Daniel founded Smart Home Perfected in 2019 as a personal passion project. With a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Computing and IT from The Open University, his 15 years experience as a software engineer is what initially inspired him to play around with home automation platforms.

A shed full of power tools and an eagerness to take on any DIY task have helped get his smart home to its current level. He has tested over 100 smart home devices over the last 4 years. As a smart home is never "finished", he's continuing to find more ways to automate and improve his home, as new devices are released and technology evolves.

Latest Posts

Fixed: Nest Thermostat Blowing Cold Air On Heat or Hot Air On Cold

Nest Cool Hot

If you recently installed your Nest thermostat and find it annoying that the heat and cold settings are switched, don’t worry. This is a very common issue in heat pump systems that utilize a single wire to control the reversing valve. Reconfiguring it is very straightforward, so let’s talk more about how you can resolve this issue step-by-step. Troubleshoot Heat Cold Switching…

How to Program a White Rodgers, Emerson, or Sensi Thermostat

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Programming a thermostat by setting up a schedule is one of the best ways to make energy savings, while also maintaining comfort in your home.  You can stick to the default schedule or create a custom one for the week based on your temperature habits and daily routine.  So in the guide below, I’ll show you step-by-step how to program your Sensi,…

10 Steps to Fix a Nest Thermostat Fan That Won’t Turn Off

Nest Fan

A blower fan that’s running continuously is not a good sign. In most conventional HVAC systems, the fan should only stay on while actively heating or cooling and then turn off when the temperature setpoint is reached. So how can you fix a fan that won’t turn off? In the steps below, I’ll show you how.  Step 1: Try Manually Adjusting the…

How to Change the Batteries on a White Rodgers / Emerson Thermostat

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Replacing the batteries regularly, or as soon as the low battery indicators show up, will help keep your White Rodgers/Emerson thermostat running smoothly. A thermostat running on low batteries can disable Wi-Fi, create automatic temperature offsets or even power down and revert to default settings. So in this guide, I’ll provide detailed instructions on how to replace the batteries in your Sensi and…

How to Turn On Aux Emergency Heat on a White Rodgers / Emerson Thermostat

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The “EMER” or emergency heat setting on your thermostat will allow you to switch on the emergency heating equipment manually.  This is useful in several scenarios, especially when your heat pump or first-stage heating equipment is malfunctioning or frozen over.  So in this guide, I’ll show you how to enable this setting and how to use it effectively.  What is “EMER” or…

9 Ways to Fix a White Rodgers / Emerson Thermostat with a Constantly Blinking Snowflake

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White Rodgers / Emerson thermostats incorporate several safety features to protect your HVAC equipment.  One of these is the compressor lockout, which results in the flashing snowflake icon. Usually, this goes away after five minutes, but if it doesn’t you may have a problem that needs to be investigated. What Does the Flashing Snowflake Icon Mean? In most models, the snowflake icon…

How to Disable the Compressor Lockout in a White Rodgers / Emerson Thermostat

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The compressor lockout mode in a White Roders or Emerson thermostat is an essential safety feature that prevents short cycling. However modern compressors already come with a built-in delay so the feature may not be needed in the thermostat. Also, during repairs, the compressor lockout mode can get in the way of testing, so having the option to disable and re-enable it…

9 Methods to Fix a Nest Thermostat that’s Short-Cycling

Nest Short Cycling

There can be many reasons why your HVAC system is short-cycling. It could be a faulty thermostat, loose wiring, or issues with the HVAC equipment itself.  The Nest thermostat has a “low-temperature differential” which means it is quite sensitive to small temperature changes, triggering the HVAC system to turn on and off more frequently. While this isn’t true short-cycling, it has the…

How to Program a Nest Thermostat

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When it comes to smart thermostats, what sets them apart is their intelligent functions, especially when it comes to scheduling and home/away settings.  With a Nest thermostat, you can create a customized schedule for the week and also have the device learn how to optimize it for maximum efficiency. So in this guide, I’ll show you how to set up a Nest…

Nest Thermostat Troubleshooting

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Whether that’s a blank screen, Wi-Fi issues, or the HVAC equipment acting strange, there’s always something you can do to fix a Nest thermostat that’s not working.  So instead of calling in the cavalry right away, you can try restarting the device for a quick fix.  But that might not be enough, so keep reading for a detailed troubleshooting guide.  Common Problems…

5 Ways to Fix the Constant “In 2 Hours” Message on a Nest Thermostat

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The Nest thermostat’s “Time-To” indicator is very handy in helping you estimate how long it will take to reach your desired temperature setpoint.  However, if it displays “In 2+ Hours” indefinitely, without the HVAC equipment kicking in, there might be an underlying issue.  So if this has happened to your device, don’t worry. Below I’ll show you how to fix it. What…

How to Reconnect Your Nest Thermostat to Wi-Fi

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A constant connection to the internet is essential if you want to maintain the Nest thermostat’s full functionality.  Features like remote control, geofencing, and intelligent features are only accessible when the thermostat is connected to a Wi-Fi network and paired up with a Nest or Google Home app. So if you’re connecting the device to a new Wi-Fi network, or reconnecting after…

Can A Nest Thermostat Work Without Wi-Fi?

Can Nest thermostat work without Wi Fi 1

Although it’s not the most recommended approach, your Nest thermostat can indeed work without a Wi-Fi connection.  Offline, the device can be operated as a regular thermostat. However, certain features will be disabled, and troubleshooting issues or installing the device can become a bit tedious.  So what are the exact trade-offs when your Nest thermostat is working without Wi-Fi? Let’s find out.…