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

April 13, 2021

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 through geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E know when you’re at your home or away and can adjust temperatures 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 wise idea to visit the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before installing one. Don’t forget to check with your energy company for valuable rebates, because you may 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 call a HVAC pro like Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning. If you’re wiring it yourself, you’ll spot a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is solely used for powering your thermostat. If your residence 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 get ample power from other heating and cooling wires.

In some instances, 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 a step up from aging 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 operate your heating and cooling system.

8 Common Nest Thermostat Malfunctions

If it can’t receive adequate electricity, Nest says you may run into some of these problems:

  1. Poor battery life.
  2. Thermostat motion sensing is disabled.
  3. Your thermostat sometimes disconnects from Wi-Fi.
  4. Your system unexpectedly turns on or off, or won’t turn off.
  5. Your system is producing weird noises, including chattering, stuttering, clicking or thumping.
  6. Heating or cooling is short cycling, or frequently turning on and off in a short period of time.
  7. There is a delay message on your Nest thermostat’s screen, such as “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
  8. The system fan is always working, 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, it’s best to check your thermostat initially. This is especially true if the weather is temperate, and you haven’t been relying on your heat or air conditioning much.

Our Professionals Can Resolve Nest Thermostat Problems

If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting on your own but can’t repair the problem, a smart thermostat professional like one from Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning can provide assistance. We can pinpoint the malfunction and put in a C-wire, if necessary.

Smart thermostats such as the Nest are created to make your life easier, through automatic energy-efficient programming and the ability to check temperatures while you’re away from home. It’s a time-consuming experience when yours won’t run correctly, but our heating and cooling pros at Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning can fix the trouble fast.

If you’re experiencing unexplained heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, call us at 402-509-5940 to schedule your appointment now.