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 away and can change settings 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 check the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before purchasing one. Don’t forget to talk with your energy company for valuable rebates, since you might 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 on your own or hire a HVAC pro like Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling. 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 home 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 draw enough power from other heating and cooling wires.

In some instances, your heating and cooling system might have to have that C-wire. And here’s why.

Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Problems

The Google Nest Thermostat is an improvement from outdated programmable thermostats that rely on a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power.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 sync with Wi-Fi, power its digital display and turn on your heating and cooling system.

8 Common Nest Thermostat Malfunctions

If it can’t draw enough power, Nest says you may have some of these problems:

  1. Poor 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 odd noises, like 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 running, won’t switch on or turns off and on rapidly in a short period of time.

You could think something is wrong with your heating and cooling system, but if you just installed the Nest, it’s best to begin with your thermostat right away. This is especially pertinent if the weather is moderate, and you haven’t been running your heat or air conditioning much.

Our Specialists Can Resolve Nest Thermostat Troubles

If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting without help but can’t fix the dilemma, a smart thermostat professional such as one from Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling can provide support. We can identify the issue and put in a C-wire, if required.

Smart thermostats like the Nest are designed to make your life simpler, by automatic energy-efficient programming and the option to keep an eye on temperatures while you’re out. It’s an annoying experience when yours won’t work correctly, but our heating and cooling pros at Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling can fix the problem in no time.

If you’re running into odd heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, reach out to us at 515-207-6569 to schedule your appointment right away.