Nest thermostat compatibility
Nest thermostats are designed to work with most 24 V systems, even older ones. These companies work with all common fuel types, including natural gas, oil, and electricity.
When you set up your Nest thermostat with Google Home or the Nest app, it will tell you whether your system is compatible before you install it. You’ll also get a wiring guide when setting up your Nest thermostat.
If you want to check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat, you can use our online compatibility checker.
Using a standard wire (C wire) or the Nest Power Connector for some systems may be necessary. If you want to check compatibility, all you need is to know what kind of heating system you have. It doesn’t matter what brand or model it is. Check your manufacturer’s website or contact them if you’re unsure what type of system you have.
It is important to note that this article only covers Nest thermostat compatibility in Canada and the United States. To learn more about Nest thermostat compatibility in Europe.
Use the Nest thermostat Compatibility Checker.
Here’s some more information to help you as you use the online compatibility checker to find out if your heating and cooling systems are compatible with Nest thermostats:
What are the steps to turn off your system?
By doing so, you protect yourself and your equipment from blowing a fuse.
- Your system may have a switch that you should use.
- It should look like a regular switch. If your system does not have control,
- Shut off the power at the fuse box or breaker.
What is the best way to test whether the power is off?
Set the thermostat at least five degrees higher than usual.
- During winter, raise the thermostat to turn on the heating.
- If it’s summer and you have air conditioning, lower the temperature.
- Check if your system turns on after at least five minutes (you’ll need to wait since many systems have a built-in delay).
It’s a good idea to listen for your system to turn on or put your hand near a vent to feel warm or cool air coming out.
How do you remove your thermostat’s cover?
Others need to be unscrewed. Some covers can be pulled off.
A mid-plate may also need to be removed from an older thermostat to expose the wires.
Thermostat wires are incompatible.
The thermostat wires must be high voltage or stranded for the system to work. However, it is possible that a trained professional can make your system compatible.
Wires stranded together.
Examine the end of one of the thermostat wires closely. You may need to remove the wire from the connector to do this. If there is more than one significant strand, the wiring isn’t Nest-compatible. Reinsert the connector into the correct location when you’re done.
Wires of high voltage.
Typically, high-voltage systems have a thermostat labeled 120V or 240V and have two thick wires with wire nuts. Electric baseboard heaters and high voltage systems aren’t compatible with Nest thermostats.
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Nest thermostats can sometimes be made compatible with some systems. Ask a local pro to install a step-down transformer between 20 and 30 volts.
The colors of wires are irrelevant.
Don’t worry about the color of the wires. Just enter which connectors have a wire. This is because not all systems are connected to the thermostat with the same wire colors.
When you find a red wire, don’t enter R in the Compatibility Checker, and when you find a white wire, don’t enter W. Look at the wire connector to determine whether it is red or white. You should check R if there is a wire of any color in your thermostat’s R connector.
Don’t touch jumper wires.
Don’t include a short “jumper” wire if there is one between two connectors on your thermostat. Only enter the labels for cables connected to your thermostat that come from inside your wall. If you enter only Rh, Y1, G, and C wires into the checker, as shown on the right, you will get the correct result. Because a jumper only connects RC, you would not enter it in the checker.
Zoned systems compatibility.
Zoned systems, including those with dampers, are compatible with Nest thermostats. Without a C wire, the Nest thermostat will not work with some zoned systems.
Information about the star connector on the Nest thermostat compatibility
You can also install specialized systems by using Nest thermostats’ star connector.
You can install a humidifier, a dehumidifier, emergency heat, multiple fan speeds, or the 3rd stage of heating with the Nest Learning Thermostat’s connector.
You can install a heat pump, the second stage of heating, or a second cooling stage with the Nest Thermostat E’s or OB connector.
