The Nest thermostat is rarely on sale, but you can save $50 on one this weekend
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AmazonIn honor of the Fourth of July and it's 4th birthday, Nest, the original smart thermostat, is on sale for this weekend only.
I've been a Nest user for a couple of years now, after a pipe burst in my parents house during the brutal February New York experienced in 2015. That could have been avoided if our thermostat didn't require a master's degree to, well, master. The Nest works for two reasons: It's dead simple to install and operate, and can be controlled from anywhere.
That first reason is the most important. After a quick installation process that requires you to remove your old thermostat, and connect colored wires into clearly labeled slots, you're ready to get started. Honestly, I was a little surprised how easy it was to install the Nest; I'm not particularly handy and it still only took me fifteen minutes to install my first one. I've since gotten that time down to about five minutes. Once fully assembled you'll need to connect your Nest to your home's WiFi Network, after which the Nest will perform a test to make sure everything was installed properly.
After that it's a matter of turning the Nest's dial to the right if you'd like to increase the temperature, and turning it to the left to decrease the temperature. The Nest's display will show the current and desired temperature, and it updates that number in real time as things heat up or cool down. It's simple enough that both my mother and I agree that it's the only thermostat we'll ever use again.
AmazonBilled as the "learning thermostat," the Nest can start to learn when you tend to turn the temperature higher or lower and begin to adjust on its own. You can also set it on a rigid schedule if you'd like. Honestly, I never really used any of the learning features. I used them a bit at the beginning, and they do work, but every day is different, so it was easier to control the temperature manually.
The smart feature I did find myself using while in a Nest-connected home was linking the Nests in the house to the Nest app. The app is easy enough to navigate and lets you turn your Nests on and off, and set the temperature from anywhere you are. A prime example of how this is useful is landing at the airport, and turning your Nest to your desired temperature on your way home. That way you don't have to leave your thermostat on all trip, or have to wait for your house to get to the perfect temperature while you're jet lagged and uncomfortable.
This weekend's sale is for the relatively new 3rd generation Nest, which has a slightly larger screen and, more importantly, Alexa support. So if the idea of being able to change your in-home climate with just your voice interest's you, now is definitely the time to pick one of these up. Nest thermostats rarely go on sale, so this is a unique opportunity to smarten up a part of your house and save some money in the process.