Why Your Nest Thermostat Isn't Working and How to Solve the Problem

April 13, 2021

The Nest thermostat is one of the top-selling smart thermostats you can get. And for good reason. It figures out your temperature preferences and develops an energy-efficient schedule to match. And by geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E know when you’re at your house or gone and can raise and lower temps to help you save even more.

The Nest can be used with a full range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a smart idea to check the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before getting one. Don’t forget to talk 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 confirmed it’s compatible, you can either install it without help or contact a HVAC specialist like Stieferman Heating Company Inc. If you’re wiring 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 most cases, Nest says this isn’t a setback since the thermostat can pull enough power from other heating and cooling wires.

In some cases, your heating and cooling system might require 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The Google Nest Thermostat is better than outdated programmable thermostats that rely on a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power. It uses 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 draw adequate electricity, Nest says you may encounter some of these troubles:

  1. Bad battery life.
  2. Thermostat motion sensing won’t work.
  3. Your thermostat occasionally disconnects from Wi-Fi.
  4. Your system suddenly turns on or off, or won’t stop running.
  5. Your system is producing odd noises, such as chattering, stuttering, clicking or thumping.
  6. Heating or cooling is short cycling, or repeatedly turning on and off in a short period of time.
  7. There is a delay notice on your Nest thermostat’s screen, such as “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
  8. The system fan is constantly on, won’t switch on or turns off and on repeatedly in a short period of time.

You might worry something is wrong with your heating and cooling system, but if you just got the Nest, it’s best to start with your thermostat right away. This is especially pertinent if the weather is temperate, and you haven’t been using your heat or air conditioning much.

Our Specialists Can Fix Nest Thermostat Troubles

If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting without help but can’t fix the issue, a smart thermostat pro such as one from Stieferman Heating Company Inc can provide support. We can determine the issue and install a C-wire, if necessary.

Smart thermostats including the Nest are designed to make your life simpler, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the opportunity to check temps while you’re away from home. It’s a frustrating experience when yours won’t operate correctly, but our heating and cooling professionals at Stieferman Heating Company Inc can resolve the issue in no time.

If you’re going through odd heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, reach out to us at 573-635-3547 to book your appointment today.