The Nest thermostat is one of the top-selling 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 using geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E know when you’re at your home or away and can change settings 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 getting one. Don’t forget to contact your energy provider for valuable rebates, as you may be able to get a Nest for free or close to it.
Once you’ve checked it’s compatible, you can either wire it on your own or hire a HVAC specialist like Retro HVAC Service & Installation. 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 house or HVAC system is older, you might not have one of these wires. In most cases, Nest says this isn’t a problem as the thermostat can pull adequate power from other heating and cooling wires.
Sometimes, your heating and cooling system may have to have 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The Google Nest Thermostat is better than outdated programmable thermostats that use a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and wiring to link to Wi-Fi, power its digital display and run your heating and cooling system.
8 Common Nest Thermostat Problems
If it can’t receive ample power, Nest says you may run into some of these problems:
- Poor battery life.
- Thermostat motion sensing won’t operate.
- Your thermostat every now and then disconnects from Wi-Fi.
- Your system suddenly turns on or off, or won’t stop running.
- Your system is making strange noises, like 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 message on your Nest thermostat’s screen, such as “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
- The system fan is always on, won’t run or turns off and on repeatedly in a short period of time.
You could think something is suspect with your heating and cooling system, but if you just installed the Nest, we advise you check your thermostat right away. This is especially pertinent if the weather is temperate, and you haven’t been running your heat or air conditioning consistently.
Our Professionals Can Solve Nest Thermostat Troubles
If you’ve tried Nest thermostat troubleshooting by yourself but can’t fix the dilemma, a smart thermostat specialist including one from Retro HVAC Service & Installation can provide support. We can determine the problem and install a C-wire, if necessary.
Smart thermostats like the Nest are designed to make your life easier, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the option to check temps while you’re away from home. It’s a frustrating experience when yours won’t work correctly, but our heating and cooling pros at Retro HVAC Service & Installation can take care of the problem quickly.
If you’re experiencing unexplained heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, call us at 267-277-3851 to book your appointment today.