The Nest thermostat is one of the most popular smart thermostats on the market today. And for good reason. It figures out your temperature preferences and creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. And by geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E realize when you’re at your home or gone and can change temperatures to help you save even more.
The Nest can be used with a wide range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a smart idea to check the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before installing one. Don’t forget to contact your energy company for valuable rebates, since you might be able to get a Nest for free or close to it.
Once you’ve confirmed it’s compatible, you can either hook it up on your own or hire a HVAC professional like Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning. If you’re putting it in on your own, you’ll notice a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is only used for powering your thermostat. If your house or HVAC system is older, you might not have one of these wires. In most cases, Nest says this isn’t a problem because the thermostat can get enough power from other heating and cooling wires.
In some instances, your heating and cooling system might need that C-wire. And here’s why.
Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Malfunctions
The Google Nest Thermostat is better than outdated programmable thermostats that have a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power. It relies on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and wiring to sync with Wi-Fi, power its digital display and operate your heating and cooling system.
8 Common Nest Thermostat Malfunctions
If it can’t draw ample power, Nest says you may encounter some of these issues:
- Short battery life.
- Thermostat motion sensing is disabled.
- Your thermostat occasionally disconnects from Wi-Fi.
- Your system suddenly turns on or off, or won’t turn off.
- Your system is producing odd noises, like chattering, stuttering, clicking or thumping.
- Heating or cooling is short cycling, or frequently turning on and off in a short period of time.
- There is a delay message on your Nest thermostat’s screen, along the lines of “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
- The system fan is constantly on, won’t run or turns off and on repeatedly in a short period of time.
You may worry something is wrong with your heating and cooling system, but if you just got the Nest, we suggest you begin with your thermostat initially. This is especially pertinent if the weather is mild, and you haven’t been using your heat or air conditioning much.
Our Specialists Can Solve Nest Thermostat Problems
If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting on your own but can’t repair the problem, a smart thermostat pro such as one from Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning can provide support. We can diagnose the issue and put in a C-wire, if needed.
Smart thermostats including the Nest are designed to make your life more convenient, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the option to keep an eye on temps while you’re out. It’s a time-consuming experience when yours won’t work properly, but our heating and cooling experts at Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning can resolve the problem in no time.
If you’re running into strange heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, call us at to schedule your appointment today.