What is Smart Thermostat?

A smart thermostat is a thermostat that can be controlled with a phone, tablet, smart speaker, or other internet-connected devices. Smart thermostats typically allow you to schedule your desired temperature settings, and you can also incorporate them into home automation systems.

Is a smart thermostat worth buying?

With a smart thermostat, you can make the most of your heating system without wasting money or energy. Almost half of the monthly energy costs are controlled by your thermostat.

How do you use a smart thermostat?

Do you save money and energy with a smart thermostat?

Yes, Smart thermostats save you money simply by cooling and heating the home only as much as needed. Using features like learning, scheduling, geofencing, by diagnosing problems with the system, and by reminding you of when it’s time to perform maintenance, your HVAC system runs more efficiently and uses less energy. Room sensors can also reduce energy consumption by heating and cooling specific areas more accurately.

Who can install a smart thermostat?

Many newer homes have a C-wire, but some older ones don't. In those cases, homeowners should hire a professional electrician to install one or, if that's not an option, select a smart thermostat that offers an alternative method of powering the unit.

Features of Smart Thermostat

Smart schedule: The Nest Learning Thermostat learns the more you use it, so it can start building a temperature schedule based on your habits.

Geolocation: It also knows when you’ve left home using your phone’s location, meaning it can turn the heating down when no-one’s in – helping you prevent energy wastage

Nest Leaf: The Nest Leaf feature lets you know when you’ve changed the temperature enough to start saving energy

Sensors: The device also houses a number of sensors to track the home’s temperature, humidity, and whether anyone’s at home

Multi-zone: With Nest, you can control up to 20 thermostats in your home, and you can control Nest in three homes from your account

Hot water control: You can control your hot water tank through the Nest app too. You can boost the heat so that you have extra hot water if you want it. And when you’re away from home for a few days, you don’t have to remember to turn off the hot water.

Safety alerts: Get an alert on your phone or tablet if your home gets dangerously hot or cold

Early-on - Nest learns how your home warms up and keeps an eye on the weather to get you the temperature you want when you want it

Farsight: When the Nest thermostat spots you across the room, it lights up beautifully to show you the temperature you've set or the time

Nest learning thermostat works with 95% of 24-Volt heating and cooling systems, including gas, electric, forced air, heat pump, radiant, oil, hot water, solar and geothermal

Better together: the Nest thermostat works with Nest protect, if Nest Protect detects dangerous carbon monoxide gas, it can tell the Nest thermostat to turn off the furnace which is a common source of carbon monoxide leaks

Remote control: Connect it to Wi-Fi to change the temperature from your phone, tablet or laptop

Energy History: See when heating and cooling were on and what affected your energy use

Choosing a Google Nest thermostat for a UK heating system

The right Nest model is determined by the heating system, not simply by the look of the thermostat. UK and European installations use dedicated European hardware and a Heat Link. This matters because online advice often mixes UK products with North American Nest models, which use different system connections. Google states that a North American thermostat will not work with European heating systems.
For most buyers comparing the established European range, the practical choice is between the 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E. Both can control compatible heating and both support On/Off and OpenTherm control. The important difference is hot-water control and installation scope. The 3rd-gen Learning Thermostat can control heating and, on compatible systems, a separate domestic hot-water tank. Thermostat E cannot provide simple On/Off control of a separate hot-water tank.

Is Nest being discontinued in the UK?

Google is not discontinuing support for all Nest thermostats in the UK. It has stopped launching new Nest thermostat models in Europe, but the European 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E remain supported. Google says these models will continue to be sold in Europe while current supplies last and will continue receiving updates and support through the Nest and Google Home apps.
The end-of-support announcement applies to older hardware: the 1st-gen and 2nd-gen Nest Learning Thermostats, including the 2014 European 2nd-gen model. From 25 October 2025, these models stopped receiving software updates and working with the Nest and Google Home apps. Temperature, schedules and other settings can still be controlled directly from the thermostat.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nest being discontinued in the UK?

Google says it will not launch new Nest thermostat models in Europe, but the European 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E remain supported. Google said these models would continue to be sold while supplies last. Older 1st- and 2nd-gen Learning Thermostats lost app and cloud support on 25 October 2025.

Can I control Nest from the Google Home app?

Google states that the 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E can be controlled in Google Home after a Nest Account is migrated to a Google Account. The Nest app also provides full control and settings for these models. Available functions can differ between apps, so use the current Google guidance for setup and account migration.

Does a Nest thermostat work with a combi boiler?

European Nest thermostats can work with compatible combi boilers. Both the 3rd-gen Learning Thermostat and Thermostat E support On/Off and OpenTherm control. With an OpenTherm combi, compatible systems may also allow domestic hot-water temperature control. Check the exact boiler and control interface before installation rather than relying on the boiler brand alone.

Can Nest control my hot-water cylinder?

The European 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat can control a compatible separate hot-water tank using On/Off control. Nest Thermostat E cannot control a separate On/Off hot-water tank, so the existing hot-water programmer must remain. Combi boilers produce hot water on demand and therefore do not use a cylinder heating schedule in the same way.

What is the Nest Heat Link?

Heat Link is the control unit used with European Nest thermostats to interface with the heating system. The European 3rd-gen Learning Thermostat uses a Heat Link that supports heating and compatible hot-water control. Heat Link E is supplied with Thermostat E. UK buyers should follow European installation information rather than North American thermostat wiring guides.

Can I install a Nest thermostat myself?

Google recommends professional installation for the 3rd-gen Nest Learning Thermostat. Thermostat E was designed for a simpler installation process and its Heat Link E can replace an existing wired room thermostat in suitable systems. Heating controls can involve mains voltage and boiler-specific terminals, so installation instructions for the exact UK model and heating system should be followed.