Ford nut
New member
You will only see the dams when it warms up, you have insulation issues for sure.
The homes in that area are bad for that.
Look in your attic now, is it a story and a half?
It's frikkin cold outside
- Thread starter M Darrah
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The homes in that area are bad for that.
Look in your attic now, is it a story and a half?
tixer
Lincoln Evangelist
Mostly, I've been happy with it, but I had to readjust my expectations to meet reality. When it first hit the market, (and the technology websites) it was billed as "the thermostat of the future." The final realization of smart-grid, and fully integrated home automation. The reality is that although it is capable of this, Nest has chosen not to do much about it. (yet?)
So what it actually is is a nice upgrade to a regular programmable setback thermostat.
It has been absolutely reliable - zero maintenance. Not requiring running a dedicated power wire as some other wifi thermostats do was also nice. Installation was trivial, but any thermostat is.
The motion sensing auto-away works well. This might be the most energy-saving component of the whole system. The phone app is handier than one might think. If I go to bed early and read a book, it is nice to be able to pick my phone up off the nightstand and turn the furnace down to the "overnight" temperature a bit early. I've also been known to use the phone app to bump the temp up a couple degrees if I'm on my way home with friends, to make it a bit more comfortable for them.
As much as it is billed as an energy saving device, it is really designed for the people that leave the system turned on year-round, changing from "heating season" to "cooling season" automatically. During the spring and fall months where I prefer to open windows, it and I tend to not get along as well.
A good example of this would be if I wish to just circulate air on warm-ish summer days. There is no "fan only" mode. Instead, I have to set to "cool" but set the temp to 90, (so it doesn't actually cool.) then switch the fan to "always on."
With the information that the device has at its disposal on indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, I think that the programmers could design it to infer quite a bit more about my intent.
I've heard that the new model is a bit less expensive, and also has a slightly slimmer profile. Having to buy three of them would hurt, but the website and phone apps (Android or iPhone) are clearly designed for this. You are allowed to name each device for a particular room or function. My home is a simple forced air, single zone. The thermostat is centrally located in my dining room.
In the end, I'm glad that I have it, and I do believe that it is one of the best (if not the best) on the market. I just hope they keep at it, and keep expanding the capabilities. I know it can talk to my gas meter for example. I think it'd be cool to be able to know *exactly* what I'm spending on heat, and how I could adjust it to save more.
I'm a technology person, but not necessarily an early adopter. This was one major exception because I liked the concept, and the vision. And although $250 was expensive, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than a solar or wind installation. It seemed like a cause I could support.
Lvnmarks
quandoomniflunkusmoritati
It's just a basic rambler, so there is allot of room in the attic. The inspector said the insulation was good in the middle but got thin towards the edges. This summer I’m going to install the proper soffits vents so I can thicken up the insulation on the outer edge.
Thanks for the info. It sounds like it is what I would expect. I like the look of them too, simple and sleek. Maybe next year I will buy one or two and go from there. I hate the ones in our house, while they are programmable, they are cumbersome to make any changes to. Any non-technical person that looks at them just becomes cross eyed and confused. I can work them fine for initial programming but making changes just is more hassle than it is worth usually.
There is really only one room that the motion sensor would be effective at all. In the bedroom the tstat is mounted so it wouldn't really see motion in the room, same for the one for the main part of the house. I think only the living room would really take advantage of that. I wonder if they will ever allow a remote motion sensor. I read they have a zwave chip set built in but nothing for the use to utilize it yet. Do you know anything about that? I have been thinking of doing some home automation to work with our alarm system as well as a stand alone controller.
I do like being able to adjust it from my phone. I have a 2GIG alarm.com alarm system and I can't tell you how often I use the phone app. I find myself always forgetting to arm it when I walk out of the house. I really didn't think I would use it much, but I do, it's a great system. I have used it to disarm the system a few times as well when my Dad has stopped by to pick something up or keep an eye on work being done when I'm not home.
tixer
Lincoln Evangelist
That zwave chip is one of those things I was excited about. that is what should facilitate communication with the aforementioned gas meter, and if it were newer, the power meter.
I do use the smartphone access more than I anticipated. it's nice to be able to check in when on vacation, and know that the house is at the appropriate temperature.
In my home, the mounting location is pretty much ideal as I walk past it to go most anywhere. I do sometimes wish I had the option for it to display the time, as it stares me in the face while I eat breakfast every day..
I also have a dream of a fully monitored "smart" electrical panel. So far, I've only ever found one company who makes it, and never seen pricing info, I assume I cannot afford it.
http://www.c-e-systems.com/index.php/ces-system/ces-smart-distribution-panel.html
I do use the smartphone access more than I anticipated. it's nice to be able to check in when on vacation, and know that the house is at the appropriate temperature.
In my home, the mounting location is pretty much ideal as I walk past it to go most anywhere. I do sometimes wish I had the option for it to display the time, as it stares me in the face while I eat breakfast every day..
I also have a dream of a fully monitored "smart" electrical panel. So far, I've only ever found one company who makes it, and never seen pricing info, I assume I cannot afford it.
http://www.c-e-systems.com/index.php/ces-system/ces-smart-distribution-panel.html
The nest would not help me much since my home is occupied about a 100% of the time. But it is cool for people who leave their home unoccupied.
I feed my wood burning insert a few big pieces of wood last night after midnight, I even put it on 1/2 burn, i got up this morning and it was cold. Normally i would still have embers burning, it would be warm, and could do a quick re-lite. Was single digit temps
I feed my wood burning insert a few big pieces of wood last night after midnight, I even put it on 1/2 burn, i got up this morning and it was cold. Normally i would still have embers burning, it would be warm, and could do a quick re-lite. Was single digit temps
BadSax
enjoys 3 martini lunches
Ford nut
New member
driller
El Presidente
Back when the kids were growing up, I had my entire house X-10 computer controlled. The wife and kids hated it but my wallet loved it.
"Lights Out" was a simple global OFF command. LOL
I would've bought the Nest as well but had just recently replaced the programmable thermostat. It sounds like something I would like however.
"Lights Out" was a simple global OFF command. LOL
I would've bought the Nest as well but had just recently replaced the programmable thermostat. It sounds like something I would like however.
Oh, and I see it decided to snow a little last night as well. As strange as it sounds, I actually wish we'd get a big badass blizzard just once this year. It reminds me of snow days home from school... and just for once I'd like to test out my Subaru in some real snow.
Besides, it's kinda scary that we've had so little precipitation. We're still technically in a severe drought.
Besides, it's kinda scary that we've had so little precipitation. We're still technically in a severe drought.
tixer
Lincoln Evangelist
I'm glad you east-coasters are enjoying our weather. Too bad the lakes seem to have taken the edge off of it for you..
Which reminds me. Joe: How's your sister doing? I hope she's not one of the poor saps living in tents for Occupy Sandy right now..
Not that living in a Yurt on the ocean wouldn't be awesome, because it would be awesome.. very, very awesome.
Which reminds me. Joe: How's your sister doing? I hope she's not one of the poor saps living in tents for Occupy Sandy right now..
Not that living in a Yurt on the ocean wouldn't be awesome, because it would be awesome.. very, very awesome.
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BadSax
enjoys 3 martini lunches
I'm sure she's fine, she's in an older building with steam heat that they wayyyy over heat in the winter... you could probably grow papayas in her apartment...I'm glad you east-coasters are enjoying our weather. Too bad the lakes seem to have taken the edge off of it for you..
Which reminds me. Joe: How's your sister doing? I hope she's not one of the poor saps living in tents for Occupy Sandy right now..
Not that living in a Yurt on the ocean wouldn't be awesome, because it would be awesome.. very, very awesome.
I should check to see if the ocean is frozen...
Also, I noticed that my CFL porch light which is supposed to be as bright as a 150W bulb was about as bright as a nightlight last night...
I guess it's 10 here right now...