The Nest thermostat is one of the most popular smart thermostats on the market today. And for good reason. It figures out your temperature preferences and makes an energy-efficient schedule to match. And through geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E know when you’re at your residence or gone and can change temps to help you save even more.

The Nest works with a vast range of 24-volt heating and cooling systems, but it’s always a wise idea to use the Nest thermostat compatibility checker before installing one. Don’t forget to talk with your energy supplier for valuable rebates, because you might 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 call a HVAC specialist like Contra Costa Heating & AC. If you’re putting it in yourself, you’ll notice 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 because the thermostat can draw enough power from other heating and cooling wires.

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

Why Your Nest Keeps Losing Power and Other Issues

The Google Nest Thermostat is a step up from outdated programmable thermostats that rely on a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power.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 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 Problems

If it can’t receive enough electricity, Nest says you could encounter some of these troubles:

  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 weird 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, along the lines of “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
  8. The system fan is always on, won’t switch on or turns off and on frequently in a short period of time.

You might think something is up with your heating and cooling system, but if you just started using the Nest, we recommend you start with your thermostat initially. This is especially timely if the weather is mild, and you haven’t been relying on your heat or air conditioning much.

Our Pros Can Fix Nest Thermostat Troubles

If you’ve tried Nest thermostat troubleshooting on your own but can’t fix the problem, a smart thermostat professional like one from Contra Costa Heating & AC can assist you. We can pinpoint the problem and add a C-wire, if needed.

Smart thermostats such as the Nest are created to make your life simpler, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the opportunity to keep an eye on temperatures while you’re on the go. It’s a time-consuming experience when yours won’t work like it should, but our heating and cooling experts at Contra Costa Heating & AC can resolve the issue fast.

If you’re going through odd heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, give us a call at 510-343-9841 to book your appointment right away.