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

April 13, 2021

The Nest thermostat is one of the most popular smart thermostats you can get. 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 settings to help you save even more.

The Nest works with a full range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a good idea to use the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before installing one. Don’t forget to contact your energy provider for valuable rebates, as you could be able to get a Nest for free or close to it.

Once you’ve confirmed it’s compatible, you can either hook it up yourself or hire a HVAC specialist like Premium Air Services LLC. If you’re putting it in without help, you’ll spot 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 a setback since the thermostat can pull ample power from other heating and cooling wires.

Sometimes, your heating and cooling system may have to have that C-wire. And here’s why.

Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Problems

The Google Nest Thermostat is a step up from outdated programmable thermostats that rely on a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and wiring to link to Wi-Fi, power its digital display and operate your heating and cooling system.

8 Common Nest Thermostat Malfunctions

If it can’t draw ample power, Nest says you could experience some of these issues:

  1. Short battery life.
  2. Thermostat motion sensing won’t operate.
  3. Your thermostat occasionally disconnects from Wi-Fi.
  4. Your system unexpectedly turns on or off, or won’t stop running.
  5. Your system is producing weird noises, such as chattering, stuttering, clicking or thumping.
  6. Heating or cooling is short cycling, or repeatedly turning on and off in a short period of time.
  7. There is a delay notice on your Nest thermostat’s screen, like “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
  8. The system fan is continuously on, won’t run or turns off and on repeatedly in a short period of time.

You might worry something is wrong with your heating and cooling system, but if you just got the Nest, we advise you check your thermostat first. This is especially timely if the weather is mild, and you haven’t been relying on your heat or air conditioning consistently.

Our Professionals Can Fix Nest Thermostat Problems

If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting by yourself but can’t fix the issue, a smart thermostat specialist such as one from Premium Air Services LLC can help. We can identify the issue and add a C-wire, if needed.

Smart thermostats including the Nest are made to make your life simpler, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the opportunity to monitor temps while you’re on the go. It’s an annoying experience when yours won’t run correctly, but our heating and cooling specialists at Premium Air Services LLC can fix the problem in no time.

If you’re running into atypical heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, reach out to us at 713-364-9957 to book your appointment right away.