Why Your Nest Thermostat Isn't Operating Right and How to Repair It

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 using geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E realize when you’re at your house or away and can adjust temperatures to help you save even more.

The Nest can be used with a vast range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a wise idea to visit the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before getting one. Don’t forget to talk with your energy supplier for valuable rebates, since 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 yourself or call a HVAC professional like Titan Heating & Air Conditioning. If you’re installing it yourself, you’ll see a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is just 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 an issue because the thermostat can get adequate power from other heating and cooling wires.

Sometimes, your heating and cooling system could need that C-wire. And here’s why.

Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Problems

The Google Nest Thermostat is better than outdated programmable thermostats that rely on a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power.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 turn on your heating and cooling system.

8 Common Nest Thermostat Problems

If it can’t get enough power, Nest says you could run into some of these troubles:

  1. Short battery life.
  2. Thermostat motion sensing won’t work.
  3. Your thermostat occasionally disconnects from Wi-Fi.
  4. Your system unexpectedly turns on or off, or won’t shut off.
  5. Your system is creating strange noises, like chattering, stuttering, clicking or thumping.
  6. Heating or cooling is short cycling, or constantly 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 run or turns off and on frequently in a short period of time.

You might believe something is wrong with your heating and cooling system, but if you just got the Nest, it’s best to start with your thermostat first. This is especially timely if the weather is temperate, and you haven’t been running your heat or air conditioning frequently.

Our Specialists Can Solve Nest Thermostat Problems

If you’ve tried Nest thermostat troubleshooting by yourself but can’t repair the issue, a smart thermostat specialist such as one from Titan Heating & Air Conditioning can provide assistance. We can narrow down the malfunction and add a C-wire, if needed.

Smart thermostats such as the Nest are created to make your life easier, through automatic energy-efficient programming and the option to monitor temperatures while you’re on the go. It’s a frustrating experience when yours won’t run like it should, but our heating and cooling professionals at Titan Heating & Air Conditioning can fix the issue fast.

If you’re experiencing odd heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, call us at 541-286-6617 to book your appointment today.