The Nest thermostat is one of the best-selling smart thermostats you can buy. And for good reason. It picks up on 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 house or out and about and can change temperatures 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 purchasing one. Don’t forget to contact your energy provider for valuable rebates, as 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 without help or call a HVAC pro like Ilten's. If you’re installing it on your own, you’ll see 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 since the thermostat can draw adequate power from other heating and cooling wires.

In some cases, your heating and cooling system could 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The Google Nest Thermostat is a step up from outdated programmable thermostats that have a combination of wiring and AA batteries for power. It relies on 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 receive ample electricity, Nest says you might have some of these issues:

  1. Bad battery life.
  2. Thermostat motion sensing won’t operate.
  3. Your thermostat sometimes 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 message on your Nest thermostat’s screen, along the lines of “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
  8. The system fan is constantly working, won’t run or turns off and on frequently in a short period of time.

You may think something is up with your heating and cooling system, but if you just started using the Nest, it’s best to start with your thermostat first. This is especially pertinent if the weather is mild, and you haven’t been relying on your heat or air conditioning consistently.

Our Specialists Can Resolve Nest Thermostat Troubles

If you’ve attempted Nest thermostat troubleshooting on your own but can’t fix the problem, a smart thermostat pro including one from Ilten's can assist you. We can pinpoint the problem and add a C-wire, if required.

Smart thermostats including the Nest are created to make your life simpler, by automatic energy-efficient programming and the ability to keep an eye on settings while you’re out. It’s a time-consuming experience when yours won’t run correctly, but our heating and cooling specialists at Ilten's can resolve the problem in no time.

If you’re going through unexplained heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, call us at to request your appointment right away.