Google Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation, Copper - Smart Thermostat - A Brighter Way To Save Energy

Nest is one of those rare products that is impeccable in its design, functionality, quality and ease of use. All things considered, it is also extremely good value for money as well. However, like me, you will might only realise that once you have started using Nest. The positive experience of Nest actually starts on unpacking the product, the quality of the product is evident in every detail. Even the screws for attaching the product to the wall have a certain quality about them which just is not there in a normal screw.Prior to installing Nest, for years my house has been either too hot or too cold and rarely at just the right temperature. Now, less than two days after installation, with Nest, I can accurately control the temperature inside my house so that it feels comfortable all the time.I have no hesitation in recommending Nest as a new or replacement thermostat / timer. It has certainly given my old boiler a new lease of life, which in its last life was simply controlled by a programmable clock and the thermostatic valves on the radiators. For those interested, the boiler which I fitted Nest to, is the IMI / Range / Baxi / Potterton - Powermax 185 (yes, the boiler was sold and sold again from company to company like a hot potato!). This type of boiler has a chequered history due to a lack of knowledge amongst most heating engineers on the correct maintenance and repair but despite that, like Nest, I consider it to be a design classic!! If Nest can fit this old boiler and give it a new lease of life, then it will probably fit any boiler out there. But do your own research and check the compatibility for yourself. if you are not confident to fit Nest yourself then it is worthwhile getting a Nest installation professional to fit it for you.The installation process took me approximately 2 hours. I prepared well by having my boiler installation manual to hand as well as lengths of power cable and a variety of tools such as a cable stripper, drill, tape measure, electrical screwdriver, pencil etc. I also watched a few YouTube videos on how to install. One important safety point to remember is to switch off the bolier and isolate it from the mains during installation.Following installation, I can see, at a glance, the actual temperature inside the house and also when the boiler is due to be triggered to run and when it is not. When I walk past Nest, the built-in motion sensor wakens so that Nest displays the actual temperature and the temperature that the boiler has been set to come on at. This allows Nest to be setup and adjusted very accurately for each individuals requirements. Adjustment is made by either making adjustments on the Nest display itself or by using the Nest App on your phone.I have setup Nest to operate to a pre-determined schedule because I have a pretty standard routine, however, Nest has been designed to learn your home life patters and adjusts to suit and save energy when you are out. You will need to research this a bit yourself to decide if you want to simply set a schedule or let nest learn and react to your movements.When I am away from the house, I can check the Nest App on my phone to see how much the temperature is dropping throughout the day when the house is empty and Nest has been set to a low temperature, so as not to switch the boiler on unnecessarily. In my case this confirmed that the installation of the loft insulation which was upgraded a few years ago was actually worthwhile! There being a minimal drop in temperature throughout the day.In its history file, Nest stores the boiler's operation details which allows me to check how long the boiler has had to run for each day to maintain the desired temperatures throughout the day and night. This will prove to be helpful in adjusting the Nest settings so as to be as energy efficient as possible or for monitoring the benefits of other energy saving upgrades such as the installation of upgraded windows or loft insulation etc.On researching the possibilities of Nest further, it is apparent that the integration of Nest with other household products will limited only by the ingenuity of Nest's designers (which is obviously there in abundance) and the ingenuity and foresight of designers of other products.It was a pleasant surprise to find that Nest was already able to seamlessly integrate with my Logitech Ultimate remote control. As soon as I realised that this was a possibility, it was done using the Nest App on my phone.I would have never thought that a mere thermostat could be such a joy to use and into the bargain actually provide the very precise boiler control which is necessary to make the living environment as comfortable as possible. With Nest, the days of turning thermostats up and down to control the temperature or adjusting difficult to set time settings on wall mounted programmers are gone. Nest is an absolute pleasure to use and helps us to create a very comfortable living environment, which can only be a good thing.There are not many products on the market that I would take the time to review as most are here today and gone tomorrow. However, Nest is one of those products that stands out and I have no doubt will be here to stay for a very long time. Nest has clearly been designed and brought to market by skilled and enthusiastic designers and others with a vision who are passionate and determined in their efforts. Nest has created a product which can actually help to improve our everyday lives in more ways than you could ever imagine that a thermostat could.I did my research before purchasing and watched a few YouTube videos on the installation but I still felt uncertain about it whether Nest would work with my boiler. Having now bought, installed and used Nest, I would say its a no-brainer! I hope that this review helps a few people in their research prior to making their purchase.

We have recently refurbed a house and I wanted to kit it out with automation tech... we couldn't really afford it with all the other work going on but I found one on Amazon Warehouse Deals - not a huge discount but enough to tempt me. Despite being a previously returned unit the product that arrived looked brand new, there was absolutely no sign that someone had previously had it which was brilliant.The product itself looks great. It's so much better looking than a traditional thermostat and in my opinion looks sleeker than other equivilants (Hive etc.). The thermostat unit can be as simple or complex to use as you wish - twist the dial to adjust heat or enter the myriad of menus.Being impatient I decided to install the unit myself. You'll need a bit of electrical knowledge for this as the installation instructions for the Heat Link (the bit that connects to the boiler) are not brilliant - you get some diagrams and that's about it. After a bit of time studying the nest wiring diagram and comparing it to the boiler I managed to get the thing hooked up. From that point on it took about 10minutes to be fully functional and controlling the heating from my iPad.I love the ability to control heating remotely but the service is a little let down by the apps. The Windows Phone app does not work - it's a common problem with Windows Phone apps. The iPhone/iPad app does work but little bits of it feel a bit clunky - scheduling, for example, is more intuitive in the web app than it is on the iPad.In any event, I'm saving money. Instead of a traditional fixed schedule, Nest is using the heating as often as we need but as little as possible. The integelligence features do clever things like turn the heating off if it's sunny outside, or on if it's snowy. After a week of using it Nest has learned that we like the heating a little hotter first thing to warm up the towels, then to cool down whilst we get ready, then in the evenings it knows to turn the heating down an hour or so before we head to bed.Would highly recommend to anyone.