Do you live in an area that experiences extreme temperatures? Installing a HVAC system should top the list of your priorities. With this system in place, you will be able to regulate the temperatures of your home the way you please. However, this is only made possible by a thermostat. Although there are many thermostats that you can find in the market, Nest Thermostat takes the lead.
It is more reliable and can be controlled with a mobile phone. Besides this, some of these models are battery powered and thus will continue to function even when there is a power outage in your region. If you have a battery powered Nest thermostat, you should always ensure that you charge the battery once in a while. Although this might be very practical for the very first couple of months, there are instances when the Nest thermostat won’t charge at all.
If you are a first-time owner, you may freak out. However, this typically normal with these devices. Since most homeowners would like to know why Nest thermostat battery won’t charge, we shall take a closer look at the reasons that could trigger such problems as well as methods on how troubleshoot those issues on the go, alongside other related ideas.
How To Know When The Nest Thermostat’s Battery Is Low
Like we have mentioned above, most Nest thermostats normally come with a battery so that they can remain in use even when there is a blackout in your home. Typically, these batteries usually get charged from the main power supply. Just like any other smart device, your thermostat will show a ‘Battery Low’ indication anytime its battery is low.
With the “Battery Low” indication in place, your device may actually turn off in case it is not charged. Therefore, charging should start as soon as possible. Besides this indication, you will also see a red light blinking on your device. This further warns you that the battery is low and needs to be charged immediately.
If you fail to charge your Nest thermostat in good time, the display may fail to be responsive. In addition, the Wi-Fi connection to your thermostat may be disrupted. Finally, the device may fail to turn on the HVAC as expected.
Consequently, you may not be able to regulate the temperatures of your home. To be on the safe side, you should charge the battery so that your device can remain useful even when there is no power supply in your home.
What’s The Lifespan Of Your Nest Thermostat’s Battery
If the device’s battery is not getting any direct charge from the HVAC system, it can actually las between one hour and a few days before it dies. However, this duration is dependent on the number of hours the battery continuously gets charged from the HVAC system. As long as there is a constant power supply, your battery can last between 5 and 10 years without any diagnostic issue.
Why Nest Thermostat Battery Won’t Charge
Like we mentioned above, your Nest thermostat may be working optimally for first few months or years. However, over time, it may start developing diagnostic issue such as the failure of the Nest Thermostat battery to charge as expected. Here are some of the leading causes of this problem as well as the various ways you can troubleshoot them.
1) Software issues
One of the main reasons why your Nest thermostat is not charging as expected is due to software issues. The good news is that you can solve this issue on the go, through various techniques. Here are some solutions that can help you to get started:
A) Reboot the thermostat
Before you think of resetting your thermostat, you should first restart or reboot the thermostat. By rebooting you will be able to eliminate a few bugs that might be making the device’s battery not to charge. To boost this device, you should turn off the thermostat and then allow it to remain that way for about 5 to 10 seconds. Once this period has elapsed, you can now go ahead and switch it on afresh.
The moment the device is on, you can now try to charge its battery and see if the problem will still persist or not. In case the problem persists, consider the next step.
B) Reset the Nest thermostat
If restarting the device is not solving any problem, the only solution may be to reset the device immediately. To reset the device, you just have to click the reset button for 10 to 15 seconds and then release the button.
Better still, you can reset the thermostat from the ‘Settings’ section in your mobile app .Here, you will have a chance to reset the device and then clear all the malicious bugs that might making it’s battery not charge as expected.
2) The battery needs a replacement
Typically, most Nest thermostats usually come with a battery that helps to power it in case there is a blackout within your locality. Just like other devices, this battery can go bad over time. In most cases, if you have used your model over a long period of time, its battery may start deteriorating.
Although most models come with lithium-ion batteries, they are not immune to this problem. If your model has been working for the last 5 years, time is ripe for you to change its battery. However, depending on how you use the battery, it can last for several years before it prompts you to replace it.
When it comes to battery replacement, you should not rush into it. First and foremost, you will note that most models come with battery warranties. For instance, if you are using the Nest Learning model, be sure that you will enjoy a warranty for the first 2 years. However, if you have the regular Nest thermostat and Nest E model, your warranty period will be shorter as it will only be 12 months from the date of purchase. Finally, if you have the Nest Pro model be sure that you will enjoy an extended warranty.
However, the warranty might not work for you if you have previously mishandled your device. In addition, if you damaged the battery in an attempt to repair the device on your own, you will not benefit from the warranty.
Lastly if you have changed any of the internal components of the Nest thermostat, you will not be able to enjoy this luxury. In fact, the only thing that you should change as the removable batteries. If the warranty does not work for you, you have no other alternative other than to purchase the battery from your own pocket.
3) The C-Wire is not attached correctly
Simply put, the C-wire is the bridge between your device and the power supply. Its main role is to complete the circuit between the inbuilt battery of your device and the power supply in your home.
Although this wire might be working optimally in the past, sometimes, it may become loose due to one reason or another. Therefore, you should always check the wire thoroughly and determine if this problem exists or not.
To check whether the C-Wire is loose, you should switch off your device first and then unplug it if at all it is connected to the power supply of your home. Thereafter, you can check if this wire is connected or not. In case it is loose, put it back and then restart your thermostat. By doing so, power should start flowing seamlessly.
However, there are instances when the C-Wire might be damaged or broken. Such is very common with models that have been in operation for many years. For instance, if the C-Wire is discolored, fraying or has some burned areas, chances are that it needs to be replaced as soon as possible. When it comes to C-Wire replacement, you can either opt to install it on your own or hire a professional technician to do it for you.
If you want to replace it on your own, you should first switch off the power supply and then remove the old C-wire. In the event there is no C-wire there, chances are that it has fallen. Since the space to insert it exist, you will just get a new C-wire and then insert it tightly. Thereafter, you can restart your Nest thermostat and see if the battery will start charging.
4) Your grid is not supplying sufficient power supply
Like we mentioned above, your thermostat’s battery usually receives its power from the main grid. However, there are instances when the grid may not have enough power supply. If this is the case the circuit breaker will trip and thus make your thermostat not to get the much-needed power supply from the grid.
To deal with this problem, you should just turn off the circuit breaker and then put it on again. Typically, your thermostat’s battery should start charging. If every other appliance works and not your Nest thermostat, chances are that there is another underlying problem that is yet to be established.
Here, you can consider charging the device’s battery with an alternative power source. If you have the Nest Learning thermostat, you will need to look for a mini-USB cable and then connect it to your preferred power source.
On the other hand, if you have the Nest thermostat Relook out for a micro-USB cable. When charging the device’s battery using alternative power sources, it is advisable that you detach it from the main grid and then attach your USB cable to both the power supply and the device. Thereafter, let the battery to charge for about 5 hours.
5) Your thermostat is not attached to the base
Apart from the above-mentioned 4 issues, your Nest thermostat may fail to charge if the device is not well connected to the base. To start with, the base contains all the wires. Besides this, it is also directly connected to the HVAC system of your home.
This arrangement goes a long way in ensuring that power is flowing optimally and the charging is always optimal. In case the thermostat looks like it is about to fall off, secure it back in place so that it is firmly connected to the base. By doing so, your battery should start charging.
6) Clogged air filters
For your home to have a cool or warm air anytime you like, there is a need for your Nest thermostat to work around the clock. Consequently, the air vents might also be overworking in order to keep up with the pace of the thermostat.
Since each air vent has a filter, sometimes, dust, debris and mold from the air can build up over time. This means that your thermostat has to work triple as hard. As a result, the device might shut off and thus fail to charge as expected.
To avert such problems, you should ensure that you clean the air vents every now and then. Better still, replace the old filters with other newer models. By doing so, you will be able to reduce chances of getting ill and even increase the lifespan of your Nest thermostat.
7) Replace your thermostat unit
If all the above-mentioned solutions are not working, consider replacing the entire unit. As you purpose to replace the entire unit, check the warranty that came with your device. If the charging problem came up during the warranty period, you can always seek a replacement free of charge.
However, if the device was previously repaired by a third-party person or company, and has developed the issue days or weeks after it was serviced that way, be sure that you will not enjoy the benefits that come a warranty. Here, you may have to part with your hard-earned money in order to buy another model.
8) Contact the Nest customer support team
The above-mentioned solution should be the last resort incase all the above-mentioned methods ail to bear any fruit. You can either contact them on phone or through a live chat on Nest’s website. Once you contact the Nest’s customer support team, feel free to narrate your story. They may ask a number of questions so as to determine who your problem will be solved.
From issuing you a newer model to sending a technician to check your device’s problems, there are many solutions that this team can offer. With these solutions at hand, the charging issue will no longer be a bother to you.
Final Words
It is normal for your Nest thermostat battery not to charge at one time or another. However, if you establish this problem, there is a need for you to address it on the go so that your thermostat can perform optimally as usual. From rebooting the device to contacting the Nest’s customer support team, there is a plethora of solutions that can help you get started. Consider them today and your battery will start charging again. This will go a long way in allowing you enjoying more convenience as you will be able to regulate your home’s temperature even when there is a blackout in your home.