Smart thermostats are gaining in popularity as more and more homeowners search for ways to cut down on their energy bills. These accessories can be programmed to automatically regulate the temperature at home based on your regular schedule. They also have the means to learn your preferences over time. Subsequently, you can save money on your energy bills by making sure that your comfort system is only running when you need it.
Google’s smart thermostat is the Nest, and lots of homeowners are happy with its features and overall efficiency. But one feature–the Seasonal Savings program–might be causing trouble rather than improving your HVAC system. Lasting issues are pushing homeowners to look for how to disable this feature. We’ll share the problems some people are having with Seasonal Savings and offer instructions for how to opt out of the program.
Many Homeowners Claim the Seasonal Savings Program Isn’t Working Well
Google developed the Seasonal Savings program to help homeowners increase their energy efficiency. For peak HVAC use in the summer and winter, it is supposed to automatically adjust the thermostat to balance your preferences with energy efficiency. The program is expected to run without interrupting your sense of comfort, making the biggest changes when you’re away or asleep. Sadly, this isn’t the case for many people participating in the program.
Alternatively, there are reports that the program is inconsistent and difficult to use. Homeowners are noticing that the program is really increasing their energy bills instead of reducing them. And when they decide to disable or opt out of Seasonal Savings, they’ve found the option to do so is difficult to find or entirely missing. In many cases people have even noted it being turned back on after it was disabled.
Smart thermostats are intended to strengthen the efficiency of your heating and cooling. While automatic temperature changes are a customary feature in smart thermostats, it shouldn’t ignore your preferred settings. If the Nest isn't meeting your comfort preferences, shutting off the Seasonal Savings feature is the correct move.
But First, Why Is This Happening?
Homeowners are concerned that the Seasonal Savings feature was running on their Nest thermostat without their consent. Why can a smart thermostat you command overlook your settings and enroll in the program? It may be because of an energy-efficiency agreement you registered for with your utility company.
These agreements help you improve your home’s energy efficiency. They may feature rebates on new accessories or special offers for renewable energy systems. But numerous people are surprised to find out they also grant your utility company remote access to your thermostat. If the power grid is struggling with a heavy load, the utility company can take over your thermostat and raise the temperature. You may well be having issues with the Seasonal Savings program due to the fact that a utility company is making use of this remote access.
But what if the setting is defective or just dismissing your preferences? Whatever the reason might be, you don’t want a feature to increase your energy use without your approval. We’ll walk you through how other people have switched off the Seasonal Savings program.
How to Disable Your Nest Thermostat’s Seasonal Savings Feature
A number of people have documented trouble disabling the Seasonal Savings feature. While the location of this setting might be different depending on your specific Nest model, other users are alarmed that Google is intentionally making it more difficult to opt out of 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 setting the temperature should override the Seasonal Savings program, but numerous users have noticed this isn’t the case. If you notice your Nest constantly reversing your changes, you’ll probably prefer to turn off the feature entirely.
- Shutting off the feature from the Nest app: Your phone or tablet’s Nest app is supposed to have a History option and a Settings option. Google points users to their History to switch off Seasonal Savings, but other people have found this option within Settings. Once disabled, the setting is temporarily off until the next summer or winter.
- Disabling the program from the Nest thermostat: Your thermostat should also display a History option where you can disable Seasonal Savings, but some homeowners report the disable option is missing.
- Opting out before the program launches: The Seasonal Savings program is only obtainable during summer and winter. Your smart device should be sent a notification when the program is about to begin, offering you the opportunity to opt out.
When Seasonal Savings is on, your Nest will feature a small yellow symbol of a leaf. If a Nest is experiencing issues and the Seasonal Savings icon is absent, your trouble could be with yet another setting entirely.
Sometimes the Issue Isn’t Seasonal Savings but Another Setting or Program
Alternative options on Nest smart thermostats aside from Seasonal Savings can cause counterintuitive temperature changes. If these settings are active during Seasonal Savings, even disabling the program may not stop the thermostat from making adjustments. Fortunately, these settings can be turned off. You’ll also have options if the problem is a third party like a power company.
- Turning off Auto-Schedule: The Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat both offer the Auto-Schedule feature, using their ability to study your preferences to set the best possible schedule. Going into Settings and turning off Auto-Schedule should disable other automatic adjustments such as Seasonal Savings.
- Disabling auto switching: Nest thermostats can still swap to eco temperatures if you have an auto-switching function like Home & Away Routines or Home/Away Assist. These functions automatically change the temperature when the thermostat detects that no one is around.
- Leaving the utility company’s energy agreement: Considering your energy provider may be remotely controlling your Nest thermostat, negating the agreement should take away their access. You can locate the full details of these agreements with your energy provider.
- Reaching out to Google support: If everything else fails, contacting Google’s technical support could be of service. Staff can lead you to resetting the Nest or finding the appropriate setting to turn off Seasonal Savings.
If the Problem Persists, Your Thermostat Might Be Faulty
There’s always the possibility your Nest smart thermostat is just malfunctioning. Electrical issues or software bugs can result in all types of problems, including an aggravating Seasonal Savings program. If you suspect the problem is isolated to your specific thermostat, a skilled technician may be able to help. After all, smart thermostats continue to be a beneficial investment for your home’s energy efficiency.
If you want local assistance for your smart thermostat in Albany, contact the heating and cooling professionals at Roland J. Down Service Experts . They can help you figure out the best way to shut off an uncooperative Seasonal Savings program on your Nest thermostat.