How to Shut Off Your Nest Thermostats Seasonal Savings Program

Smart thermostats are gaining in popularity as more and more homeowners search for ways to reduce their energy bills. These systems can be programmed to efficiently adjust the temperature of your home based on your regular schedule. They also have the ability to study comfort preferences over time. For this reason, 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 plenty of homeowners are delighted with its features and all-around efficiency. But one feature–the Seasonal Savings program–may be causing trouble rather than supporting your HVAC system. Constant issues are forcing homeowners to learn how to switch off this feature. We’ll share the concerns some people are having with Seasonal Savings and offer instructions for how to opt out of the feature.

Many Homeowners Allege the Seasonal Savings Program Isn’t Working Correctly

Google built the Seasonal Savings program to help homeowners boost their energy efficiency. During the highest HVAC use in the summer and winter, it will automatically adjust the thermostat to balance your preferences with energy efficiency. The program is designed to run without getting in the way of your sense of comfort, setting up the biggest changes when you’re away or in bed. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for numerous people enrolled in the program.

In fact, there are reports that the program is inconsistent and frustrating to use. Homeowners are complaining that the program is actually increasing their energy bills instead of shrinking them. And when they try to disable or opt out of Seasonal Savings, they’ve found the option to do so is difficult to find or outright missing. In many cases people have even discovered it being switched back on after it was disabled.

Smart thermostats are meant to improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling. While automatic temperature changes are a widespread feature in smart thermostats, it shouldn’t override your preferred settings. If the Nest refuses to accommodate your comfort preferences, shutting off the Seasonal Savings option is the correct move.

But First, Why Is This Going On?

Homeowners are concerned that the Seasonal Savings setting was activated on their Nest thermostat without their approval. Why should a smart thermostat you control dismiss your settings and activate the program? It might be because of an energy-efficiency program you signed up for with a utility company.

These agreements help you enhance your home’s energy efficiency. They can feature rebates on new products or special discounts for renewable energy products. But lots of people are alarmed to learn they also allow 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 change the temperature. You might be having trouble 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 faulty or just ignoring your preferences? Whatever the reason may be, you don’t want a feature to double your energy use without your consent. We’ll share 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 disclosed trouble opting out of the Seasonal Savings feature. While the location of this setting may be different based on your specific Nest model, other users are nervous that Google is deliberately making it tougher to turn off Seasonal Savings. To make sure you can opt out no matter what, we’ll include the ways other users have found success.

1. 1. Overriding Seasonal Savings: Manually setting the temperature should supersede the Seasonal Savings program, but numerous users have noticed this isn’t what’s happening. If you see your Nest repeatedly ignoring your changes, you’ll probably opt to shut off the feature entirely.

2. 2. Opting out of 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 disable Seasonal Savings, but other homeowners have located this option under Settings. Once disabled, the feature is temporarily off until the next summer or winter.

3. 3. Stopping the program from the Nest thermostat: Your thermostat should also provide a History option where you can turn off Seasonal Savings, but many homeowners claim the disable option is not there.

4. 4. Opting out before the program launches: The Seasonal Savings program is only obtainable during summer and winter. Your smart device is supposed to receive a notification when the program is about to begin, offering you the chance to opt out.

When Seasonal Savings is on, your Nest will feature a small yellow symbol of a leaf. If the Nest is struggling with issues and the Seasonal Savings icon is absent, your problem could be with a different setting entirely.

Sometimes the Source Isn’t Seasonal Savings but Another Setting or Program

Additional options on Nest smart thermostats besides Seasonal Savings can lead to unwanted temperature changes. If these options are active during Seasonal Savings, even shutting off the program may not prevent the thermostat from making alterations. Thankfully, these settings can be switched off. You’ll also have options if the problem is a third party like the power company.

5. 5. Shutting off Auto-Schedule: The Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat both give you the Auto-Schedule feature, using their capability to understand your preferences to set the ideal schedule. Going into Settings and turning off Auto-Schedule should stop other automatic controls such as Seasonal Savings.

1. 1. Disabling auto switching: Nest thermostats can still shift to eco temperatures if you use an auto-switching setting like Home & Away Routines or Home/Away Assist. These settings automatically control the temperature when the thermostat assumes that the house is empty.

6. 6. Leaving the utility company’s energy agreement: Because your energy provider could be remotely controlling the Nest thermostat, nullifying the agreement should remove unwanted access. You can find the full details of these agreements via your energy provider.

7. 7. Contacting Google support: If everything else fails, contacting Google’s technical support may be of assistance. Staff can point you to resetting the Nest or locating the proper setting to switch off Seasonal Savings.

If the Problem Continues, Your Thermostat Might Be Malfunctioning

There’s always the possibility the Nest smart thermostat is just malfunctioning. Electrical issues or software glitches can trigger all types of issues, including an obnoxious Seasonal Savings program. If you believe 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 prefer local service for your smart thermostat in the U.S., call the HVAC professionals at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. They can help you find the ideal way to switch off a stubborn Seasonal Savings program on your Nest thermostat.