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 creates 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 away and can change settings to help you save even more.
The Nest is compatible with a full range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a good idea to check the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before purchasing one. Don’t forget to contact your energy company for valuable rebates, because you may be able to get a Nest for free or close to it.
Once you’ve confirmed it’s compatible, you can either install it on your own or hire a HVAC pro like Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc.. If you’re putting it in on your own, you’ll spot a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is just used for powering your thermostat. If your home or HVAC system is older, you might not have one of these wires. Most of the time, Nest says this isn’t a setback as the thermostat can pull ample power from other heating and cooling wires.
In some instances, your heating and cooling system might need 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 use 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 operate your heating and cooling system.
8 Common Nest Thermostat Malfunctions
If it can’t draw enough electricity, Nest says you could encounter some of these troubles:
- Poor battery life.
- Thermostat motion sensing won’t operate.
- Your thermostat every now and then disconnects from Wi-Fi.
- Your system abruptly turns on or off, or won’t turn off.
- Your system is making strange noises, such as 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 continuously working, won’t run or turns off and on rapidly in a short period of time.
You might worry something is suspect with your heating and cooling system, but if you just installed the Nest, we advise you start with your thermostat initially. This is especially pertinent if the weather is temperate, and you haven’t been running your heat or air conditioning consistently.
Our Specialists Can Fix Nest Thermostat Problems
If you’ve tried Nest thermostat troubleshooting without help but can’t fix the issue, a smart thermostat pro including one from Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. can provide assistance. We can narrow down the issue and install a C-wire, if needed.
Smart thermostats including the Nest are designed to make your life easier, through automatic energy-efficient programming and the ability to check temperatures while you’re on the go. It’s an annoying experience when yours won’t operate like it should, but our heating and cooling professionals at Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. can take care of the issue quickly.
If you’re experiencing weird heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, give us a call at 803-265-4208 to set up your appointment right away.