What Are The Disadvantages Of The Nest Thermostat?

You may have heard from friends, family, or even on the internet how truly amazing the Nest thermostat is! Users are usually thrilled by the energy-saving capabilities, which consequently will save you money, and of course the smart features and sleek stylish design. With all this hype, you may be thinking to yourself, are there any disadvantages of the Nest thermostat? And if so, what are they?

There are a few disadvantages to the Nest thermostat: consumers have complained about the high cost of the device, the lengthy setup and connection requirements, and the in-home wiring compatibility issues.

However, we think you should be able to decide for yourself if the negatives outweigh the positives, or vice versa. In this article, we are going to discuss each of these potential disadvantages and why they could affect your decision on whether or not to purchase a Nest thermostat for your home.

Nest Thermostats Come with a Hefty Price Tag

While the price of the Nest thermostat is often on a sliding scale depending on where and when you purchase it, typically it can cost anywhere between $130-$200. Now, let’s compare that to a standard thermostat, for which you might pay anywhere from $15-$100.

If you compare the extremes $15 is quite a lot cheaper than $200, and while realistically you will probably end up paying somewhere in the middle for either the regular or the smart option, you can see why some consumers are not too thrilled.

Google claims that with the energy saved by using the Nest thermostat (around 11% for heating and 15% for cooling) that you may in fact save anywhere between $131-$145 each year, and they do offer quite a lot of data to back it up. That means that if you got the discounted Nest, it would pay for itself in only twelve months, and for the most expensive option on the market, less than two years.

Of course, it really is dependent on your budget if you think splurging for the Nest is the right choice for your home. But before you decide, there are a few more disadvantages to consider.

The Nest Eco Mode isn’t Perfect

The Nest Eco Mode was meant to lower usage while you’re away from your home.

If its a hot day outside, normally you would change your thermostat from the current 85 degrees in the house to perhaps a 71 degrees.

While you’re away, it will just remain off until it hits a temperature of your choosing.

Unfortunately, it sometimes detects incorrectly and will turn on while you’re home. This can be frustrating and has people upset and disabling Eco Mode all together.

The Nest is Difficult to Set Up and Connect

This complaint seems to be coming only from some users, where others have reported that installation was incredibly simple, as was connecting the device to the various other smart devices in their lives, including their home Wifi.

Those who have been displeased with the setup have stated that the wiring, which Google claims to be accessible for everyone, not just electricians, is a lot more challenging than it looks and that you really will need to pay a technician to help. So if you are not very tech or electrically savvy, this may be an important factor for you.

Others have said that it’s the connection arrangement that is the worst part of the Nest thermostat. Where it is supposed to be a smart device that easily connects to your smartphone through the Google Home app, your home Wifi, and even to your Alexa or Google Home device making for hands-free thermostat control, turns out it’s not quite as easy as it sounds.

While connecting all these devices does take a bit of time, those who have it all figured out seem to love the smart features and the Nest is often praised for its user-friendly capabilities.

Once again, this may or may not be a problem for you if you feel comfortable making online connections between multiple devices or if that sounds like one of your nightmares!

The Nest May Not Be Compatible with Your Pre-Installed System

This issue is a pretty big one, more important say than struggling to connect to the Wifi or even a higher price point.

If you haven’t bought your Nest thermostat7j yet, it is essential that you first check if it is compatible with your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that is most likely already installed in your home for the use of your previous standard thermostat. Google even provides an online test to ensure your system is compatible before purchasing.

Buying an entirely new heating and cooling system for your house is certainly more expensive than any thermostat, so if your HVAC does not compute with the Nest, it’s almost certainly not the right choice for you.

Final Thoughts

While there are definitely some disadvantages to the Nest thermostat, they do need to be understood thoroughly and also compared to the advantages before you make your informed decision.

The high price point, lengthy setup and connection issues, and an older or incompatible home system may make you realize that maybe the Nest just has too many negatives to be the right fit for your home.