Comparing Smart Thermostats: The Nest And Carrier’s Infinity Touch Screen

Back in 1883, Warren Johnson invented an electrical thermostat to control the indoor temperatures during the winter. The only problem was, it simply signaled janitors to produce more heat for himself. A few years later, Albert Butz created a pulley system to open and close the furnace door. But neither are anything close to the smart thermostats that are available today.

When you think about it, there have been drastic changes to the way we control our indoor climates just in the last 10 years. While some Sun City residents prefer analog technology, the benefits of programmable thermostats have been valued by many. So let’s compare the Nest and Carrier’s Infinity touch screen to see why.

The Nest and Carrier’s Infinity Touch Screen

Whether you like it or not, automation and AI (artificial intelligence or behavior learning) have changed the way technology functions in today’s world. For example, you can watch TV, check your calendar and even make a grocery list at the door of your fridge now. Moreover, it’s been designed to aggregate your behaviors and source them to offer digital suggestions. This is where the term “smart device” comes from.

Pretty interesting, right? Convenient yet invasive. Nonetheless, programmable thermostats are getting more and more intelligent by the day. While there are a multitude of options to choose from, the Nest and Carrier’s Infinity touch screen are two of the most popular choices in the past few years.

Understanding what each presents should help you determine which features you’ll value most in your Phoenix home.

The Nest Smart Thermostat by Google

Similar to the Google Voice Mini, the Nest uses voice commands to raise or lower the temperatures in your indoor environment. But this isn’t it’s only function. According to the search engine giant, most people that own a programmable thermostat don’t use them properly. In turn, they don’t enjoy the energy savings these devices were created to achieve.

So they set out to make something more convenient, capable and user friendly. In fact, product descriptions claim that buyers can install the thermostat themselves in under 30 minutes. Homeowners that already have Google Home can also sync the smart device to the rest of their network to achieve a more personalized experience.

Whole Home Technology is the Main Perk

The developers behind the Nest are actually hoping their smart thermostat is connected to other devices. The main reason it was built was to “automatically learn consumer habits. It remembers the temperature adjustments you’ll make and when you make them. It sends you notifications if it “thinks” you’ve forgotten to update something or you’re getting off schedule. After some time, it’s able to manage your climate for you.

The advantage that Google is looking to convey is daily life management. They have an entire product line under the “Nest” brand. While it may be extremely beneficial to some, others may think it’s a little much. But you don’t have to use every function if you don’t want to. Here are some of the other features that may be of interest:

The interface is easy to use as it guides homeowners through the installation process with a few simple questions. You may have to make some adjustments to find your comfort levels, but it’s not at all difficult to operate.
Since most smart thermostats look the same, the aesthetics of the Nest can be rather appealing. Its sleek, rotund curves give you quite the display on the wall.
Like most thermostats, you can control your home temperatures wherever you are with the Google Nest App. As long as you’re connected, you can make adjustments that maximize energy savings or cool the house down before you get home.
Remote access also allows you to view data that analyzes the actions you take. Comparing different days with similar weather can help you determine the best way to manage settings in the future.
Once there is enough data collected, the Nest thermostat starts to automatically adjust to settings that maximize your energy efficiency.
The latest version gives homeowners the ability to manage their humidity levels and control multiple zones individually.

The Bottom Line With Nest Smart Thermostats

If you’re just now considering a smart device to control your heating and cooling, the simplicity of the Nest may be ideal. You can pick one up from most retailers for under $300 and get it set up fairly quickly. Voice command also comes in handy when you don’t want to get up or your hands are full.

At the same time, it can be frustrating when commands are misunderstood or curious kids “talk” to it and alter settings. Access to your private data can also be a concern. So, make sure you understand the app and all of its security features before making a final decision.

Carrier’s Infinity Touch Smart Thermostats

If you’re a homeowner that already has a Carrier heat pump, furnace and air conditioner, it might be in your best interest to go with a Carrier Infinity Touch Control thermostat. It sits atop the product line and will definitely help you get the most out of your HVAC system.

Even if you don’t have a Carrier, the touch screen is still a great option for anyone looking for a high end smart device. It may not boast the voice command technology of Google’s Nest, but it does come with a remote that gives you similar capabilities (unless your hands are full). The main drawback is the price as it’s a little bit more expensive.

What Are the Main Differentiating Features?

The primary characteristic of Carrier’s Infinity Touch Control is a modernized touch screen that offers plenty of control. Aside from its vibrance and charming design, it’s also easy to navigate for first time users. Like other premier options, this thermostat lets you control different zones in your house, manage humidity levels, and check energy output from any smart device. What else can it do?

Customize the display by uploading pictures or other screensavers like a computer desktop.
Check the weather forecast in Phoenix and make corresponding adjustments.
Control the thermostat wherever you go as long as you can connect to the internet or a wireless network.
Use the software to manage all of your home systems in up to 8 zones. This includes humidifiers, air purification, UV lamps and other heating and cooling equipment.
Override features let users implement “Touch-N-Go”, temporary and indefinite settings for heating and cooling systems.
Custom notifications such as reminders to schedule regular maintenance.
View the amount of electricity you’re using in real time, anytime. This helps you understand where to make adjustments and save money.

The Bottom Line With Infinity Touch Control

Carrier’s premier Infinity Touch Screen isn’t close to matching Google’s automated learning software. But not everyone wants to be overly-connected or rely on computers to manage their efficiency. Some homeowners like doing it themselves. For the most part, they just need smart thermostats that show them where they can lower energy costs – and this one won’t let you down.

If you own any Infinity Series products and don’t mind a larger unit, the many unique features of this smart device are well worth the investment. Analog thermostats can hardly measure up.

Ranking The 2 Smart Thermostats

At the end of the day, your personal preferences and budget really have a lot to do with which of these smart thermostats is the best choice. The design, price and intelligence of the Nest are hard to ignore – but the features of the Infinity Series easily close the gap. Either way, both are solid choices.

The best thing you can do is call a heating and cooling specialist to discuss the size of your home and any further questions you may have. Indecisiveness is typically solved by an expert’s opinion. If you’d like to view some of your options, you can always stop by our showroom in Sun City West. Otherwise, scheduling an appointment can give you a better idea on all of your installation needs.