
The Nest thermostat is one of the best-selling smart thermostats you can buy. And for good reason. It figures out your temperature preferences and makes an energy-efficient schedule to match. And by geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E are aware of when you’re at your home or away and can raise and lower temps to help you save even more.
The Nest works with a vast range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a smart idea to visit the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before installing one. Don’t forget to check with your energy provider for valuable rebates, since you could 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 yourself or hire a HVAC specialist like Controlled Comfort HVAC. If you’re installing it on your own, you’ll see a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is only used for powering your thermostat. If your home or HVAC system is older, you might not have one of these wires. In most cases, Nest says this isn’t an issue since the thermostat can pull ample power from other heating and cooling wires.
Sometimes, your heating and cooling system could require that C-wire. And here’s why.
Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Malfunctions
The Google Nest Thermostat is a step up from outdated programmable thermostats that use a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power. It uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and wiring to connect to Wi-Fi, power its digital display and operate your heating and cooling system.
8 Common Nest Thermostat Problems
If it can’t receive ample power, Nest says you might have some of these problems:
- Short battery life.
- Thermostat motion sensing is disabled.
- Your thermostat every now and then disconnects from Wi-Fi.
- Your system abruptly turns on or off, or won’t shut off.
- Your system is creating strange 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 notice on your Nest thermostat’s screen, like “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
- The system fan is always working, won’t run or turns off and on repeatedly in a short period of time.
You might worry something is up with your heating and cooling system, but if you just installed the Nest, we advise you check your thermostat first. This is especially timely if the weather is moderate, and you haven’t been running your heat or air conditioning frequently.
Our Pros Can Solve Nest Thermostat Problems
If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting by yourself but can’t fix the dilemma, a smart thermostat pro including one from Controlled Comfort HVAC can assist you. We can pinpoint the malfunction and add a C-wire, if necessary.
Smart thermostats such as the Nest are designed to make your life easier, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the ability to keep an eye on temps while you’re on the go. It’s a frustrating experience when yours won’t operate properly, but our heating and cooling specialists at Controlled Comfort HVAC can take care of the problem fast.
If you’re going through strange heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, call us at to schedule your appointment today.