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

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 by geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E are aware of when you’re at your house or gone and can raise and lower settings to help you save even more.

The Nest is compatible with a wide range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a smart idea to check the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before getting one. Don’t forget to contact your energy supplier for valuable rebates, since you could 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 Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning. If you’re putting it in without help, you’ll notice a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is only used for powering your thermostat. If your residence or HVAC system is older, you might not have one of these wires. In most cases, Nest says this isn’t a setback as the thermostat can draw enough power from other heating and cooling wires.

In some cases, your heating and cooling system may need that C-wire. And here’s why.

Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Issues

The Google Nest Thermostat is better than outdated programmable thermostats that rely on a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power.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 connect to 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 electricity, Nest says you could run into some of these troubles:

1. Bad battery life.

2. Thermostat motion sensing won’t operate.

3. Your thermostat sometimes disconnects from Wi-Fi.

4. Your system suddenly turns on or off, or won’t shut off.

5. Your system is producing odd noises, like 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, along the lines of “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”

8. The system fan is always working, won’t run or turns off and on repeatedly in a short period of time.

You could believe something is suspect with your heating and cooling system, but if you just started using the Nest, we recommend you check your thermostat right away. This is especially timely 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 gone through Nest thermostat troubleshooting without help but can’t solve the dilemma, a smart thermostat specialist including one from Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning can support you. We can pinpoint the issue and put in a C-wire, if needed.

Smart thermostats including the Nest are created to make your life more convenient, through automatic energy-efficient programming and the opportunity to check temps while you’re away from home. It’s a frustrating experience when yours won’t work like it should, but our heating and cooling pros at Schraer Heating & Air Conditioning can resolve the problem in no time.

If you’re experiencing odd heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, give us a call at to book your appointment today.