The Nest thermostat is one of the top-selling smart thermostats on the market today. And for good reason. It learns your temperature preferences and creates an energy-efficient schedule to match. And using geofencing with your phone, the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest E are aware of when you’re at your residence or out and about and can adjust temps to help you save even more.

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

Once you’ve checked it’s compatible, you can either install it yourself or call a HVAC specialist like Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc.. If you’re installing it yourself, you’ll spot 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 since the thermostat can pull ample power from other heating and cooling wires.

In some cases, your heating and cooling system could require 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 aging programmable thermostats that have a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power. It relies on 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 Issues

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

  1. Bad battery life.
  2. Thermostat motion sensing won’t work.
  3. Your thermostat occasionally disconnects from Wi-Fi.
  4. Your system abruptly turns on or off, or won’t turn off.
  5. Your system is making strange noises, including 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 notification on your Nest thermostat’s screen, along the lines of “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
  8. The system fan is constantly on, won’t turn 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 got the Nest, we advise you begin with your thermostat first. This is especially pertinent if the weather is temperate, and you haven’t been using your heat or air conditioning consistently.

Our Pros Can Fix Nest Thermostat Troubles

If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting by yourself but can’t solve the issue, a smart thermostat professional such as one from Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc. can provide support. We can determine the malfunction and install a C-wire, if needed.

Smart thermostats such as the Nest are designed to make your life more convenient, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the option to keep an eye on temps while you’re away from home. It’s a frustrating experience when yours won’t run properly, but our heating and cooling specialists at Willco Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Inc. can resolve the trouble fast.

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