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 makes an energy-efficient schedule to match. And using geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E are aware of when you’re at your residence or gone and can change settings 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 wise idea to use the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before purchasing one. Don’t forget to check with your energy provider for valuable rebates, because you might be able to get a Nest for free or close to it.
Once you’ve checked it’s compatible, you can either hook it up on your own or contact a HVAC specialist like Knoechel Heating. If you’re installing it without help, you’ll notice a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is solely used for powering your thermostat. If your house or HVAC system is older, you might not have one of these wires. In the majority of cases, Nest says this isn’t a problem because the thermostat can draw ample power from other heating and cooling wires.
In some cases, your heating and cooling system could require that C-wire. And here’s why.
Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Issues
The Google Nest Thermostat is better than older programmable thermostats that use a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power. It relies on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and wiring to connect to Wi-Fi, power its digital display and run your heating and cooling system.
8 Common Nest Thermostat Malfunctions
If it can’t draw enough electricity, Nest says you may run into some of these troubles:
- Short battery life.
- Thermostat motion sensing won’t operate.
- Your thermostat every now and then disconnects from Wi-Fi.
- Your system unexpectedly turns on or off, or won’t turn off.
- Your system is producing strange noises, such as chattering, stuttering, clicking or thumping.
- Heating or cooling is short cycling, or repeatedly turning on and off in a short period of time.
- There is a delay notification on your Nest thermostat’s screen, such as “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
- The system fan is constantly working, won’t turn on or turns off and on repeatedly in a short period of time.
You might believe something is wrong with your heating and cooling system, but if you just started using the Nest, we advise you start with your thermostat first. This is especially timely if the weather is moderate, and you haven’t been relying on your heat or air conditioning frequently.
Our Specialists Can Solve Nest Thermostat Issues
If you’ve tried Nest thermostat troubleshooting without help but can’t solve the issue, a smart thermostat pro such as one from Knoechel Heating can assist you. We can diagnose the problem and install a C-wire, if required.
Smart thermostats such as the Nest are made to make your life easier, by 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 operate like it should, but our heating and cooling experts at Knoechel Heating can fix the issue in no time.
If you’re experiencing atypical heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, call us at to book your appointment right away.