Keeping your home at the correct temperature throughout the changing seasons is not only about comfort, but keeping your home in its best condition. When your home is at an improper temperature, it can actually affect your general health and your sleeping patterns; it also puts your home at risk for moisture, dampness, and mold. However, when you lose power in your home, it can grow difficult to maintain the perfect temperature. Without power, in the winter your home may become frigid, and in the summer it becomes too hot. Your thermostat becomes effectively useless, as there is no way for it to communicate with their furnace.
The Nest thermostat is growing more popular among many households for its convenience, intuitiveness, and energy efficiency. The technological capabilities of the Nest thermostat set it apart from the typical thermostat people have seen in their homes for years. But is the Nest thermostat still unable to work when your power goes out? Keep reading to find out!
Benefits of the Nest Thermostat
The Nest thermostat was created in 2011 as one of the first available smart thermostats. It followed in the footsteps of the Ecobee thermostat. Over the years, the Nest has continually grown and expanded in its capabilities, making it a great option for a thermostat over traditional choices.
The Nest thermostat is able to link with your smartphone or tablet, allowing you to control the Nest from anywhere. This means that you can control your thermostat even when you are away from your home. Gone are the days of forgetting to turn your thermostat up or down and coming back to an uncomfortable house.
On top of energy conservation while you are away, a Nest will actually program itself to ensure your HVAC system is working at its most efficient level. This not only helps your HVAC system perform at a better rate and last longer, but will also save you money.
You have the option of connecting your Nest to your smoke detectors and CO alarms, as long as you have a compatible smart device. With this, the Nest will actually help prevent dangerous conditions in your home, keeping you and your family safe around the clock.
Does the Nest Work Without Power?
Power outages are an annoying, but unavoidable occurrence – especially during hurricane season and other harsh weather conditions. But one of the biggest questions homeowners have regarding their Nest thermostat is whether or not it will function after the home’s power cuts out. So what’s the answer?
Yes, the Nest thermostat does work when the power goes out in your home! However, it does become more of a traditional thermostat, rather than a smart thermostat. The Nest comes with a battery backup, which it switches to once the power goes out. This battery backup is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
Once the Nest switches over to its battery backup, it will have enough battery power to last just a couple of hours. Then, it will completely shut down. The Nest, however, will make any necessary changes to its programming in an attempt to keep it running as long as possible. It will lose its smartphone connection, so anything that you want to change on it will need to be done directly at the thermostat itself.
When your power returns, the Nest will need some time to get back to its normal functioning state. This usually takes about an hour to complete, bringing it back to full charge.
While the Nest thermostat does not function at its highest capacity after the power goes out, it still tries its best to function properly. For shorter power outages, this can be helpful, but if you are out of power for days at a time, this may feel useless. Regardless, it is still a step up from the traditional thermostat functionality.
How the Nest Saves You Money
The Nest thermostat uses its technology to help you save on your energy bill. Did you know that the thermostat in your home actually controls half of your energy bill?
A Nest thermostat will learn what your preferred temperatures are, and then creates a schedule for itself to match that. The Nest will even learn when you are away, so that it can help you preserve energy when you are not using it.
It has been estimated that a Nest thermostat will save your home up to $145 per year. On average, people save up to 12% of their energy costs on heating, and up to 15% on cooling.
Contact Coastal Home Services Today
If you’re looking for a thermostat that can save you money and keep your home comfortable, the Nest thermostat is a great choice. With its backup battery, you are even able to keep your home at a comfortable temperature when you lose power. If you are looking to have a Nest installed in your Crystal Coast, North Carolina home and are not sure how to do so, contact Coastal Home Services today! You may want to try to set up your Nest yourself, but it is better to have a professional take care of it – you do not want to accidentally create a conflict with your HVAC system. One of our technicians will be happy to help you get your Nest set up, and can show you how to get started with it.
Contact us using the form below, and someone will be in touch with you shortly. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you save on your energy bill with your new Nest thermostat!
