The Nest thermostat is one of the most popular smart thermostats you can buy. And for good reason. It figures out 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 home or gone and can change settings to help you save even more.
The Nest can be used with a wide range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a smart idea to visit the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before purchasing one. Don’t forget to check with your energy company for valuable rebates, because 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 hire a HVAC professional like Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC. If you’re wiring it yourself, you’ll see a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is only used for powering your thermostat. If your house 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 as the thermostat can get adequate 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 Issues
The Google Nest Thermostat is a step up from older 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 electricity, Nest says you may encounter some of these issues:
- Short battery life.
- Thermostat motion sensing won’t work.
- Your thermostat sometimes disconnects from Wi-Fi.
- Your system unexpectedly turns on or off, or won’t shut off.
- Your system is making weird noises, including chattering, stuttering, clicking or thumping.
- Heating or cooling is short cycling, or constantly turning on and off in a short period of time.
- There is a delay message on your Nest thermostat’s screen, along the lines of “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
- The system fan is constantly running, won’t switch on or turns off and on repeatedly in a short period of time.
You could worry something is up with your heating and cooling system, but if you just installed the Nest, we suggest you check your thermostat right away. This is especially timely if the weather is moderate, and you haven’t been relying on your heat or air conditioning frequently.
Our Pros Can Resolve Nest Thermostat Problems
If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting by yourself but can’t fix the problem, a smart thermostat specialist including one from Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC can support you. We can pinpoint the malfunction and install a C-wire, if required.
Smart thermostats like the Nest are made to make your life more convenient, through automatic energy-efficient programming and the ability to keep an eye on settings while you’re on the go. It’s an annoying experience when yours won’t operate correctly, but our heating and cooling pros at Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC can fix the trouble fast.
If you’re experiencing weird heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, give us a call at 215-741-5505 to set up your appointment now.