cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Replies are disabled for this topic. Start a new one or visit our Help Center.

Nest Gen 2 (battery draining)

Ramzee
Community Member

So I paid $119 x 3 for the Nest Protect Gen2 battery powered, one for each floor. This product worked great for a little over 2 years and then a problem kept reoccurring. I had to change the batteries out literally every month. It seems like now I'm lucky to even get a month out of fresh batteries. I've now spent more money on batteries than what it would've cost to buy 3 new Nest Protects. Customer service said sorry but it only has a 2 year warranty (convenient since after that is when the problem started). I should've just stuck with the 9volt battery smoke and CO detectors that you replace every time the time changes. It is ridiculous to pay as much as I did for a product to only function properly for just over 2 years, and being a loyal Google Nest client with other Google products just be told sorry and good luck. Google will now be done at my house and reviews or whatever I can do to deter others from making the same mistake I did will be going out everywhere, not to mention to the firefighters union to make sure they never advise someone to buy these products. Thank you Google for showing me your true colors and customer service.

95 REPLIES 95

Randalla05
Community Member

I've had the same problem, TWICE! Several years ago I bought 2 Nest protects, one was fine for the lifetime of the product, the other started draining batteries after sometime.  Just over 2 years ago I replaced the defective one and hopping it was a fluke, bought a 3rd Nest Protect for a new, larger apartment.  AGAIN, just after 2 years, once the 2-yr protection plan ends, it's draining batteries again. More than that, I just put in a brand new pack of batteries and it's still saying low battery.  So it seems 50% of Nest Protects have battery problems.       

GarrettDS
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi there, 

I'm so sorry to hear about the issues you've been having with your Nest Protect, I'm sure it's frustrating, but I'm happy to help. 

 

Have you double checked the batteries that you've been using to make sure that they are the correct batteries for the Nest Protect? I would suggest reviewing this article that goes over the correct batteries to use. 

Please let me know if you have any further questions. 

Best regards, 

Garrett DS

Ramzee
Community Member

Yes, I've tried using the lithium batteries as well and the result is the same. 

We have had the same issue.

Is there anything else that can be done, rather than just changing the batteries. 

 

We have young kids so I'm wanting to get the fire alarm sorted asap

Lots of folks are obviously having the same problem with your product. It’s pretty clean the batteries are NOT the problem. Can someone please let us know if/when Google is planning to resolve this? I’m guessing a software update could resolve this. If not, maybe you can start replacing these expensive “smart” smoke detectors that no longer work?

Stukp
Community Member

I have had the same issue with my 2 smoke detectors

No Garrett. It is not the type of batteries that is the issue 

Garret, I have a Nest WI-FI thermostat and have burned through 4 sets of charged batteries within the first month's time. I have a C-wire but the device does not appear to be using it. I don't want a Eco thermostat that burns through batteries. What can I do

Hi. I wish someone would respond to me, I pretty much started this forum. I had to take mine down after working fine for 6 months, I use lithium batteries and they only last about 2 weeks. I can't afford those batteries every 2 weeks. I would love some help on this issue.

GarrettDS
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey there,
Just wanted to jump in here to check to make sure that you saw our response. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours.

Have a great day.
Garrett DS
 

We have had the same issue.

Is there anything else that can be done, rather than just changing the batteries. 

 

We have young kids so I'm wanting to get the fire alarm sorted asap

 

Sir,

My Nest Protect (gen2) is roughly 2 years old.  This unit is using up batteries at the rate of a set per week.  Roughly 14 bucks a set for the recommended batteries.  After only 2 years, I don't feel it's right for the mfg. to say nothing and expect us to buy another unit.  I personally will not invest in something that has a useful life of only 2 years.  Thanks for listening.

 

John Mathews

Of course because you don't wanna help

ProtectGeoff
Community Member

I just started having a similar issue. My Energizer Lithium batteries have been doing great in the product so far but something recently changed and my Protect is now draining every set of freshly recharged batteries in just a few hrs🤯 I’ve tried several different sets of batteries so the issue seems to be with Protect. 

Gabriela17363
Community Member

We are having the same issue, it’s ridiculous. Using the recommended batteries and they barely last a month. Also, the low battery alarm goes off in the middle of the night. I give up and will switch brands. Customer support was not helpful. 

Lysophobic
Community Member

Same problem here. Looking at all the support threads, the community specialists just keep suggesting to switch the batteries to lithium even though people keep saying they've already tried that. Plus, I didn't use lithium batteries for the whole first year and it worked just fine.

ridt
Community Member

Same problem. Drains in weeks now. With recommended lithium batteries. Garrett’s responses here from Nest are not helpful. Chirping noises at night with kids are very annoying 

Rosenkrantz
Community Member

I have had to disable mine because the batteries die so fast. The suggestion to just use lithium batteries is condescending, but at least someone can close a thread and make their numbers. I wonder if they realize that at some point this will probably have disastrous effects, and someone will sue them - of course, the KPIs will look good through all that … Actual help would be way too obvious!

Pjc
Community Member

I had a low battery warning changed the batteries and a day latter telling me low battery. I’ve tested the batteries and they are not low but still getting the warning! 

PoNuts
Community Member

I din also voltage on the battery and the are fine..nwould guess bad softare update.. ha who knows suddenly goes bad when there is a new version to buy.. 

kcam36
Community Member

This seems a very frustrating problem with no clear solution. Same problem with batteries. I have 2 units that I bought at the same time about 2 years ago. One unit seems to be draining batteries super fast. I actually had both of them just sitting on a shelf for about 6 months with batteries removed because I was getting tired/annoyed with the chirping noise from low batteries. Finally hooked them up few days ago (because what’s the point of having 2 $119 smoke detectors if they’re not actuality detecting anything) and got a low battery warning from one of the units. So they didn’t even last a week. Haven’t contacted the customer service but judging by the comments, they’re of no help. Very disappointed. Wouldn’t purchase again unless they fix the problem. Wouldn’t purchase any other products either if this is the quality of their products. 

cgray0629
Community Member

Very odd that all of a sudden, a little while after the warranty, everyone is basically having the same issue. Also very coincidental that this seems to be happening after one of the last software updates. Really sucks, they probably figure that most people will go out and purchase a newer model. My opinion only.

Lars1
Community Member

Betting that the Gen 2 is made in…you know where. After all the cheesy products that must be replaced with premature failure is the principle tenet in the strategy to conquer the west. Just saying.

NedJenson
Community Member

Same issue - worked fine for years. Now says the batteries need changing after a month. Tested with a battery voltage meter and the batteries are still good! What the heck?! I expect better for what these detectors cost. Feels like a software update is needed here. 

I did the same, tested the batteries and they're absolutely fine. I agree, they need to do another software update, or uninstall the last one that is causing the issues that we're all having.

Tim11
Community Member

Same Problem, Two Nest Protects one has had the same batteries for over two years, the other drains in a week or two.  Tried to chat about it with customer service.  Asked me if my batteries were placed in correctly.  Took pictures of my Energizer Lithiums, just before we were about to make progress the chat cut off.  Beyond frustrating.

Felderb
Community Member

Same issues here have 2 units one is fine the other eats $20  Energizer Lithium  batteries. Support says mine are out of warranty go purchase another …hmmm don’t think so 

Dittonwolf
Community Member

Purchased my Nest alarm in 2017, and about six months ago also started draining the batteries at an alarming rate (sorry no pun intended). Tried different batteries as suggested and it makes absolutely no difference. Always felt safe with Nest but just cannot justify spending so much money on batteries every month or so. 

 

 

Bmart
Community Member

I am having the same issue. Have to change my batteries every three months 

NedJenson
Community Member

Clearly this is more than one or two faulty smoke detectors. Would love to get an update on when or even if this is fixable. The more attention the issue receives, the better a chance we get a resolution. Beside social media, I’m going to reach out to the NYT Wirecutter and let them know - suggest you all do the same. They have this listed as their top rated smoke detector and should be reconsidering, given the unreasonably short life span these apparently can have. 

lmw215
Community Member

It’s 3:44 AM and we are having the same problem (again) as many others. Just changed our less than one month old batteries at less than one month after replacing them. They were new batteries, just like they were the last time I replaced them. After two unimaginable house fires, one on our block and another one block away from us, in the past few months, trust me when I say that we care about properly functioning smoke detectors - more than words can say. For that reason, I will be replacing this faulty smoke/CO detector that Google Nest refuses to provide adequate support for with a non Google Nest brand. How shameful and frankly unsafe for their customers. We will not purchase this brand in the future and recommend that others do not as well. 

Lars1
Community Member

Similar experience with the Nest Protect Gen 2 after less than 3 years one of two units started constant warning of low batteries. Bought replacements and it was satisfied but the old batteries still had more than 1.5 volt reading on the meter  (1.57) charge and new battery reads 1.84 volts. Poor design to say the least. 

Kestrel
Community Member

So I purchased 7 units. 3 for my home and 4 for 2 rental properties. Mine didn’t even last 2 years. I’ve had to chance batteries so often that I may as well have just installed the wired version. 

also to make this worse, every time it chirps which at this point is about 2wice a week with them all going off at different times. My dog get incredibly anxious. I think it’s actually causing him physical discomfort. Which would be good in a fire situation,  but not in this case. 

Aarunposter
Community Member

Glad to know I am not the only one. Sad to know this is such a prevalent issue. Brand new Energizer Lithium and also tried Duracells, they drain within 10days. Wow. And yes my 2 smoke detectors are beyond the warranty now. 12 batteries in abt a week is very expensive. Guess i should just dump them (and not buy again) if this is not fixed by a firmware update or software update. 

Jeaux
Community Member

Add one more customer having the same battery problems.  I use the recommended Energizer batteries.

CVNCheng
Community Member

The original we installed several years ago is fine.   When we remodeled the upstairs we decided to upgrade the existing smoke alarm and installed another Nest Protect.  This one is a nightmare on batteries.  (The original is just fine on regular Kirkland Batteries from Costco btw)  
I'll go with a less than smart smoke detector until something that works comes along.  The original is above the laundry and adjacent to the kitchen, the only heat sources in the house.  
Sucks that Google doesn't seem to care about their customers any longer.

HansAlfred
Community Member

I have three Nest Protect 2. Gen and they all three kept running fine on the same set of batteries for 2-3 years. Recently they asked for new batteries and I bought the recommended Energizer Ultimate Lithium and they kept saying low battery level on two of them. I just reinstalled them in the Nest app and connected them - now the problem seems to have disappeared 👍 at least for now - I’ll keep you updated

PoNuts
Community Member

Why on earth isnt nest doining some sort of compensation in some form. Fire the CEO in that case. 😉 customeers are important, security product must. Must must.. work correctly. Nice headline if someone loose their life due  to goggle nest gen 2 not working.

My work around is to put an external powersource in the back.. in cost of the optimal place. Regards Pontus  

Debaclerx
Community Member

Same here. Battery last for a year but any new battery last for a day? This is the last time I buy from Google or nest whatever it is. Just like the pixel phone .. great to start then they just fail one day.