Choosing a new thermostat (home)

[maroonandwhite]

Little background here: 

 

Just moved into my new home with a heat pump system. My normal thermostat habit is to set the temp to around 65 during the day and 69-70 at night once we get home. With this heat pump system I have noticed that when I move the temp from 65-70 the AUX comes on. My brother in law who does HVAC said it was because the thermostat operates on a temp differential and will come on to quickly get the house up to that temp. I figured by getting one of the NEST thermostats I could combat that and let it learn what I normally set and make the slow changes throughout the day. Long story short it doesn't look like it's compatible with my setup and I have also seen where many don't like it.

 

The thermostat I have now is the slider type and honestly I would just prefer a digital. With the Nest and probably any of the learning type thermostats out what would you recommend? I currently have a RUUD thermostat installed that has some odd wiring from what I have been reading. I have the following wires connected:

 

G

R

B

O

Y

W2

X

E

[peejman]

I've used the Honeywell t-stat's from Lowes for Home Depot for years.  They have various versions for different systems with different options.  They've always been pretty easy to install. 

 

http://yourhome.honeywell.com/home/products/thermostats/

[2.ooohhh]

Completely satisfied with all of our nest thermostats(5 total), not that there aren't other viable similar options these days. I can control the temps at home and both our rental properties from my phone as well as monitor energy usage. I did have to wire in a few additional relays to get the nest to control a window air conditioner and an electric baseboard heater in one of our zones at home but since it's learned our habits it has been flawless and saved us nearly 50% in hvac costs the first year installed.

[Parrothead]

Take a look at the Honeywell lyric if you like automation. Personally, I recommend the Honeywell 8000.

I think you can change the set back points to come up gradually. Either way, the Honeywell stuff from dealers (hvac professionals) is much different than the big box stores. Just do your research and shop smart.

[Wiljo05]

+1 for the Nest. Have 2, and like the automation. Haven't touched the stat in months since it learned traffic patterns

[monkeylizard]

I gave up on the Nest's motion sensor learning when we're home and when we're not. I got the Skylark app to supplement it. It uses geo-fencing to determine when you are home and away. then it tells the Nest to go to Home or Away mode. We don't adjust the temp while we're home (like X during the evening, Y overnight, then back to X in the morning) so the only thing I want the Nest to know is home and away.

Edited November 26, 2014 by monkeylizard

[maroonandwhite]

I do believe the Nest will work for my application now. I seems that one of the wires listed above isn't connected but just ran into the box and capped off. I think it was Ruud standard procedure at the time. However I think I may just take my brother in laws advice and set it to a comfortable temp and leave it alone. I did so last night and didn't once see the auxillary come on. Once I get a few cycles of electric bills under my belt I may change my mind but it's hard to believe the Nest will save me $300 any time soon to make up for the cost. Our house is 1500 square feet and insulated pretty well with good windows.

[2.ooohhh]

I do believe the Nest will work for my application now. I seems that one of the wires listed above isn't connected but just ran into the box and capped off. I think it was Ruud standard procedure at the time. However I think I may just take my brother in laws advice and set it to a comfortable temp and leave it alone. I did so last night and didn't once see the auxillary come on. Once I get a few cycles of electric bills under my belt I may change my mind but it's hard to believe the Nest will save me $300 any time soon to make up for the cost. Our house is 1500 square feet and insulated pretty well with good windows.

 

Some of the payoff depends on how long you are out of the home daily for it to use "away" mode, with my and the wife's long work hours we saved a bundle. I'm sure if one of us were working from home frequently it would be quite different.

[monkeylizard]

Heat pump and cold weather will change things. As you're seeing, letting the temp drop during that day will save you money during that time, but when it has to raise it back up to your comfortable setting, it kicks on the expensive AUX heat. 2-edged sword with those things.

[Wiljo05]

Heat pump and cold weather will change things. As you're seeing, letting the temp drop during that day will save you money during that time, but when it has to raise it back up to your comfortable setting, it kicks on the expensive AUX heat. 2-edged sword with those things.

Monkeylizard is dead on here. There is a fine line that you can figure out over time how long it takes to return to comfortable temps in the house. Spread out the time it takes to increase and you won't run auxiliary, slow that time down too much and you don't have any savings to justify the units cost.

You can also try an app called ITTT (if this then that). Pretty cool app that can control a number of automation products both common and uncommon

[maroonandwhite]

Monkeylizard is dead on here. There is a fine line that you can figure out over time how long it takes to return to comfortable temps in the house. Spread out the time it takes to increase and you won't run auxiliary, slow that time down too much and you don't have any savings to justify the units cost.

You can also try an app called ITTT (if this then that). Pretty cool app that can control a number of automation products both common and uncommon

I don't want to mess with the programmable ones at all. Will the Nest figure out the most efficient way to bring it back up to temp without using the AUX? By turning the temp up slowly over the course of an hour or two?