Nest - Learning Thermostat - 3rd Generation - White

We bought one for our first home because the electric company was offering a rebate and we wanted to make our home a little smarter. We did like it, but beware that your local HVAC person hates these things. It was easy enough to install that we did it ourselves with no issues. However, these do not use/require your "c" (common) wire. What does that mean? Instead of providing continual, low voltage power, without the common your system takes a big gulp of power when starting up your heating/cooling. The ease of controls were nice and I liked that I could monitor and control the temperature from my phone (for my pets) while away at work. What I did NOT like was the "away" setting itself. Basing on your phones location, it goes into either eco or the minimum/maximum ... MoreWe bought one for our first home because the electric company was offering a rebate and we wanted to make our home a little smarter. We did like it, but beware that your local HVAC person hates these things. It was easy enough to install that we did it ourselves with no issues. However, these do not use/require your "c" (common) wire. What does that mean? Instead of providing continual, low voltage power, without the common your system takes a big gulp of power when starting up your heating/cooling. The ease of controls were nice and I liked that I could monitor and control the temperature from my phone (for my pets) while away at work. What I did NOT like was the "away" setting itself. Basing on your phones location, it goes into either eco or the minimum/maximum temperatures that you set but their is not a lot of leeway to choose those. For example, we went on vacation so no one's phone was near the house but we had the pets there and a sitter coming 3x a day to check on them. Our setting was 68 at all times. Because of "away" mode, the sitter informed us our thermostat was reading 80 now - no good, especially in Louisiana because of the heat and humidity! The system was working fine, it just sensed that we were away and wasnt running (trying to save energy?) to maintain temperature settings. It would also start these "energy saving campaigns" on its own and ignore its settings and just stay at eco all the time at some times. It ended up adding a small bit value to our home when we sold the house, so thats a plus but we don't necessarily miss it. We didn't see a significant amount of savings on our electricity. I would like to try another smart style thermostat in our new home but maybe not the smartest one that is programmed to outsmart you and thinks it knows best.

I've been using the Nest Smart Thermostat for several months now, and I have to say, it's a game changer for home comfort and energy efficiency. The Nest Thermostat is a smart thermostat that learns your preferred temperatures and schedule, and it can adjust your home's heating and cooling accordingly. One of the best things about the Nest Thermostat is that it's very easy to use. The device has a simple interface that makes it easy to adjust the temperature, set schedules, and access other settings. It's also very easy to install, and the Nest app makes it easy to customize your settings and manage your device. The Nest Thermostat also comes with a range of advanced features that can help you save money on your energy bills. It has advanced motion detection, which ... MoreI've been using the Nest Smart Thermostat for several months now, and I have to say, it's a game changer for home comfort and energy efficiency. The Nest Thermostat is a smart thermostat that learns your preferred temperatures and schedule, and it can adjust your home's heating and cooling accordingly. One of the best things about the Nest Thermostat is that it's very easy to use. The device has a simple interface that makes it easy to adjust the temperature, set schedules, and access other settings. It's also very easy to install, and the Nest app makes it easy to customize your settings and manage your device. The Nest Thermostat also comes with a range of advanced features that can help you save money on your energy bills. It has advanced motion detection, which means that it can detect when you're away from home and adjust your temperature accordingly. It also has an Eco mode, which helps you save energy by automatically adjusting the temperature when you're away. Another great feature of the Nest Thermostat is that it's compatible with a wide range of smart home devices, including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This means that you can control your thermostat with your voice or use it as part of a larger smart home system. One thing to keep in mind is that the Nest Thermostat can be a bit expensive compared to other thermostats on the market. However, the energy savings over time can help offset the cost. Overall, I think the Nest Smart Thermostat is a great device for anyone who wants to improve their home's energy efficiency and save money on their energy bills. It's easy to use, comes with advanced features, and is compatible with a wide range of smart home devices. The cost may be a downside for some users, but the long-term energy savings make it a worthwhile investment.

A Review of the Money-Making Machine

I'm about to share a life-changing product with you - the smart thermostat! Now, I know what you're thinking - "a thermostat? That sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry." But trust me, this thing is a game-changer.First of all, it can literally pay for itself if your electric company supports it. That's right, you heard me - it's like having a money-making machine on your wall. I mean, who wouldn't want that? It's like having a friend who's always willing to chip in for pizza - but without the whole "eating your last slice" thing.And let's talk about how sleek and stylish it looks. It's like the James Bond of thermostats - smooth, sophisticated, and always on point. It never fails to work with Google Home or on my phone, so I can control the temperature ... MoreI'm about to share a life-changing product with you - the smart thermostat! Now, I know what you're thinking - "a thermostat? That sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry." But trust me, this thing is a game-changer.First of all, it can literally pay for itself if your electric company supports it. That's right, you heard me - it's like having a money-making machine on your wall. I mean, who wouldn't want that? It's like having a friend who's always willing to chip in for pizza - but without the whole "eating your last slice" thing.And let's talk about how sleek and stylish it looks. It's like the James Bond of thermostats - smooth, sophisticated, and always on point. It never fails to work with Google Home or on my phone, so I can control the temperature of my home from anywhere. It's like having a personal assistant who's always there to make sure you're comfortable - but without the annoying "can you get me a latte?" requests.I've been using these smart thermostats for 6 years now, and I can honestly say they've changed my life. No more fiddling with the temperature, no more worrying about energy bills - just pure, unadulterated comfort. It's like having a hug from your grandma, but without the awkward smells.So if you want a thermostat that's smart, stylish, and pays for itself (seriously, why wouldn't you?), then the smart thermostat is the way to go. Trust me, your wallet and your comfort level will thank you. Pro tip! paint your faceplate what ever color you'd like. I did mine in copper

A money saver

I bought this one (and the basic/less expensive one) for my new house which had old thermostats. I've previously used the more basic google nest which didn't require having to have a separate nest app to install.This more expensive one isn't bad. Overall, I believe these smart thermostats are better than the old school ones. The reason I have this one is it was the last one on the shelf, in addition to the cheaper one.I prefer the cheaper one since you can install and use it straight from the google home app. This one you have to get the separate "nest" app, then connect it to your google home app. THEN you can use it from you google home app.Overall, at the end of the day, this has already saved me on my electric bill. My older thermostat just wasn't ... MoreI bought this one (and the basic/less expensive one) for my new house which had old thermostats. I've previously used the more basic google nest which didn't require having to have a separate nest app to install.This more expensive one isn't bad. Overall, I believe these smart thermostats are better than the old school ones. The reason I have this one is it was the last one on the shelf, in addition to the cheaper one.I prefer the cheaper one since you can install and use it straight from the google home app. This one you have to get the separate "nest" app, then connect it to your google home app. THEN you can use it from you google home app.Overall, at the end of the day, this has already saved me on my electric bill. My older thermostat just wasn't calibrated correctly, which resulted in the system constantly blowing heat into the house.Installing this I can already see it will pay for itself in a months' time, given the energy consumption of the previous thermostat. If you have some old thermostat, I'd highly suggest these smart thermostats since they have better sensors for determining the temperature, and ease of use from your phone. AND, they could save you alot of money on your electricity bill each month like in my case.

Better than I thought

My previous thermostat was about 10 years old and was recommended to be replaced. After trying a cheaper different brand which didn't work, I grabbed this thermostat when B&H had it on sale. I have an electric heat pump with electric auxiliary heat so installation was easy. The included optional trim plate is nice and wide to easily cover up existing wall damage from your previous unit. As stated in the instructions no jumper wires are necessary like they were on older thermostats. Software setup through the Nest app was painless with an Android phone and Google account. At the end the thermostat will prompt you to check the connected component settings (heat, cool, aux) to verify they are functional.This thermostat does learn your setting patterns over the first ... MoreMy previous thermostat was about 10 years old and was recommended to be replaced. After trying a cheaper different brand which didn't work, I grabbed this thermostat when B&H had it on sale. I have an electric heat pump with electric auxiliary heat so installation was easy. The included optional trim plate is nice and wide to easily cover up existing wall damage from your previous unit. As stated in the instructions no jumper wires are necessary like they were on older thermostats. Software setup through the Nest app was painless with an Android phone and Google account. At the end the thermostat will prompt you to check the connected component settings (heat, cool, aux) to verify they are functional.This thermostat does learn your setting patterns over the first week, but I started with the same basic schedule I had with my previous thermostat. It has the option for an eco setting when you're away from home with your phone, which sets heat and cooling temps to 50 heat and off AC, but I turned that off as I keep my heating and cooling high anyway. It also defaults to Max comfort, which uses the aux heat source more often, and I suggest you change this to max savings if you're in a warmer climate. I've found this thermostat to be +/- 1F what my IR thermometer reads, and less susceptible to being thrown off by a cold wall.The reason I knocked off a star is because the app is a little buggy, and it doesn't always register when you are home and away. It also does not currently have the option to display the outside temperature and weather, inside temperature and humidity, time on the home screen, only on the information screen (when you press it).

Dubious Quality Control And Unreliable Support

I bought this unit to upgrade from Gen 2 because it can both make use of the sensors and it has dual-band WiFi for a stronger signal. It was very easy to install, it looks great, and it’s very intuitive to use, either on the wall, with your phone, or via a voice assistant. I’ll ding it a little bit because the sensor schedule—that is, when the device can be told to use which sensor—can’t be customized. You have 4 pre-set blocks to choose from, and that’s it.But then the trouble started. First I got a dreaded W5 error, meaning it’s WiFi radio was no longer working. I contacted Google for a replacement, which arrived promptly… but it kept getting caught in a boot loop and I couldn’t set it up. A second replacement arrived and wouldn’t correctly read my (very ... MoreI bought this unit to upgrade from Gen 2 because it can both make use of the sensors and it has dual-band WiFi for a stronger signal. It was very easy to install, it looks great, and it’s very intuitive to use, either on the wall, with your phone, or via a voice assistant. I’ll ding it a little bit because the sensor schedule—that is, when the device can be told to use which sensor—can’t be customized. You have 4 pre-set blocks to choose from, and that’s it.But then the trouble started. First I got a dreaded W5 error, meaning it’s WiFi radio was no longer working. I contacted Google for a replacement, which arrived promptly… but it kept getting caught in a boot loop and I couldn’t set it up. A second replacement arrived and wouldn’t correctly read my (very straightforward!) wiring, despite the fact that the one with the W5 error still could. The third replacement had the same issue, at which point I was advised to spend $130 to have a technician inspect my system to verify it was in fact the thermostat that wasn’t working. So after 6 total hours on the phone with customer support and HVAC technicians, and 3 replacement thermostats, I finally got my fourth one: an ecobee. I had it on and functioning in 20 minutes.My experience is probably very far outside the norm. I most likely just had a run of bad luck; I know when I see reviews like this for something I have maybe already talked myself into, I think, “ah but that’s just one guy; he’s unlucky or he did something wrong; that won’t happen to me.” And it probably won’t! But given the sheer number of issues I encountered—from failing components to annoying limitations to inept and sometimes contradictory customer support (who, at the end of the day, are call-center employees and decidedly *not* HVAC technicians)—I’d urge you to strongly consider other smart thermostats. This one is just not worth the risk or the headaches.

Not a very “smart” thermostat

I’ve had my Nest thermostat for over a year and was SHOCKED to find my energy costs going UP and increased maintenance required on my Lennox Furnace system.I spent so much money on this system because I thought it was “smart,” but honestly it’s got some of the dumbest, unintuitive features and settings.I started paying more attention to why my furnace was working so hard and found out it was short-cycling. Meaning that even though I have my furnace on a schedule, the heat clicks on throughout the day for about 1 minute, shuts off for 2-3 min, then turns BACK on for another min, and so on. (The schedule I have set is supposed to heat to 68 degrees at 9 am then drops to a set temperature of 62 degrees during the day, then heats back to 68 degrees at 6 pm and drops ... MoreI’ve had my Nest thermostat for over a year and was SHOCKED to find my energy costs going UP and increased maintenance required on my Lennox Furnace system.I spent so much money on this system because I thought it was “smart,” but honestly it’s got some of the dumbest, unintuitive features and settings.I started paying more attention to why my furnace was working so hard and found out it was short-cycling. Meaning that even though I have my furnace on a schedule, the heat clicks on throughout the day for about 1 minute, shuts off for 2-3 min, then turns BACK on for another min, and so on. (The schedule I have set is supposed to heat to 68 degrees at 9 am then drops to a set temperature of 62 degrees during the day, then heats back to 68 degrees at 6 pm and drops to a set temperature of 62 degrees overnight - sidenote: if you choose to set a temperature schedule through the nest, you can’t set a different temperature on the schedule within an hour of the initial set temperature, otherwise I would have my house heat to 68 at 9 am and then drop to 62 at 9:30 am, but no, the earliest I can set the next, lower temperature, is 10 am, a full hour after the house heats and has been maintaining the initial set temperature, so dumb!)After I realized my system was short-cycling due to the nest thermostat, I spent hours searching through convoluted “help” articles from Nest. This is how I found out that the thermostat is constantly trying to heat the house and keep it set to the TENTH OF A DEGREE. Meaning that if I set my thermostat to heat to 68 degrees, the thermostat will assign a temperature of 68.6 degrees Fahrenheit. After it heats to that temperature, anytime it drops down to 68.5 degrees Fahrenheit, the whole system clicks on and heats the house back up to 68.6 degrees. Ideally, you’d be able to set the “hysteresis” or a timer on the thermostat (especially on a $200+ thermostat equipment) so that the temperature could be set to something like 72 degrees, heat to that temperature, and then not switch back on to heat the house for a set period of time or until the temperature in the house drops to a certain temperature like 68 degrees.This lack of intuitive settings on the Nest is costing me a FORTUNE between furnace maintenance and increased energy costs (kind of crazy when the Nest is supposed to be so “eco friendly”!) and I’m considering switching back to my $15 Honeywell thermostat which is insane. Until they add this feature to the Nest thermostat, I warn you to steer away from this equipment!

Slightly smarter, faster, and all around better

Google's Nest Thermostat platform has been a stronger contender in the smart home market for a while. The new 3rd generation improves on overalll performance, adds more smart features for reduced energy use, and works with Nest temperature sensors. I had the 2nd generation and upgraded to the 3rd for the sole purpose of wanting to use Nest Temperature Sensors in the three levels of my house.You can prioritize temperature in any specific room, the room the Nest thermostat is in, and create automated routines targeting different tempratures and sensors. I currently have mine setup to drop the heat (or turn up the air) at a specific time before going to bed while using the sensor that's in my bedroom. I setup another routine for the morning where the air is dropped ... MoreGoogle's Nest Thermostat platform has been a stronger contender in the smart home market for a while. The new 3rd generation improves on overalll performance, adds more smart features for reduced energy use, and works with Nest temperature sensors. I had the 2nd generation and upgraded to the 3rd for the sole purpose of wanting to use Nest Temperature Sensors in the three levels of my house.You can prioritize temperature in any specific room, the room the Nest thermostat is in, and create automated routines targeting different tempratures and sensors. I currently have mine setup to drop the heat (or turn up the air) at a specific time before going to bed while using the sensor that's in my bedroom. I setup another routine for the morning where the air is dropped (or heat turned up) using the thermostat itself as the target temperature monitor.I wish it worked better with Alexa in these regards. You can verbally adjust temperatures and work with Alexa routines. However, I haven't been able to tell Alexa to use one of the temperature sensors as the target. It will just use whatever has been setup in the Nest app at that time. Not the end of the world, just a little annoying.I highly recommend this to anyone that wants a faster, slightly smarter thermostat with the ability to work with Nest temperature sensors. I have them spread throughout my house on three different levels. They're able to work through multiple walls and doors. It's nice having the temperature target the room I'm in automatically after setting up routines (or verbally adjusting with Alexa).

Used to be good

Owned a Nest thermostat since it first came out in 2012, and it was an excellent thermostat. It stopped functioning start of heating season 2022 and replaced it with current generation. It did not power on, so replaced with another. It lasted 2 weeks before failing so replaced it with a regular programmable. Decided to give it another try in January and never could get the Home/Away to function correctly. Once it detected I was away (I don't use the app to determine if I am present) it would go into "ECO MODE" and not start heating when returned home. Spent an hour with tech support trying to resolve, who spent more time trying to cancel the call than resolve the issue. When stated the motion sensor was obviously defective and they should send another, I was told to ... MoreOwned a Nest thermostat since it first came out in 2012, and it was an excellent thermostat. It stopped functioning start of heating season 2022 and replaced it with current generation. It did not power on, so replaced with another. It lasted 2 weeks before failing so replaced it with a regular programmable. Decided to give it another try in January and never could get the Home/Away to function correctly. Once it detected I was away (I don't use the app to determine if I am present) it would go into "ECO MODE" and not start heating when returned home. Spent an hour with tech support trying to resolve, who spent more time trying to cancel the call than resolve the issue. When stated the motion sensor was obviously defective and they should send another, I was told to restart my phone. At this point I had enough, I have installed 2 others for friends last year, and they are functioning great. I called a friend who is a HVAC tech to double check my setup, He looked over the wiring, it was correct and said "Get rid of this garbage, I've had to remove 5 this winter due to them failing". Luckily I was still within the return window at Lowes and returned it for a refund.Pros: Does not need a C-Wire or a Power Extender Kit to run on most systems. Most "smart" thermostats require a C-wire or a PEK to operate, and some will not work with dual transformer heating/cooling. Also, when away and in ECO mode, it goes to a temperature you set, not one determined by the thermostat like others do. Also, unlike some I looked at, it doesn't play music, act like a bluetooth speaker or a home security system, it's a thermostat.Cons: Tech support is terrible. If your issue goes outside their pre-scripted playbook, they either try to end the discussion by disconnecting you or telling you to contact a certified installer. And the thermostat is not compatible with the WPA3 wifi security standard, which is becoming the norm on many wifi systems.This was a great thermostat before Google bought out Nest. Now, it's become more of a hassle than it's worth.

pricey and potentially complicated thermostat

This is a very well-made product, in terms of hardware and software design. However, there are less-expensive alternatives that do much the same thing. For example, the Google Nest Smart Programmable Thermostat is at least $120 less and differs primarily in not having the "learning" feature, which programs preferred temperatures by remembering your manual entries to raise or lower at different times of the day and different days of the week. Since I chose to program those uniform settings through the app, the ability to "learn" those from usage is unused.Other niceties are the display of weather conditions but its unclear if this has any effect on thermostat operation, of if it is just fun to know the temp outside.The Google Nest Smart Programmable Thermostat has ... MoreThis is a very well-made product, in terms of hardware and software design. However, there are less-expensive alternatives that do much the same thing. For example, the Google Nest Smart Programmable Thermostat is at least $120 less and differs primarily in not having the "learning" feature, which programs preferred temperatures by remembering your manual entries to raise or lower at different times of the day and different days of the week. Since I chose to program those uniform settings through the app, the ability to "learn" those from usage is unused.Other niceties are the display of weather conditions but its unclear if this has any effect on thermostat operation, of if it is just fun to know the temp outside.The Google Nest Smart Programmable Thermostat has programmability, occupancy sensing, multi-zone control, and a smartphone and web app for remote monitoring and control. Generally, the advantages of the "Learning" version should be considered against its greater cost.As a retired engineer, I want to understand the features and operation, rather than trusting that its software makes the best decisions. Be aware this will require reading many pages of plain text, devoid of pictures or diagrams!