ecobee Smart Thermostat with voice control, which also comes with a remote room sensor.

Instead of a touch screen, you navigate the Nest Thermostat interface with the touch bar on the right side of the device. For comparison, the learning model has a rotating dial.

The Nest Thermostat's touch bar lets you quickly adjust the temperature with a swipe. Just swipe up to increase the temperature, or swipe down to lower it. When you adjust the temperature, the thermostat tells you how long it will take to reach that goal. When you switch your thermostat to energy saving temperature, a leaf icon will appear on the display.

Taping the touch bar reveals the day of the week, time, indoor temperature, and indoor humidity level, as well as a menu with the following options: Modes, Hold, Fan, and Settings. You can use the touch bar to navigate to your desired menu option, then tap to select it.

In mode, you can switch from heating to cooling. In hold, you can turn off the temperature for a certain time. Nest says the hold feature is helpful if you have a house guest who likes it hotter or cooler than your usual settings. In the fan, you can set the fan timer to run as long as you want. In Settings, you can check your battery level, network status and more.

The Google Home app gives you all the control you get on the device itself, and then some. With a few taps, you can tune your system to a certain extent, change the mode, set the temperature preset, and set the temperature hold or fan timer.

The app also has an energy dashboard with graphs showing your usage for days, weeks and months. When you click on a daily graph, it shows your usage by the hour, making it easier to see how long your system has been running. In the app, you can also change your presence sensing (geo-fencing) permissions, thermostat display options, temperature presets and schedules.

The Nest Thermostat also features a Savings Finder that explains simple ways to reduce your energy use, such as slightly raising your sleep temperature. Just make sure you have notifications enabled, and it will actively suggest energy saving opportunities that you can accept through the Home app.

A helpful HVAC monitoring feature will send you an email or notification if something looks off, such as if your air conditioner is taking longer than expected to cool your home. It will also remind you of routine maintenance tasks, such as when it's time to replace your AC filter based on your actual runtime, not calendar history. This feature is enabled by default. You can disable early warning emails and notifications if you choose, but you can't opt ??out of instant alerts about serious issues.

Nest also makes it easy to book professional check-ups with these alerts. If Nest Pro had previously installed your thermostat or serviced your system, you'll see their contact information in the Alerts and Home app settings. If you do not have an existing Pro, the alert will include a link to schedule a service call through Nest's partner Handy if you are in an eligible area.

Performance of Nest Thermostat

The Nest Thermostat looks beautiful and works according to the ad. The only feature that bothered me was the geofencing. More than once during testing, the Google Home app thought I was far away, and switched the thermostat to Echo mode when I was really at home. I finally opted out of geofencing for some reason. Call me crazy, but I don't always feel comfortable giving the Google Home app access to my location. I like to keep the house cool for my dog ??Bradley when I'm not home, and I like to come home in the cool house.

Nest Thermostat works well with Google Assistant voice commands via the Nest Mini. When I say, "Ok Google, lower my Nest Thermostat," it follows orders, lowering it by 75 to 72 degrees. When I ask to raise the thermostat, it raises the temperature back to 75 degrees. You can also ask the Virtual Assistant to set the thermostat to a certain temperature, or adjust it to a certain number of degrees.

I had no trouble controlling the Nest Thermostat with the Google Home app, which is well-organized and makes it easy to adjust your temperature presets, schedules and other settings. At first, the controls on the device were a bit confusing because I kept thinking that the mirror display was a touch screen, but it didn't take me long to get used to the touch bar on the side of the device. I still think the original touch screen interface will make it easier to navigate, but it will result in a lot of fingerprints on the mirror display.

Conclusions

If you are in the market for a smart thermostat that looks good and does not break the bank, then Nest Thermostat is the best choice. With a beautiful mirror display, it is truly one of the most attractive products in this category. And it's more than just nice: Nest Thermostat offers energy-saving features to help reduce your billing costs, and lets you control your heating and cooling system by phone or voice. Allows you to add convenience to your life. It offers most Nest Learning Thermostat smartphones, except for automatic scheduling and Nest temperature sensor support, at around $ 120 less. That's the decent thing to do, and it should end there.

That said, if you're looking for a smart thermostat with more bells and whistles, the Learning Model and the AQUB Smart Thermostat with Voice Control are your two best alternatives, and both cost $ 250. The latter has a touch display and comes with a remote room sensor, but lacks the smart to automatically schedule schedules based on your temperature preferences and lifestyle.