Nest Protect Review (2nd Generation)
I am addicted to the Nest line of products. Ever time I think I have enough of them, I find out about another one and immediately add it to my wish list.
My newest fascination is with the Nest Protect (2nd generation). The Nest Protect is the modern day smoke detector. So yes, at its core, it detects when there is smoke in your house and alerts you to the problem. But being a high tech device, it of course does a lot more.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detector
For starters, the Nest Protect detects against not only smoke but carbon monoxide (CO) as well. Plus, because of the ability for Nest products to communicate with each other, if your Nest Protect detects carbon monoxide in your house and you also have the Nest Thermostat, the Nest Protect will immediately turn off your heat (if it is on) as an emergency safety precaution.
Beyond smoke and CO, the Nest Protect is also smart enough to tell the difference between steam and smoke thanks to its built-in humidity sensor. So hot showers and boiling water on the stove won’t set off the smoke alarm.
Self checks itself regularly
As any homeowner already knows, smoke detectors are supposed to be tested regularly. Unfortunately, the majority of us never do this. The Nest Protect makes this process easier. It checks its sensors over 400 times per day and reports any problems it finds to you through the free Nest app on your smartphone.
Additionally, every night when you turn off the lights for the night, a “Nightly Promise” is conducted where the Nest Protect makes sure everything is ok and you have enough battery power to get through the night. If all is good, it glows a quick green light to let you know. No more searching the house for those smoke detector chirps in the middle of the night.
Finally, once per month, the Nest Protect performs a sound check on its speaker. It does this by sounding a short alarm and then using its built-in microphone to record the sound. And because Nest knows you might not want to perceive this as a false alarm, you can use the Nest app to set what time you want the test to occur (like when you are away from the house at work). Or, you can once again take advantage of other Nest products like the Nest Thermostat, the Nest Cam or the location services on the Nest app on your smartphone which can all detect when you are away from the house.
If you can not see the embedded video above please use the following link: Meet the all-new Nest Protect
Other nice features
A few other features you might enjoy with the Nest Protect. When a problem is first detected, it uses a human voice to alert you of the problem. So if your toast is burning in the toaster, you’ll get a pleasant notification to deal with the problem.
Furthermore, you can use the free Nest app to silence an alarm. So no more waving towels in front of the smoke detector and opening windows to silence a smoke alarm. Just press a button in the app and you’re done.
Speaking of the app, you’ll receive any alert produced by the Nest Protect on your smartphone, even if your away from the house. Imagine being able to call the fire department about fire or smoke in your house when you’re thousands of miles away.
Lastly, the Nest Protect has a feature called Pathway Lighting which Nest claims has become one of its more popular features. With Pathway Lighting, any time you walk underneath the Nest Protect in the dark, it lights your way with an illuminated ring of light. Perfect for those late night trips to the bathroom or to get a drink of water.
Wired or battery versions
The Nest Protect goes for just under $100 and comes in both a wired version (to wire to your existing home wiring) and a battery only version. From what I have researched on the difference, you will definitely want to select the wired version unless you are installing the Nest Protect in a location that does not have existing wiring.
Note: The Nest Protect in this review was provided to me by Verizon Wireless and can be purchased at your local Verizon Wireless store or at www.verizonwireless.com.
