-
Emergency/Next-Day Furnace Installation Available!
Nest Smart Thermostat: In-Depth Review for Canadian Homeowners
Smart thermostats are increasingly becoming a key component of modern Canadian homes. From the Nest smart thermostat to popular models like Ecobee, these devices offer greater convenience, improved comfort, and the potential to lower energy consumption and utility bills. They provide homeowners with control over their heating and cooling systems, even when away from home, while helping to optimize energy usage.
Among smart thermostat brands available in Canada, Nest stands out as one of the most recognized. This guide provides everything you need to make an informed decision: we’ll explore the Nest brand, highlight its strengths and limitations, examine available models, outline unique features and technologies, and review warranty coverage.
Nest has become well-known for popularizing user-friendly, learning thermostats that adapt to household routines over time.
For additional comparisons, you can check our guide on the Best Smart Thermostats available across Canada.
Nest at a Glance
Strengths
Nest is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s leading smart thermostat brands, and for good reason. After examining their products, there are numerous aspects that make Nest thermostats appealing to homeowners.
Although Nest offers only three main thermostat models, there is a device suitable for different types of users. One model is designed for minimal interaction: it learns your schedule automatically while still allowing manual programming. The other models require more input, allowing users to customize schedules according to their preferences.
The primary advantage of Nest, and smart thermostats in general, is the potential for energy and cost savings. Nest estimates that homeowners could reduce heating costs by up to 12 percent and cooling costs by up to 15 percent with their thermostats.
These savings are achieved through smart technology that optimizes energy use while maintaining home comfort. For instance, Nest thermostats can automatically lower the temperature when no one is home.
Nest devices also integrate advanced technology effectively. They support geofencing using multiple phones, can pair with room sensors to enhance comfort in different areas of the home, and allow remote control from mobile devices. They are compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa for voice-based commands.
The design and user interface are another notable strength. Nest thermostats feature a circular dial with an intuitive interface, reminiscent of early consumer electronics from Apple—unsurprising given the company was founded by former Apple engineers.
Additionally, Nest thermostats offer homeowners greater insight into their home energy usage. The devices can track historical heating and cooling patterns and provide notifications or suggestions for improved energy efficiency. Many Canadian homeowners find this particularly useful for understanding how seasonal changes affect energy consumption and costs. Moreover, the intuitive alerts and maintenance reminders help prevent system inefficiencies or unexpected HVAC failures, contributing to a longer lifespan for your heating and cooling systems.
Areas for Improvement
While Nest thermostats offer many benefits, there are a few limitations to be aware of. The two main Nest models differ significantly, meaning buyers need to carefully select the model that matches their needs. Some users may prefer a hands-off thermostat, while others may want full control to adjust schedules and settings.
Another consideration is selection. Nest sells two models directly and a third only through HVAC professionals and authorized retailers. Some may view the limited selection as positive, as too many options can overwhelm consumers.
A potential drawback is compatibility. Nest thermostats do not work with Apple HomeKit and are unlikely to, due to Google’s ownership of Nest and Apple’s position as a competitor in smart home technology. Nevertheless, Nest works with Google and Amazon smart home ecosystems.
Room sensors are available for Nest devices, but they measure temperature only—they do not detect humidity or occupancy, unlike some other smart thermostat options.
Finally, Nest thermostats provide energy usage reports, though the level of detail is less comprehensive than some other smart thermostat brands.
Bottom Line
Nest thermostats are smart, energy-efficient devices designed to help Canadian homeowners save on energy costs while maintaining a comfortable indoor environment. They combine convenience, usability, and intelligent features to make controlling your home’s heating and cooling straightforward. By monitoring usage patterns, sending maintenance alerts, and allowing remote control, these thermostats provide a practical solution for anyone looking to optimize comfort and efficiency in their home.
While Nest’s model selection is limited compared to some other brands, the features offered across their range are thoughtfully designed. Homeowners can manage schedules, track energy usage, and receive timely notifications to ensure that their furnace and air conditioner are running efficiently. With the added benefit of modern design, user-friendly interfaces, and, for certain models, the ability to learn and adapt to daily routines, Nest thermostats remain a strong choice for Canadians seeking reliable smart home devices.
Price Range for Nest Smart Thermostats
Nest offers two models directly through its website:
- Nest Thermostat: approximately $180
- Nest Learning Thermostat: approximately $330
A third model, the Nest Thermostat E, is available through third-party retailers and HVAC professionals for around $230. Pricing may vary depending on location and local installation costs, but all three options provide smart thermostat functionality suitable for a range of Canadian homes.
Smart Thermostat Options from Nest
Nest Learning Thermostat (Third Generation)
The Nest Learning Thermostat is the flagship product from Nest and is currently in its third generation. This model is specifically designed to learn your routines and automatically create heating and cooling schedules to maximize energy efficiency without compromising comfort.
This thermostat is the most expensive in the Nest lineup but also offers the most comprehensive feature set, including:
- Leaf indicator to show when you’re using energy-saving settings
- Auto-schedule to automatically adjust based on learned behaviour
- Farsight display for easy visibility across the room
- ENERGY STAR® certification for verified efficiency
- Comprehensive system alerts to notify you of issues
- Energy history and home reports for tracking usage
- Quick view function for simplified navigation of settings
- Integration with other Nest devices
- Geofencing to adjust based on location of household members
- Furnace and HVAC monitoring for peace of mind
- Auto-away mode to reduce energy when nobody is home
- Humidity, ambient light, and motion sensors
- Support for up to 10 temperature sensors for precise control
Homeowners can adjust the auto-schedule to suit personal preferences and control the thermostat remotely using the Google Home app. Additionally, it can be integrated with Amazon Alexa or IFTTT for advanced automation and voice control, making it one of the most versatile smart thermostats available in Canada.
Nest Thermostat
The standard Nest Thermostat is the entry-level option, offering the core benefits of a smart thermostat without the advanced learning capabilities. Unlike the Learning Thermostat, it does not automatically adapt to user routines and requires manual schedule programming.
Despite being simpler, it remains Wi-Fi enabled, allowing homeowners to adjust settings remotely via the Google Home app. It can also be connected to Alexa or Google Assistant for voice control. Geofencing and presence detection allow the thermostat to make temperature adjustments when the house is empty or occupied.
While it is not compatible with Nest’s optional temperature sensors, the device includes built-in sensors for temperature, light, motion, and humidity. Installation is quick and straightforward, compatible with most heating and cooling systems. When first installed, the thermostat prompts users to set schedules for different times of day and days of the week. While it won’t automatically learn behaviours, it offers energy-saving suggestions and maintenance reminders, making it a practical and budget-friendly option.
Nest Thermostat E
The Nest Thermostat E is no longer sold directly through Google but is still available from HVAC professionals and retail partners. Functionally, it is very similar to the standard Nest Thermostat but adds compatibility with Nest temperature sensors.
These sensors can be placed throughout the home to monitor temperatures in different rooms, allowing the thermostat to maintain a more consistent indoor climate. Like the standard Nest Thermostat, it does not learn habits automatically and requires manual schedule programming.
The device supports energy-saving notifications via the Leaf icon, remote control through the Nest app, and provides reports on energy usage along with HVAC maintenance reminders. A significant feature is the ability to set up family accounts for geofencing, enabling the thermostat to take input from multiple phones. This ensures accurate home/away detection and prevents the thermostat from switching to away mode while someone is still home.
7 Exclusive Features of Nest Smart Thermostats
1. Google Home and Nest Apps
Nest thermostats can be controlled using two primary apps, depending on the model you own. The Nest app works with both the Nest Thermostat E and the Nest Learning Thermostat, while the Google Home app is primarily used for the standard Nest Thermostat.
Through these apps, homeowners can easily manage temperature settings, create or adjust heating and cooling schedules, receive HVAC alerts and maintenance reminders, and configure geofencing to take advantage of automatic home and away modes. This is particularly useful for Canadians who travel frequently or spend time away from home, as it allows monitoring and adjusting indoor temperatures from virtually anywhere. Additionally, the apps provide historical energy usage insights, helping households understand their consumption patterns and make smarter decisions to reduce electricity or natural gas costs.
2. Farsight
The Farsight feature, exclusive to the Nest Learning Thermostat, uses a built-in motion sensor to detect your presence and automatically display key information such as temperature, time, or settings. The display is large, bright, and easy to read across the room, allowing homeowners to quickly glance at their thermostat from a distance. This feature combines both functionality and style, reflecting the modern design sensibility that Nest is known for. It also helps in reducing unnecessary interaction with the device, saving time and enhancing convenience.
3. Nest Temperature Sensor Compatibility
Both the Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E can be paired with Nest Temperature Sensors, which can be placed throughout your home in the rooms you use most. These sensors provide additional data to the thermostat, ensuring precise temperature control where you spend the most time.
You can schedule readings from different sensors at various times of the day so that the thermostat prioritizes rooms based on your daily routines. The sensors are simple to install—they do not need wall mounting and can be placed on shelves or other surfaces, making them highly flexible and easy to reposition as needed. This ensures every room stays at an ideal temperature, improving comfort and energy efficiency. It also supports larger homes with multiple living spaces, providing a balanced environment throughout the house.
4. Auto-Schedule
The Auto-Schedule feature, built into the Nest Learning Thermostat, enables the device to automatically learn your daily routines. Within the first week of installation, the thermostat observes your temperature preferences and creates a customized schedule that optimizes energy usage while maintaining comfort.
Homeowners retain full control and can adjust the automatically generated schedule or create their own based on personal preferences. This adaptability ensures that energy savings are maximized without compromising comfort, making it ideal for busy households where schedules can vary day-to-day. It also reduces the effort required to manually tweak heating or cooling, offering a more hands-off smart home experience.
5. Geofencing Across Multiple Devices
A common limitation with some smart thermostats is that geofencing often only works with one phone, causing the system to switch into away mode when that single device leaves the house—even if others are still home. Nest addresses this with motion detection combined with geofencing technology.
The Nest Thermostat E goes a step further by allowing family accounts, enabling the system to receive input from multiple devices. This ensures accurate detection of whether someone is home, preventing unwanted away mode activation when the house is occupied. For households with children, roommates, or multiple family members working remotely, this feature ensures reliable temperature control for the entire home.
6. Sunblock Technology
Thermostats are sometimes placed in areas affected by direct sunlight or cold drafts, which can cause inaccurate temperature readings and trigger unnecessary HVAC operation. Nest thermostats are equipped with light sensors that detect exposure to direct sunlight and other environmental factors.
When sunlight or drafts are detected, the thermostat adjusts its operation to prevent the furnace or air conditioner from overreacting. This technology ensures more accurate temperature control, avoiding excessive energy use while keeping your home comfortable regardless of where the thermostat is positioned. It is particularly beneficial for rooms with large windows or homes in regions with strong seasonal sun exposure, common in many parts of Canada.
7. HVAC System Monitoring
Unlike many smart thermostats that only offer basic alerts, Nest devices provide advanced HVAC system monitoring. This feature actively tracks your heating and cooling system and notifies you through the app when issues arise, including:
- Time to replace furnace or air conditioner filters
- Irregular HVAC cycling
- Furnace or air conditioner failing to heat or cool effectively
- Systems not operating for sufficient or excessive durations
- Risk of frozen pipes due to low temperatures
If the thermostat detects a serious problem, it sends an urgent notification immediately, ensuring you can take action before minor issues become major repairs. In some regions, the Nest app can even help locate certified HVAC technicians, simplifying maintenance and repairs for homeowners.
Nest Smart Thermostat Warranty
All Nest thermostats come with manufacturer-backed warranties, and coverage varies depending on the model and installation method:
- Nest Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E: 1-year limited warranty
- Nest Temperature Sensors: 1-year limited warranty per sensor
- Nest Learning Thermostat: 2-year limited warranty
If installed by a Nest Pro, an HVAC installer specially trained by Nest, the warranty can be extended by an additional year. This extra coverage provides peace of mind, particularly for homeowners in colder regions of Canada where reliable heating is essential. Nest’s warranty support also includes online and phone assistance, helping homeowners troubleshoot minor issues and ensure long-term reliability.
For more information on energy efficiency standards and incentives in Canada, visit Natural Resources Canada.
Choosing the Right Nest Thermostat
- On a Budget: The standard Nest Thermostat is ideal for homeowners seeking a simple yet smart device to maintain comfort and energy efficiency without advanced learning features.
- Room-by-Room Monitoring: The Nest Thermostat E offers compatibility with temperature sensors, allowing precise control over different areas of your home.
- Advanced Automation: The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation) automatically adapts to your routines, delivering maximum comfort and energy savings with minimal manual input.
Each model is designed to meet different needs and budgets while offering the core benefits of remote control, geofencing, and energy monitoring.
About Nest
Nest Labs was founded in 2010 by two former Apple engineers, releasing their first-generation Nest Learning Thermostat in 2011. The company quickly became known for combining elegant design with practical, user-friendly smart home technology.
In 2014, Google acquired Nest, and it now operates as part of Google’s smart home division. Beyond thermostats, Nest has expanded into smart smoke detectors, security cameras, doorbells, smart locks, and speakers. All of these devices can be monitored and controlled through the Nest app or Google Home app, creating a seamless smart home ecosystem for Canadian homeowners.
Nest continues to focus on providing intuitive, energy-saving solutions with a commitment to design, reliability, and ease of use, making it a trusted choice for Canadians seeking smart home technology.
📞 Have questions? Contact us or email us at contact@furnaceprices.com.
✅ Start comparing today and make the right choice with confidence!
