Hunterware, I haven't read about multiple units talking to each other. I've only got one so far, but I'm contemplating a second unit in the house somewhere down the road. If you've got the house zoned off (first and second floor), does this feature get in the way? Meaning, someone is home, but you don't want to turn on the unit in the second zone because it really isn't needed during the day or at night.
The Nest Thermostat
- Thread starter Jsf721
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HunterWare
Active member
They are programmed and operated independently, they just coordinate on setting and disabling the auto-away as necessary. Another nice thing is that they show up together on the site, mobile app and email. This gives a nice way to control and monitor the whole house.
Air_Cooled_Nut
Well-known member
How sensitive is the proximity sensor, like, will a cat or large dog set it off? Must you have an Apple product or can you use a web browser? What about my Android device? I have my Wi-Fi on a schedule, thus it turns off late-night but back on early morn, so will this be an issue?
Greatbear
Well-known member
The proximity sensors arent triggered by pets (well, unless you have a mastiff or great dane there could be an issue, but I believe the sensor is not sensitive below the level the tstat is mounted). You can use Android or Apple smartthings via apps to control the Nest, and you can use a web browser as well. As for scheduling your wi-fi, this will only interfere with the direct control of the Nest, those times your wi-fi is shut off, remote control isn't possible. The other aspects of the Nest operation, like the collection of energy usage data, etc, isn't affected. The Nest holds operational data until the next time it can connect to nest.com and updates accordingly.
Air_Cooled_Nut
Well-known member
Thanks GB!
ChargedUp!
Well-known member
I love mine!
My cats can climb on top of an entertainment center 3.5' away and 1' to the right of my Nest install (2nd gen). The cats don't wake it up. My wife is shorter than my nest is installed (would have lowered it, but didn't want to patch the wall), sometimes my wife needs to wave a hand in front of it to wake it up. 
Just to clarify: A recent software update includes the ability to run the fan separate from heating and cooling function. I wish there was an increment less than 15 minutes, and a way to program it to run like the heat/cool program does.
Got my Nest in October 2012 the weekend the 2nd Gen Nest came out. It just works. I read the CR reviews on the other programmable units and finally decided I wasn't going to pay a monthly fee to anyone to access my thermostat. (ruled a few out that way). My wallet is not an endless pot of gold for corporate profiteers to mine with their monthly fees.
Just to clarify: A recent software update includes the ability to run the fan separate from heating and cooling function. I wish there was an increment less than 15 minutes, and a way to program it to run like the heat/cool program does.
Got my Nest in October 2012 the weekend the 2nd Gen Nest came out. It just works. I read the CR reviews on the other programmable units and finally decided I wasn't going to pay a monthly fee to anyone to access my thermostat. (ruled a few out that way). My wallet is not an endless pot of gold for corporate profiteers to mine with their monthly fees.
I just bought 3 for our new house the wife and I are building. There's 1 for each zone in the house that is the gen2 and a gen1 for the garage. I bought them due to positive reviews as well as the look frankly. We had a nice programmable one in our last house but the wife kept overriding the set temps. I would come home from work with no one there and it would be 72 in the house when I programmed it to be 62 while we were working. Same with when we would be sleeping. Occasionally, I'd wake up to go to the can and find the temp jacked back up. Now, I have a better opportunity to keep temps in check remotely. Did I mention I like the look?
If you can have 3 set up, do you see a problem having 4 units in one area?
ChargedUp!
Well-known member
I don't see a problem with it. We almost added a 3rd zone in our house and would have had 4 but we cheaper out on the basement.
. The biggest issue was getting wireless connectivity to all of them. We have our router tucked in a corner in the basement and the garage one didn't see the network. I had an old router and just added it to my network for the added range. Works perfect!G20-Budo
Well-known member
So I've been doing some research on the Nest, and of course came here to see what you guys had to say/experienced. From what I've read, the main issues people are complaining about are with the Gen 2 Nest. Most people seemed to love the Gen 1. People have been complaining that the Gen 2 proximity sensor doesn't have the same range as the Gen 1, and they have to stand in front of the unit and wave their hands at it.
My question is, of you that have the Nest thermostat, what Gen is it? 1 or 2?
Also, OP how's yours working out for you?
Thanks.
My question is, of you that have the Nest thermostat, what Gen is it? 1 or 2?
Also, OP how's yours working out for you?
Thanks.
HunterWare
Active member
I have two Gen1's. I hadn't heard the sensor complaint but I will say that their customer service is excellent.
The people on phone support are amazingly knowledgeable and the cross ship replacements without hassle. I had one break when renovating (moving the thermostat and rerouting the wires to a new wall). It had been working happily for almost a year at the time and I was quite frank that the problem was new and that I was trying to rehook it after the contractors had worked on/around it. They didn't tell me it was probably not a warranty issue, they told me a new one would be there in two days and apologized that the overnight deadline had been missed.
You just don't get that kind of care very often anymore...
The people on phone support are amazingly knowledgeable and the cross ship replacements without hassle. I had one break when renovating (moving the thermostat and rerouting the wires to a new wall). It had been working happily for almost a year at the time and I was quite frank that the problem was new and that I was trying to rehook it after the contractors had worked on/around it. They didn't tell me it was probably not a warranty issue, they told me a new one would be there in two days and apologized that the overnight deadline had been missed.
You just don't get that kind of care very often anymore...
G20-Budo
Well-known member
Hunterware, from my research it looks like only the Gen2 Nest thermostats have the proximity sensor issue. One of the people that commented on it had sold his Gen1 to get the Gen2, so he had a base of reference to start with. If a person had never had a Gen1, and just bought the Gen2, I'm guessing they'd think it was supposed to be like that?
They look like a great product for sure, just not sure I'm willing to pitch that much $ at a product that has enough negative comments about issues with the sensor on the Gen2's.
Maybe I can find a Gen1?
They look like a great product for sure, just not sure I'm willing to pitch that much $ at a product that has enough negative comments about issues with the sensor on the Gen2's.
Maybe I can find a Gen1?
koditten
Well-known member
I was interested until I saw the price. Being an Apple product, the price isn't about to come down much. It's an electronic device, aren't electronics supposed to get cheaper as they age?
KO
KO
Falcon67
Well-known member
All do unless they come from Apple. LOL - not a hater - use their products, but damn guys you have serious competition. I think the market just sent them a telegram yesterday, so we'll see. I know my next phone will not start with "i".
And I still don't have one of these - our $99 wireless multi setback unit seems to do just fine. We're pretty regular about come and go anyway.
kamesama980
Well-known member
I have a gen2, can't say how the sensor compares to g1 if it had one but I'll agree that it often doesn't notice when I walk by or wave at it. there have been several times when I think it's gone into away mode and let the temps climb because it didn't notice anyone.
In it's defense, it isn't "looking" at a high traffic area even though it's mounted next to one. High being relative since it's just my wife and I (for this, 8mo baby doesn't count) and we're usually either in bed on one end of the house, or awake on the other end of the house, neither being in view of the Nest.
My only other complaint is there's no less graphicky way to log into it via network. my work computer's version of IE (only browser allowed...) isn't supported by the next site.
AFAIK Nest is not a product of apple but designed by some of the people that had a hand in designing apple's products. If it were an apple product it'd be i-something and cost half again what it does.
In it's defense, it isn't "looking" at a high traffic area even though it's mounted next to one. High being relative since it's just my wife and I (for this, 8mo baby doesn't count) and we're usually either in bed on one end of the house, or awake on the other end of the house, neither being in view of the Nest.
My only other complaint is there's no less graphicky way to log into it via network. my work computer's version of IE (only browser allowed...
) isn't supported by the next site.AFAIK Nest is not a product of apple but designed by some of the people that had a hand in designing apple's products. If it were an apple product it'd be i-something and cost half again what it does.
Mine is awesome, but I honestly live where you use A/C 10 months out of the year.
Since it is located in a short hallway under the stairs, I had to turn off the auto away function because it is not in a good location to truly sense whether anyone is home (it is in the middle of the house away from windows and doors).
I love the fact that I can program every day independently, and look at my daily usage for the last 10 days.
I'd buy it again, with a Lowes 10% off coupon. <----(exactly how I bought my first gen2 Nest). When I buy another house, it will get one too.
Since it is located in a short hallway under the stairs, I had to turn off the auto away function because it is not in a good location to truly sense whether anyone is home (it is in the middle of the house away from windows and doors).
I love the fact that I can program every day independently, and look at my daily usage for the last 10 days.
I'd buy it again, with a Lowes 10% off coupon. <----(exactly how I bought my first gen2 Nest). When I buy another house, it will get one too.
schmelpboy
Banned
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I have one in my house; Here's my .02
Best thing I've ever purchased to save money. I'm in and out of my house constantly for work; I work about 60 hours a week, more during the winter. I barely roll out of bed to make it to work each morning; I am extremely forgetful. I also have an alarm system at my place. Guess what is the first thing I realize I've forgotten 5 minutes down the road each day? The heat/cool is on. For the first 3 years I owned my place, my heating and cooling bills were 1-200 bucks. Whenever I realized I forgot to turn off the heat, I just said F-it and kept on going. That happened at least 5 days a week for 3 years. Fast forward to now with my nest...At any stoplight, I turn the heat on or off. For the people that say it won't save you money are simply lying. I'm paying roughly 50 bucks a month for the exact same heating and cooling I always used. Within 6 months, that paid off my nest. Now the rest is just savings in my pockets.
Anyone that says a nest is just a glorified digital thermostat obviously doesn't know anything about them. They are a learning thermostat. They are constantly updating. If for a week you used to get home at 5, and are now returning at 6, your air stops coming on at 5 and comes on at 6. For people with older systems in their house like me, it runs the fans more rather than running the heater or A/C to save energy. Heck, on cold days, an hour before I leave the office, I get out my smartphone and voila....3 seconds later, I can see that the heat has turned on in my house so that it's warm when I get home. Yes, the thermostat on the screen goes from black to orange to show you it actually turned on.
For me, it was a hard pill to swallow at first, but it's worth every last penny and then some. Anyone that says otherwise either has a state of the art a/c and heating system, an envelope house, or just doesn't have a clue. Before the Nest I was probably in the top 95% of people that wasted energy a year; afterwards, when I get my Nest report each month, I'm in the top 5% of energy SAVERS. That's huge. HUMONGOUS! I could go on and on about how great the thing is. Buy one.
Best thing I've ever purchased to save money. I'm in and out of my house constantly for work; I work about 60 hours a week, more during the winter. I barely roll out of bed to make it to work each morning; I am extremely forgetful. I also have an alarm system at my place. Guess what is the first thing I realize I've forgotten 5 minutes down the road each day? The heat/cool is on. For the first 3 years I owned my place, my heating and cooling bills were 1-200 bucks. Whenever I realized I forgot to turn off the heat, I just said F-it and kept on going. That happened at least 5 days a week for 3 years. Fast forward to now with my nest...At any stoplight, I turn the heat on or off. For the people that say it won't save you money are simply lying. I'm paying roughly 50 bucks a month for the exact same heating and cooling I always used. Within 6 months, that paid off my nest. Now the rest is just savings in my pockets.
Anyone that says a nest is just a glorified digital thermostat obviously doesn't know anything about them. They are a learning thermostat. They are constantly updating. If for a week you used to get home at 5, and are now returning at 6, your air stops coming on at 5 and comes on at 6. For people with older systems in their house like me, it runs the fans more rather than running the heater or A/C to save energy. Heck, on cold days, an hour before I leave the office, I get out my smartphone and voila....3 seconds later, I can see that the heat has turned on in my house so that it's warm when I get home. Yes, the thermostat on the screen goes from black to orange to show you it actually turned on.
For me, it was a hard pill to swallow at first, but it's worth every last penny and then some. Anyone that says otherwise either has a state of the art a/c and heating system, an envelope house, or just doesn't have a clue. Before the Nest I was probably in the top 95% of people that wasted energy a year; afterwards, when I get my Nest report each month, I'm in the top 5% of energy SAVERS. That's huge. HUMONGOUS! I could go on and on about how great the thing is. Buy one.
Angelfire
Well-known member
Like mine an awful lot. I'm currently in Ireland and am keeping tabs on both my house and a small cabin in the mountains in the states with it. No changes to be made now but when freezing weather hits, it will be nice to see temps even if its just piece of mind
koditten
Well-known member
Damn! you guys are starting to sway me.
I need to think about this more. That Amazon "buy it now" button is looking more and more attractive.
KO
I need to think about this more. That Amazon "buy it now" button is looking more and more attractive.
KO
danski0224
Well-known member
Sure about that?
The following data is for an 1800sq ft house in South Florida built in 1962. The A/C unit is a 14 SEER Carrier single speed installed in 1998. Granted, the Nest is not the only reason my electric bills have gotten lower, but it certainly does not appear to be making my bill worse. (Nest installed October 2012).
March '12: $ 90
April 2012: $ 94
May 2012: $109
June 2012: $122
July 2012: $150
August '12: $132
March '13: $82
April '13: $73
May '13: $85
June '13: $91
July '13: $98
August '13: $103 <-- Actual bill was only $62 because my solar generated $41 worth.
koditten
Well-known member
No, I'm not sure about that. It just seems that anything Apple related seems to demand a premium price. It was designed by the people who did the Iphone.
I'm not getting into an arguement here, I was just pointing out that the price has not come down much, if at all. I have never noticed any type of electronic device hold value as long as Apple products. Everything else seems to get cheaper as they have been on the market longer.
KO
danski0224
Well-known member
Nest is founded by some ex-Apple employees:
http://www.technologyreview.com/fea...sts-control-freaks-reinvented-the-thermostat/
There are some Honeywell thermostats that actually *do* more, are accessible from a mobile device app, but lack the fancy design and some of the features, like automatic programming and the proximity sensors, of the Nest.
They have a fixed pricing arrangement. Resellers can't discount it and the wholesale cost isn't a whole lot less than retail. Professionals that sign up with Nest to install it are told what they can charge- everyone has the same price.
It's a slick product. It certainly has some appeal- especially to techy gadget freaks that like shiny things.
But, for some complicated HVAC systems, or for a couple of specific features, the Nest can't control them... yet.
http://www.technologyreview.com/fea...sts-control-freaks-reinvented-the-thermostat/
There are some Honeywell thermostats that actually *do* more, are accessible from a mobile device app, but lack the fancy design and some of the features, like automatic programming and the proximity sensors, of the Nest.
They have a fixed pricing arrangement. Resellers can't discount it and the wholesale cost isn't a whole lot less than retail. Professionals that sign up with Nest to install it are told what they can charge- everyone has the same price.
It's a slick product. It certainly has some appeal- especially to techy gadget freaks that like shiny things.
But, for some complicated HVAC systems, or for a couple of specific features, the Nest can't control them... yet.
crucible
Well-known member
Nice gadget and it does seem to do some good things.
For me however, I do not want anything that controls large systems in my house internet-accessable. I particularly do not like the (thought at this time) of power companies mandating such things in the future so that *they* can adjust your home's environmentals remotely.
Also, get off my grass you kids.
For me however, I do not want anything that controls large systems in my house internet-accessable. I particularly do not like the (thought at this time) of power companies mandating such things in the future so that *they* can adjust your home's environmentals remotely.
Also, get off my grass you kids.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Our $99 model is WiFi and is linked to our router. I can access the control from radiothermostat.com, including schedule changes. There is also an iPhone app that we use. Ours also can use a Z Wave module. As a wifi/network guy, access to a house control type device from the world is pretty much a given or why have it at all. Our $40 weather station uses a WiFi chip and I think Z Wave to talk to the base display, so there's really no reason to pay big bucks for the capability.
We were in a voluntary program to allow our t-stat to be managed with others as part of a energy management. It was an easy opt-in and an easy opt-out. It was OK until the summer when our system really could not keep up late in the day. The group schedule pattern that developed wasn't a good fit at that point, so we dropped out.I had to tighten up the setbacks over the summer so the system got a run at the evening internal temps. Not a fault of the t-stat or the management program, just our system feeing it's age.
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dwm
Well-known member
I love my Nest. It paid for itself in under 3 months (summer).
I am of course one of those people that paid little attention to my thermostat and then wound up paying for my lack of attention on my monthly bill. With the Nest I pay a little bit more attention, but mostly only because it's easy to do so from anywhere I have network connectivity (and with a smartphone, that's almost everywhere). But I don't have to pay much attention with the Nest. I really haven't touched it but a few times in the last 3 months, but I've saved $300 in electricity costs over the same period last year. Probably more; I've been doing a ton of remodelling work and making heavy use of power and air tools, not to mention 1000W of lighting in the garage almost every night.
I do like the fact that it looks nice on the wall, and I appreciate a good user interface. But I bought it because the original thermostat in this home was on the blink (new-to-me home that had been abused), and I knew I was a candidate for money savings with a smart thermostat. In the summer I often open 2nd floor windows and turn on an exhaust fan at night to bring in fresh air and cool the house without A/C. But if I forget to close things up before I leave in the morning (master suite is on the first floor so it's easy to forget), I can turn off the A/C from the road or the office.
Homes that are occupied most of the day will see less savings than those that are unoccupied for a decent period during the day. But if you enjoy electronics that make your life easier, you'll enjoy a Nest. Same reason I tend to use occupancy and vacancy sensors for lighting in some areas.
I am of course one of those people that paid little attention to my thermostat and then wound up paying for my lack of attention on my monthly bill. With the Nest I pay a little bit more attention, but mostly only because it's easy to do so from anywhere I have network connectivity (and with a smartphone, that's almost everywhere). But I don't have to pay much attention with the Nest. I really haven't touched it but a few times in the last 3 months, but I've saved $300 in electricity costs over the same period last year. Probably more; I've been doing a ton of remodelling work and making heavy use of power and air tools, not to mention 1000W of lighting in the garage almost every night.
I do like the fact that it looks nice on the wall, and I appreciate a good user interface. But I bought it because the original thermostat in this home was on the blink (new-to-me home that had been abused), and I knew I was a candidate for money savings with a smart thermostat. In the summer I often open 2nd floor windows and turn on an exhaust fan at night to bring in fresh air and cool the house without A/C. But if I forget to close things up before I leave in the morning (master suite is on the first floor so it's easy to forget), I can turn off the A/C from the road or the office.
Homes that are occupied most of the day will see less savings than those that are unoccupied for a decent period during the day. But if you enjoy electronics that make your life easier, you'll enjoy a Nest. Same reason I tend to use occupancy and vacancy sensors for lighting in some areas.
schmelpboy
Banned
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- Jun 24, 2012
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- 1,717
I bought mine on ebay for 220 BIN, and then my electric company gave me 20 bucks back for buying it.....
FarmerPete
Well-known member
I bought a Gen 2 for $200 last December. I brought a 20% off everything that can fit in this bag from Menards to Lowes and had them price match.
Before, I was one who had a pretty strict schedule that my furnace followed. I have always been pretty conservative on how I set things up. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that any WiFi thermostat will have saved me considerably more money than a Nest will cost in under a year. My thermostat is in a room that we don't walk in too often, so the auto-away feature doesn't work so well for us. Having said that, my biggest problem for making temporary changes to heating/cooling was that I wanted to have the house be comfortable when we returned home. So for example, a few weeks ago, the wife and I went to a friends house for the evening. I turned the AC down so that the house wouldn't be cooled while we were gone for 5-6 hours. At 11pm when I knew we were getting ready to leave, I checked the house temp, saw it was 80, and decided to turn it down to 76 so that it would be nicer sleep temperature. By the time we got home, the house was already 78, and it was at 76 by the time we were ready to sleep. Had I left the AC on at 76, it would have used more energy needlessly.
The same thing for going on trips. I always set my thermostat to away when leaving for something overnight. When you're returning from a weekend up North in the middle of the winter, it stinks to get back to your house and have it be 50 degrees inside. A quick app visit, and the house can be warmed up by the time we get home.
So I guess that says why I like the idea of a WiFi thermostat, but why did I pick the Nest? I can tell you, it wasn't because of it's connection to Apple. It's because of it's simplicity. I'm a tech guy. I've worked in IT for almost 10 years now, I have a 4 year degree in IT, and I love gadgets. I can program/use any thermostat with no problem. My wife is not so inclined. I love her to death, but she had a hard time operating my old basic programmable thermostat to make minor corrections. With the Nest, anyone can walk up to it, turn the nob and walk away. Sure, it has the guts to do more than just about every thermostat in existence, but the ease at which someone can make a temporary temperature adjustment is amazing. So worth it.
Before, I was one who had a pretty strict schedule that my furnace followed. I have always been pretty conservative on how I set things up. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that any WiFi thermostat will have saved me considerably more money than a Nest will cost in under a year. My thermostat is in a room that we don't walk in too often, so the auto-away feature doesn't work so well for us. Having said that, my biggest problem for making temporary changes to heating/cooling was that I wanted to have the house be comfortable when we returned home. So for example, a few weeks ago, the wife and I went to a friends house for the evening. I turned the AC down so that the house wouldn't be cooled while we were gone for 5-6 hours. At 11pm when I knew we were getting ready to leave, I checked the house temp, saw it was 80, and decided to turn it down to 76 so that it would be nicer sleep temperature. By the time we got home, the house was already 78, and it was at 76 by the time we were ready to sleep. Had I left the AC on at 76, it would have used more energy needlessly.
The same thing for going on trips. I always set my thermostat to away when leaving for something overnight. When you're returning from a weekend up North in the middle of the winter, it stinks to get back to your house and have it be 50 degrees inside. A quick app visit, and the house can be warmed up by the time we get home.
So I guess that says why I like the idea of a WiFi thermostat, but why did I pick the Nest? I can tell you, it wasn't because of it's connection to Apple. It's because of it's simplicity. I'm a tech guy. I've worked in IT for almost 10 years now, I have a 4 year degree in IT, and I love gadgets. I can program/use any thermostat with no problem. My wife is not so inclined. I love her to death, but she had a hard time operating my old basic programmable thermostat to make minor corrections. With the Nest, anyone can walk up to it, turn the nob and walk away. Sure, it has the guts to do more than just about every thermostat in existence, but the ease at which someone can make a temporary temperature adjustment is amazing. So worth it.
koditten
Well-known member
Pete:
Just about everything you state could be applied to me, including the wife and the weather. Midland isn't that much different then what you have down there at the capital.
Thanks for the post.
KO
Just about everything you state could be applied to me, including the wife and the weather. Midland isn't that much different then what you have down there at the capital.
Thanks for the post.
KO
kiatech
Well-known member
You sleep in 76 F?
KPSquared
Well-known member
That's HOT! ! ! My house never even gets that warm in the daytime. 65 at night, 70 during the day. Year round. Outside temps swing from up to 93*F in the summer down to -40*F in the winter. I like my house to feel the same all year 'round.
Still haven't decided if I'm getting a Nest or not.
Still haven't decided if I'm getting a Nest or not.
Greatbear
Well-known member
Gen 1 here. Still happy as ever with the thing.
kamesama980
Well-known member
+1 holy **** HOT. Even with the fan on my bed'd be soaked with sweat...I know cuz that's how my mom cools her house. Then again she's in long sleeves at 70 and gets heat-sick at 85.
68-69 at night, 75 during the day for wife + 8mo daughter, 73 when I get home.
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
If I understand this correctly, your computer servers are on the same circuit (breaker) as the HVAC system. Correct?
I don't think that meets the NEC and if it does, I wouldn't think that is prudent to do.
I haven't seen anyone mention it, so I'll add this bit. I work at home and as such the auto away becomes really annoying as it trips all the time when I'm sitting in the office. I notice about 2 hours later when I start to get really cold. I found an iPhone app called skylark that uses geofencing to figure out when mine and my wife's phone are out of the house (more than 700 ft away) to go to the away setting instead of using auto away. When we are 2 miles from home it turns back on. It has been 99% effective at managing our home/away.
Dick in Wisconsin
Well-known member
The posters who have installed the Nest and feel they are saving significant dollars in heating/cooling costs, did you have a programmable set-back thermostat before the next? If so, were you using its set-back features?
We already have a Lux set-back thermostat and are using the features so the temp in the house fits our lifestyle, comings, and goings. I'm struggling to understand if the Nest will provide us with savings over and above what we're already enjoying.
We already have a Lux set-back thermostat and are using the features so the temp in the house fits our lifestyle, comings, and goings. I'm struggling to understand if the Nest will provide us with savings over and above what we're already enjoying.
My thought you would see no savings given your current thermostat use and settings........and with the Nest being pricey it would never have payback in your scenario.
Notgrownup
Well-known member
I have a $29 Honeywell 5+2 for 12 years now and it works fine...I looked at those a while back opted not to drop that kind of coin on a thermostat....