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 are aware of when you’re at your residence or away and can raise and lower 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 check with your energy supplier for valuable rebates, since you might be able to get a Nest for free or close to it.

Once you’ve confirmed it’s compatible, you can either wire it yourself or contact a HVAC pro like Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning. If you’re wiring it yourself, you’ll see a terminal for the C-wire, or common wire. This wire is just 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 a setback because the thermostat can pull ample power from other heating and cooling wires.

In some cases, your heating and cooling system may have to have 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 older programmable thermostats that use 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 run your heating and cooling system.

8 Common Nest Thermostat Malfunctions

If it can’t receive ample juice, Nest says you might have some of these issues:

  1. Bad battery life.
  2. Thermostat motion sensing won’t work.
  3. Your thermostat every now and then disconnects from Wi-Fi.
  4. Your system abruptly turns on or off, or won’t shut off.
  5. Your system is making odd 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 message on your Nest thermostat’s screen, like “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”
  8. The system fan is constantly on, won’t run or turns off and on frequently in a short period of time.

You might believe something is up with your heating and cooling system, but if you just installed the Nest, we advise you check your thermostat initially. This is especially pertinent if the weather is temperate, and you haven’t been running your heat or air conditioning much.

Our Pros Can Fix Nest Thermostat Problems

If you’ve tried Nest thermostat troubleshooting on your own but can’t repair the dilemma, a smart thermostat specialist including one from Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning can support you. We can pinpoint the malfunction and put in a C-wire, if necessary.

Smart thermostats like the Nest are designed to make your life simpler, with automatic energy-efficient programming and the ability to monitor temps 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 pros at Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning can take care of the problem quickly.

If you’re running into strange heating and cooling behavior with your new Nest, reach out to us at to schedule your appointment today.