Smart thermostats are increasing in popularity as more and more homeowners look for ways to lower their energy expenses. These systems can be programmed to conveniently regulate the temperature at home based on your day-to-day schedule. They also have the means to study your preferences over time. Subsequently, you can spend less on your energy bills by ensuring that your HVAC system is only on when you need it.
Google’s smart thermostat is the Nest, and numerous homeowners are content with its features and overall efficiency. But one feature–the Seasonal Savings program–could be making trouble as opposed to helping your HVAC system. Persistent issues are forcing homeowners to learn how to disable this feature. We’ll review the concerns some people are having with Seasonal Savings and offer instructions for how to opt out of the feature.
Many Homeowners Say the Seasonal Savings Program Isn’t Working Like It Should
Google built the Seasonal Savings program to help homeowners improve their energy efficiency. For peak HVAC use in the summer and winter, it is supposed to automatically adjust the thermostat to match your preferences with energy efficiency. The program is supposed to run without getting in the way of your sense of comfort, implementing the biggest changes when you’re away or sleeping. Sadly, this isn’t the case for many people participating in the program.
Alternatively, there are accounts that the program is contradictory and frustrating to use. Homeowners are complaining that the program is actually increasing their energy bills instead of shrinking them. And when they decide to disable or opt out of Seasonal Savings, they’ve found the way to do so is difficult to find or just missing. In many cases people have even observed it being switched back on after it was disabled.
Smart thermostats are supposed to strengthen the efficiency of your HVAC system. While automatic temperature adjustments are a common feature in smart thermostats, it shouldn’t overrule your favored settings. If your Nest isn't meeting your comfort preferences, shutting off the Seasonal Savings feature is the correct move.
But First, Why Is This Going On?
Homeowners are concerned that the Seasonal Savings setting was started on their Nest thermostat without their consent. Why can a smart thermostat you control ignore your settings and enroll in the program? It may be because of an energy-efficiency program you signed up for with your utility company.
These agreements help you boost your home’s energy efficiency. They can offer rebates on new products or special offers for renewable energy systems. But most people are surprised to learn they also permit your utility company remote access to the thermostat. If the power grid is experiencing a heavy load, the utility company can take over your thermostat and turn up the temperature. You could be having problems with the Seasonal Savings program because a utility company is utilizing this remote access.
But what if the setting is faulty or just disregarding your preferences? Whatever the reason might be, you don’t want a feature to raise your energy use without your permission. We’ll walk you through how other homeowners have switched off the Seasonal Savings program.
How to Disable Your Nest Thermostat’s Seasonal Savings Feature
A number of people have disclosed trouble opting out of the Seasonal Savings feature. While the location of this setting could be different based on your specific Nest model, other users are alarmed that Google is deliberately making it tougher to turn off Seasonal Savings. To ensure you can opt out no matter what, we’ll include the ways other users have enjoyed success.
- Overriding Seasonal Savings: Manually changing the temperature should overrule the Seasonal Savings program, but quite a few users have noticed this isn’t entirely accurate. If you note your Nest repeatedly reversing your changes, you’ll probably prefer to turn off the feature completely.
- Shutting off the program from the Nest app: Your phone or tablet’s Nest app should have a History option and a Settings option. Google directs users to their History to shut off Seasonal Savings, but other users have discovered this option in Settings. Once disabled, the feature is temporarily off until the subsequent summer or winter.
- Stopping the program from the Nest thermostat: Your thermostat should also possess a History option where you can turn off Seasonal Savings, but many homeowners report the disable option is not there.
- Opting out before the program starts: The Seasonal Savings program is only obtainable in summer and winter. Your smart device should get a notification when the program is about to start, offering you the time to opt out.
When Seasonal Savings is active, your Nest should feature a small yellow symbol of a leaf. If a Nest is struggling with issues and the Seasonal Savings icon is absent, your predicament may be with another setting entirely.
Sometimes the Issue Isn’t Seasonal Savings but Another Setting or Program
Other settings on Nest smart thermostats besides Seasonal Savings can result in automatic temperature changes. If these settings are active during Seasonal Savings, even shutting off the program may not stop the thermostat from making alterations. Luckily, these settings can be switched off. You’ll also have options if the issue is a third party like a power company.
- Turning off Auto-Schedule: The Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat both give you the Auto-Schedule feature, using their capacity to learn your preferences to define the best possible schedule. Going into Settings and shutting off Auto-Schedule should prevent other automatic adjustments like Seasonal Savings.
- Disabling auto switching: Nest thermostats can still flip to eco temperatures if you use an auto-switching setting like Home & Away Routines or Home/Away Assist. These functions automatically control the temperature when the thermostat thinks that no one is around.
- Opting out of the utility company’s energy agreement: Considering your energy provider may be remotely controlling your Nest thermostat, nullifying the agreement should remove their access. You can find the full details of these agreements via your energy provider.
- Reaching out to Google support: If nothing else works, reaching out to Google’s technical support could be of service. Staff can direct you to resetting the Nest or determining the proper setting to shut off Seasonal Savings.
If the Problem Continues, Your Thermostat Might Be Malfunctioning
There’s always the chance a Nest smart thermostat is just malfunctioning. Electrical problems or software bugs can result in all kinds of issues, including an aggravating Seasonal Savings program. If you suspect the problem is isolated to your specific thermostat, a seasoned technician will be able to help. After all, smart thermostats remain a worthwhile investment for your home’s energy efficiency.
If you need local assistance for your smart thermostat in Daytona Beach, call the comfort experts at All American Air Service Experts. They can help you determine the easiest way to disable an uncooperative Seasonal Savings program on your Nest thermostat.