To save on your gas bill you need to focus on a Smart thermostatable to better manage heating throughout the day and always keep the house warm, reducing consumption.
Among the thermostats that we can purchase, the Google Nest E (also called Google Nest Thermostat E), a device produced by Google that is simple to install and configure: installation is so simple that we do not need an electrician for assembly and first start-up.
In the following guide we will show you in detail how to mount and configure the Google Nest E thermostathow to control it remotely via the Nest app, how to use Google and Alexa voice commands and how we can actually use it to save on the gas bill.
Although the Nest assembly operation is very simple, we will have to work on dangerous electrical systems: if we don’t feel up to it, we’ll call an electrician immediately. How2do assumes no responsibility for damage to things or people resulting from the improper use of the advice given in the following guide.
READ ALSO -> Smart thermostat and automatic control of heating and air conditioning
1) Package contents
Il Google Nest E is thought of as a intelligent thermostat that anyone can install at home without the help of a technician (compared to the top model, the Nest Learning Thermostatwhich often requires the intervention of a technician).
The package contains the Google Nest E thermostat (a small round display with support base included and power cable), a charger for the thermostat, the control unit of the battery-powered boiler (also called Heat Link), a plate for the Heat Link, two fixing screws, two electrical terminals and some stickers (to identify the wires to connect).
For the assembly operation The use of screwdrivers is required; if we don’t have screwdrivers for the job we can take a look at screwdriver kit online.
2) How to install Google Nest E
As said previously installing the Google Nest E does not require much technical knowledge, but just a little manual work to connect the new thermostat in place of the old one. Before proceeding we remove the power to the entire electrical system: we take down both the circuit breaker and the residual current circuit breakers, so as not to risk getting an electric shock during the work.
The first step involves dismantle the old thermostattaking a photo with your phone of the original cable configuration (in case we have to go back we will know which wires to connect).
After taking the photo we identify all the cables on the thermostat. This recognition is essential to avoid errors or problems during assembly; in the package there are also stickers to attach to the various cables to recognize them.
In Italy most thermostat configurations include the following number of cables:
- 2 cables: the simplest and most immediate configuration, with just two cables to control the boiler. These two cables are known as C e NO.
- 3 cables: configuration identical to the previous one but with the addition of grounding cable (yellow and green). The additional cable is easily recognizable and can be ignored when assembling the Google Nest E.
- 5 cables: this is the more complex configuration given that, in addition to the boiler cables (C e NO), we find the earth cable (yellow and green) and two electrical cables (L of Linea e N o Neutral). The electrical cables are usually brown and blue in color and will need to be sealed with tape or clamps, as they are not needed with the Google Nest E.
If we find ourselves in the configuration with 2 or 3 cables we can easily proceed by reading the guide; if instead we find ourselves with the 5-wire configuration or other configurations, it is best to call an electrician to avoid getting an electric shock or incorrectly assembling the thermostat (unless the boiler wires are significantly different from those of the electrical line).
Heat Link mounting
After having correctly identified the boiler wires we proceed to the dismantling the old thermostatloosening both the screws that hold it to the wall and the screws that lock the cables in place in the clamps.
Not Let’s open the Heat Link cover (simply lifts), we place the Heat Link using the wall screw holes of the old thermostat, we open the small door on the body, we pass the boiler cables through it and we connect the cables C and NO into the respective terminal sockets.
After inserting the cables into the specific terminals, tighten the terminal fixing screws; before closing everything Let’s do a practical test of the thermostat right away restoring electricity to the home system, removing the plastic tab near the batteries, waiting a few seconds and by pressing the button in the center of the Heat Link to test the contact (we will hear a metallic relay sound and, if we have done everything correctly, the boiler will start heating).
Once the test is over (i.e. the radiators have heated up) we press the central button again to stop the heating, we turn off the power from the general system again (turn off the circuit breaker), we close the door where we placed the cablestighten the fixing screws of the Heat Link, reposition the snap cover and definitively bring the home power online, raising the circuit breaker.
The most difficult work is finishedfrom now on everything will be much simpler.
Google Nest E thermostat assembly
The Google Nest E can be placed anywhere in your homebut possibly within 20-30 meters of maximum distance from the Heat Link: it is the latter that physically controls the ignition of the boiler and must receive the control from the thermostat via wireless waves.
To start, let’s position the Googl Nest E and use the USB charger provided to connect it to an electrical outlet and start it. While it starts we take the phone and let’s download the Nest appavailable for Android and for iPhone.
After installing the app, open it, log in with a Google account and press on the gear icon at the top right, press on Add product and we use the phone’s rear camera to frame the QR code present on the base of the Google Nest E.
After associating the thermostat, we set the type of heating used in the house (gas boiler, heated floors, etc.), choose the Eco and we connect the thermostat to the home Wi-Fiproviding the network name and password.
After the initial configurations we will now be asked to scan the Heat Link QR code: We open the cover of the wall-mounted device just now and scan the code on the battery holder. With this scan the thermostat will connect to the Heat Link via a dedicated wireless network, so you can effectively control the boiler remotely.
Manual temperature control
If we have done everything correctly we will see on the Google Nest display E the current temperature of the house as a white dot with white numbers (letter B) and the desired temperature with red indicator (letter A).
If the internal temperature of the house coincides with the set one we will only see the temperature in red (i.e. we are in a situation where the temperature has been reached); to change the temperature manually simply turn the wheel around the displayso you can lower the temperature (turn off the heating) or increase the temperature (turn on the heating until the desired temperature is reached).
3) Remote control via Nest app
From the Google Nest app we can remotely control the temperature we want to be reached inside the house but we can also take advantage of other interesting functions, which make this thermostat superior to any similar device.
- Self-programming: the thermostat will learn to regulate the temperature based on our habits and the settings made manually.
- Temperature reaching time: indicates the time required to reach the indicated temperature (after a change). It is calculated based on the heating capabilities of the system.
- True Radiant: the most innovative function of the Google Nest E, which allows you to preheat the system before reaching the desired programming (for example if we have set 20 degrees at 8pm the thermostat will turn the system on early to reach 20 degrees at the set time ).
- Sunblock: the thermostat is able to measure direct sunlight on the display, thus showing the real temperature of the house without radiation.
- Leaflet: allows you to set an Eco temperature when you are not at home and save on your gas bill every time its icon on the thermostat is on.
Other interesting functions are the presence sensors (if we pass in front of the thermostat), safety system for sudden temperature drop, temperature measurement in two separate rooms (via Heatk Link and thermostat) and the Home/Away Assist functionalitywhich allows you to turn off the system when no one is home (via the thermostat’s proximity sensor and/or via geolocation of the Nest app or Google Home app).
This last feature is effective only if we install the Nest app on all the phones of relatives who live under the same roof: when there is actually no one at home the thermostat will start Eco mode and keep the heating off until the minimum temperature set.
4) Support for Google and Alexa voice commands
The Nest app unlocks your thermostat within the app Google Home, without further steps. To proceed, all we have to do is open the Google Home app (for Android and iPhone) and try the Google Assistant voice commands dedicated to thermostats: “raise the temperature to 21 degrees”, “set thermostat to 21 degrees”, “activate Eco mode” etc.
For those with Amazon Alexa devices at home and wants to use your voice commands to control your Google Nest. And you can proceed by opening the app Amazon Alexa on the phone (for Android e iPhone), by pressing down on the menu Otherby pressing the menu Skills and games and looking for the skill Google Nest.
In the screen that opens, press on Enable for usewe log in with the Google account also used in the Nest app, we provide all required permits and we confer for view your Google Nest E thermostat immediately on the home automation device control screen.
On the same topic we can read the guide above how to create routines and new voice commands for Amazon Alexa.
Conclusions
With the Google Nest E you can really save on your gas bill, especially if we make good use of the True Radiant, Home/Away functions, Eco mode and self-programming. The advice I can give you is: Manually set the desired temperature for the first two weeksacting both from the wheel on the thermostat display and from the Nest app, Google Home or the Amazon Alexa app.
After two weeks we open the programming screen and we adjust the temperature according to our needstrying to get the green leaf during the adjustments (i.e. the energy saving mode).
To learn more we can read our guides on how to control the heating with Amazon Echo and Alexa and how turn on the heating based on the outside temperature.