Smart thermostats are increasing in popularity as more and more homeowners look for ways to scale back their energy costs. These accessories can be programmed to automatically maintain the temperature of your home based on your weekly schedule. They also have the capacity to memorize these preferences over time. Subsequently, you can spend less on your energy bills by ensuring that your HVAC system is only on when you need it.
Google’s smart thermostat is the Nest, and lots of homeowners are content with its features and general efficiency. But one feature–the Seasonal Savings program–might be making trouble instead of assisting your HVAC system. Lasting issues are pushing homeowners to figure out how to switch off this feature. We’ll review the concerns some people are having with Seasonal Savings and provide instructions for how to opt out of the program.
Many Homeowners Say the Seasonal Savings Program Isn’t Working Correctly
Google designed the Seasonal Savings program to help homeowners boost their energy efficiency. For the highest HVAC use in the summer and winter, it can automatically adjust the thermostat to satisfy your preferences with energy efficiency. The program is intended to run without disrupting your sense of comfort, implementing the biggest changes when you’re away or sleeping. However, this isn’t the case for many people enrolled in the program.
Alternatively, there are reports that the program is sporadic and frustrating to use. Homeowners are noticing that the program is really increasing their energy bills instead of shrinking them. And when they attempt to disable or opt out of Seasonal Savings, they’ve found the setting to do so is tough to find or just absent. In several cases people have even observed it being turned back on after it was disabled.
Smart thermostats are supposed to boost the efficiency of your HVAC equipment. While automatic temperature changes are a widespread feature in smart thermostats, it shouldn’t overrule your favored settings. If your Nest refuses to accommodate your comfort preferences, disabling the Seasonal Savings option is the correct move.
But First, Why Is This Happening?
Homeowners are concerned that the Seasonal Savings feature was started on their Nest thermostat without their permission. Why can a smart thermostat you operate overlook your settings and activate the program? It might be because of an energy-efficiency program you registered for with your utility company.
These agreements help you improve your home’s energy efficiency. They may offer rebates on new accessories or special offers for renewable energy equipment. But numerous people are surprised to find out they also permit your utility company remote access to your thermostat. If the power grid is under a heavy load, the utility company can take control of your thermostat and change the temperature. You may be having issues with the Seasonal Savings program because a utility company is taking advantage of this remote access.
But what if the setting is defective or just disregarding your preferences? Whatever the reason may be, you don’t want a feature to double your energy use without your approval. We’ll review how other people have opted out of the Seasonal Savings program.
How to Disable Your Nest Thermostat’s Seasonal Savings Feature
A number of people have disclosed trouble opting out of the Seasonal Savings feature. While the location of this setting might be different depending on your specific Nest model, other users are worried that Google is deliberately making it tougher to disable Seasonal Savings. To ensure you can opt out no matter what, we’ll list the ways other users have enjoyed success.
- Overriding Seasonal Savings: Manually adjusting the temperature should supersede the Seasonal Savings program, but quite a few users have discovered this isn’t the case. If you see your Nest consistently undoing your changes, you’ll probably want to disable the feature entirely.
- Disabling the setting from the Nest app: Your phone or tablet’s Nest app should have a History option and a Settings option. Google directs users to their History to turn off Seasonal Savings, but other homeowners have located this option within Settings. Once disabled, the setting is temporarily off until the following summer or winter.
- Shutting off the program from the Nest thermostat: Your thermostat should also have a History option where you can turn off Seasonal Savings, but many homeowners report the disable option is gone.
- Opting out before the program begins: The Seasonal Savings program is only accessible in summer and winter. Your smart device should be sent a notification when the program is about to begin, offering you the chance to opt out.
When Seasonal Savings is active, your Nest is supposed to show a small yellow symbol of a leaf. If your Nest is having issues and the Seasonal Savings icon is absent, your issue could be with a different setting entirely.
Sometimes the Issue Isn’t Seasonal Savings but Another Setting or Program
Other options on Nest smart thermostats aside from Seasonal Savings can result in unwanted temperature changes. If these options are active during Seasonal Savings, even shutting off the program may not keep the thermostat from making changes. Thankfully, these settings can be disabled. You’ll also have options if the problem is a third party like your power company.
- Switching off Auto-Schedule: The Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat both offer the Auto-Schedule feature, using their capability to study your preferences to define the ideal schedule. Going into Settings and switching off Auto-Schedule should prevent other automatic controls including Seasonal Savings.
- Disabling auto switching: Nest thermostats will still switch to eco temperatures if you have an auto-switching setting like Home & Away Routines or Home/Away Assist. These features automatically adjust the temperature when the thermostat assumes that no one is home.
- Negating the utility company’s energy agreement: Since your energy provider may be remotely controlling the Nest thermostat, nullifying the agreement should remove remote access. You can locate the complete details of these agreements with your energy provider.
- Calling Google support: If all else fails, reaching out to Google’s technical support may be of assistance. Staff can direct you to resetting the Nest or locating the proper setting to turn off Seasonal Savings.
If the Problem Continues, Your Thermostat May Be Faulty
There’s always the chance your Nest smart thermostat is just malfunctioning. Electrical problems or software bugs can result in all types of trouble, including an obnoxious Seasonal Savings program. If you suspect the problem is isolated to your own thermostat, an experienced technician may be able to help. After all, smart thermostats continue to be a worthwhile investment for your home’s energy efficiency.
If you’d like local service for your smart thermostat in Columbia, call the heating and cooling professionals at Midland Air Service Experts. They can help you find out the easiest way to switch off an uncooperative Seasonal Savings program on your Nest thermostat.