The Nest thermostat is one of the most popular smart thermostats you can buy. And for good reason. It learns your temperature preferences and develops 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 away and can adjust temperatures to help you save even more.
The Nest works with a wide range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a wise idea to visit the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before getting one. Don’t forget to check with your energy provider for valuable rebates, as you might be able to get a Nest for free or close to it.
Once you’ve made sure it’s compatible, you can either install it yourself or contact a HVAC specialist like Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC. If you’re putting it in on your own, you’ll see a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is solely used for powering your thermostat. If your home or HVAC system is older, you might not have one of these wires. In the majority of cases, Nest says this isn’t an issue since the thermostat can draw ample power from other heating and cooling wires.
In some cases, your heating and cooling system may have to have that C-wire. And here’s why.
Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Problems
The Google Nest Thermostat is an improvement from aging 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 turn on your heating and cooling system.
8 Common Nest Thermostat Issues
If it can’t get adequate electricity, Nest says you may have some of these troubles:
- Short battery life.
- Thermostat motion sensing is disabled.
- Your thermostat sometimes disconnects from Wi-Fi.
- Your system unexpectedly turns on or off, or won’t shut off.
- Your system is making strange noises, including 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, along the lines of “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
- The system fan is always on, won’t turn on or turns off and on frequently in a short period of time.
You could worry something is wrong with your heating and cooling system, but if you just installed the Nest, we suggest you start with your thermostat right away. This is especially timely if the weather is moderate, and you haven’t been using your heat or air conditioning frequently.
Our Pros Can Fix Nest Thermostat Problems
If you’ve gone through Nest thermostat troubleshooting without help but can’t solve the dilemma, a smart thermostat professional like one from Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC can provide support. We can pinpoint the malfunction and put in a C-wire, if required.
Smart thermostats including the Nest are created to make your life easier, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the ability to check settings while you’re on the go. It’s a frustrating experience when yours won’t operate correctly, but our heating and cooling specialists at Walter's-Eaton's Electric, Plumbing, Heating & AC can resolve the problem in no time.
If you’re experiencing odd heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, reach out to us at 715-318-6728 to set up your appointment today.
