Does a variable speed furnace need a special thermostat?

Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality
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Typically, variable speed furnaces come with smart thermostats that, among other things, adjust the blower motor automatically. Because variable speed furnaces can produce the exact amount of heat you need without wasting energy, they're perfect if you want to add a temperature zoning system to your home.



Consequently, does Nest thermostat work with variable speed furnace?

The Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with system fans that have one, two, or three speeds. Variable speed fans, high voltage forced air systems with fans, and proprietary systems with fans, aren't compatible with either the Nest Learning Thermostat or the Nest Thermostat E.

Likewise, do you need a special thermostat for a two stage furnace? The thermostat only kicks in the second stage if the furnace can't maintain 6 to 8 degrees per hour. A two-stage thermostat may need more wires than your current programmable thermostat. If you plan to keep your home at a constant temperature, you don't need a two-stage thermostat.

Keeping this in view, do I need a variable speed furnace?

meaning they are not very energy efficient. Variable-speed furnace motor — A variable speed blower motor runs at different speeds to precisely control the flow of heated air throughout your home. If you don't have a 90% efficiency or higher furnace in your home, then yes it may well be worth the cost to upgrade.

What controls a variable speed furnace?

Variable speed furnace is most efficient With a variable speed furnace, the 'variable speed' doesn't refer to the furnace itself but to the furnace's indoor blower motor. Variable simply means that the blower motor operates at different speeds to more accurately control the flow of heated air to your home.

39 Related Question Answers Found

Does Nest thermostat work with 2 stage furnace?

Best answer: Yes. The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat supports up to three stages of heating and two stages of cooling for most homes.

Does Nest E work with 2 stage furnace?

Nest Learning Thermostats are only compatible with systems that have one or two stages of cooling. The Nest Thermostat E is only compatible with one stage of heating, one stage of cooling, and an additional stage of either heating or cooling.

How do I speed up my Nest Thermostat?

Tap the thermostat you'd like to control from the home screen.
  1. Tap Settings .
  2. Select Fan.
  3. In HVAC fan speed, select the fan speed you'd like to use when your system is heating or cooling your home. You can choose Low, Medium, High or Auto, depending on your system's wiring.

What is the best smart thermostat?

Our pick of the best smart thermostats
  1. Nest Thermostat E. A brilliantly stylish, capable and affordable smart thermostat.
  2. Tado Smart Thermostat. Minimalist, efficient and easy to use.
  3. Nest Learning Thermostat.
  4. Hive Heating Control.
  5. Ecobee4.
  6. Netatmo Smart Thermostat.
  7. Honeywell Lyric T6/T6R.
  8. Honeywell Evohome.

Do Nest thermostats work with Trane?


The Trane ComfortLink II is essentially like a traditional programmable thermostat. Learn how to use a programmable thermostat to save you money. Compatibility. The Nest is compatible with about 95% of all heating and air conditioning systems on the market.

How do you know if Nest is compatible?

How to tell if your system is Nest Thermostat compatible.
  1. To check your system's compatibility before purchasing a Nest Thermostat, use the online Compatibility Checker.
  2. To get a custom wiring diagram for installation, simply follow Nest app's Thermostat installation instructions.
  3. Google Nest Thermostats are designed to work with most 24V systems, even older systems.

Is Nest compatible with Lennox furnace?

I would agree with RickMakes, that Nest does not work with variable capacity furnaces like the Lennox SLP98V. It does work with two stage furnaces, but not with continuously variable ones. It does work with two stage furnaces, but not with continuously variable ones.

Are all thermostats compatible?

The devices most commonly called “smart thermostats”, such as thermostats from Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell, etc., are only compatible with “low voltage” 24v HVAC systems. You should be certain that your HVAC is compatible before you try to hook up a smart thermostat.

Is variable speed AC worth the cost?

The downfall: Variable-speed costs more upfront
The cost to install a variable-speed AC unit is about $4,000–$8,000 more than other units. In fact, the overall cost of an AC installation varies depending on many factors, including: The size of your unit.

Are variable speed air handlers worth it?


Is It Worth the Money? Running a variable speed fan motor has the ability to significantly cut down on costs, but not without a caveat: like most high-performance units, its initial price tag is steeper than the more common one or two-stage units. This isn't all bad, though.

Is a variable speed air handler worth the money?

The advantages of upgrading to a variable-speed air handler are both comfort-enhancing and money-saving, such as the following. Temperature swings between on/off cycles are eliminated and indoor comfort is more consistent. A variable-speed air handler with an ECM blower uses less than 100 watts.

What is the most reliable furnace brand?

Here's a quick roundup of some of the best furnace brands on the market today:
  • American Standard Furnaces. American Standard furnaces units are one of the most reliable brands in the business.
  • Amana Gas Furnace Units.
  • Bryant Furnaces.
  • Carrier Furnaces.
  • Daikin Furnaces.
  • Goodman Gas Furnaces.
  • Lennox Furnaces.
  • Rheem Furnaces.

Is a 96 furnace worth the extra money?

A 96% AFUE gas furnace is top of the line, powerful, and efficient. A typical gas furnace is around 80% efficient. Is that bonus 16% worth the extra money? After all, the difference in price between an 80% AFUE gas furnace and a 96% AFUE gas furnace is not nothing.

Are 2 stage furnaces worth it?

A two stage furnace is NOT more efficient than a single stage furnace. It will not save you any money on your utility bills compared to a single stage furnace. In other words, a 95% efficient furnace is 95% efficient whether its running in low or high fire. No savings.

Is high efficiency furnace worth the money?


A furnace with an AFUE rating of 95% will require significantly less fuel (natural gas) to heat your home than a unit with an 80% AFUE rating. While higher-efficiency furnaces tend to cost more upfront, they allow homeowners to save money on heating costs every year.

What is the advantage of a variable speed furnace?

Advantages of a variable speed furnace that make it a smart investment. Lower operating costs. Because a variable speed furnace's blower always operates at the lowest required speed, it consumes less energy than a single speed furnace. This leads to lower operating costs throughout your furnace's lifetime.

Does a variable speed furnace run all the time?

It accounts for the amount of air in circulation for precision airflow. The system also accounts for blocked vents and dirty furnace filters, and adjusts fan speed as needed to compensate. Variable speed furnaces only operate at full speed when conditions call for it.