Heat is not working with Nest

[CheapCChair]

I've had my Nest thermostat for about a year now.  This summer I had it running the AC and it worked just fine.  When I needed heat to work, the thermostat has some peculiar behavior.  I call for heat and it runs the fan for about a minute, shuts down, then starts right up again.  This behavior repeats itself but not once does heat kick on.  

It is wired correctly.  I have RYWCG wires and they are all inserted correctly.  The builders of the apartment I live in cut corners dramatically, so my HVAC has AC and heat strips only.  I've called for maintenance several times, their solution is to remove the Nest and reinstall the thermostat that came with the unit.  Obviously I bought the Nest for a reason, as the stock thermostat is as cheap and basic as can be.  But heat does work with it.  

Why is my Nest cycling the fan and not kicking the heat on?  

[zoeuvre]

Hi CheapCChair, 

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that your thermostat is cycling the fan and not kicking the heat on. Don't give up on us yet—we'd like to further check on this. Could you fill out this form and let me know once you're done?
 

Best,

Zoe 

[CheapCChair]

I have filled out the form. 

[zoeuvre]

Hi there, 

Thanks for the update. We got the form you've submitted—thanks for filling that out. Please keep an eye on your email, as someone from our team will reach out to you to assist you more. If you have questions or concerns in the future, feel free to start a new thread, and we'll be happy to help.
 

Regards,

Zoe 

[Ycastillo]

what is the solution?

[CheapCChair]

Is there a software fix in the works or is my Nest defective? 

[Markjosephp]

Hello everyone,

I'm dropping by to make sure everything is covered here.

@CheapCChair, we know that this has taken some time. Rest assured, we're not leaving you hanging. I’ve made a follow-up with our team; I'll get back to you as soon as I have something to share. 

@Ycastillo, we appreciate your time posting here. Are you experiencing the same issue? If so, could you provide more details? What specific type of Nest Thermostat is this? Also, could you provide a rundown of all the steps you've tried?

Warm regards,
Mark

[CheapCChair]

Just checking if any updates are available. I've been without heat for over a month. This is unacceptable from such a big company that's synonymous with smart thermostats. Can I downgrade the firmware in the meantime? 

[Markjosephp]

Hello CheapCChair,

I'm sorry for the inconvenience you're facing with your heating system and the lack of updates from us. While I can understand your frustration, downgrading your thermostat's software is not an option.

Rest assured, we're not leaving you hanging. I’ve made a follow-up with our team — I'll get back to you as soon as I have something to share. 

Warm regards,
Mark

[Markjosephp]

Hi CheapCChair,

I know it has been a while, but I wanted to ensure that everything was covered here. 

Let me know if you need anything from me, but I am just seeing how the conversation is going via email with our senior support. So please continue the conversation there and feel free to create a new thread for any future questions or concerns—we're here to help!

Warm regards,
Mark

[CheapCChair]

Hello,

My problem has not been resolved. I got an email asking me for my phone number and availability but I got a call during a time in which I was unavailable. I hope we can resolve this soon. 

[Markjosephp]

Hello there,

I appreciate your update and understand your concern. I apologize for any inconvenience caused by the timing of the call. To ensure we can address your issue promptly, I made a follow-up with the team so we could attend to your availability. Additionally, if there's any specific information you'd like to convey, feel free to share it via email.

Regards,
Mark

[CheapCChair]

Good evening.  I received the replacement thermostat today.  I wired it exactly the same as the old one and I'm having the exact same problem as before.  I don't know what the deal is.  Why would my old thermostat work but not the Nest?  Also this may be related, but it won't let me do a power test.  When I go to run it, it briefly says something on the screen and goes back to the menu.  Is there any reason why it would behave like that?

[Markjosephp]

Hey CheapCChair,

I'm sorry to hear that you're still experiencing issues with the replacement thermostat. Regarding the power test issue, there could be a few reasons for the behavior you're describing. It might be a good idea to check the power source and make sure the Nest Thermostat is receiving the proper voltage. Additionally, you may want to verify that all the connections are secure and that there are no loose wires.

Try charging it via the USB charger for an hour and remove the C wire on your thermostat base. Leave it disconnected until the display reconnects to its base, and please provide more details about the specific message displayed during the power test or any other relevant information. This will help me better understand the issue and offer more tailored suggestions.

Keep me posted.

Best,
Mark

[Jbac2012]

I'm having this exact same issue as you are but with cold air. We switched back to an old thermostat for the time being, but this is very annoying that we spent a lot of money to get this and it quits working a year later.

[zoeuvre]

Hi Jbac2012, 

Uh-oh! I'm sorry to hear that your cooling is not working as you call for it with the Nest Thermostat. Let me take a look at this for you. A few questions: 

1. Are you located in North America or Europe? 
2. What type of Nest Thermostat do you have?  
3. Did you try using the Help Center or troubleshooter before contacting support? If so, which steps have you tried already?
4. When did cooling last work?
   • If newly installed 
     • Check compatibility using the Compatibility Checker tool.
     • Gather all details of the old thermostat & HVAC system.
     • Check the make and model of the cooling and heating system, including the make and model for the, fan-coil or air-handler units.
     • Check if the HVAC system might be using a multi-speed or variable speed fan.
5.  If not newly installed, was it working before?
   •  Check for any recent changes to the HVAC system or servicing made.
   •  When was the last maintenance service and cleaning?  
   • Is this the first time you’re calling for cooling this year?
     • If yes, did heating work without issues in the winter?
6. What type of system do you have? (Heat Pump or conventional type)
   • For Heat Pump: 
     • Did you check O/B wire configuration and tried changing the O-wire to B-wire configuration or vice versa?
   • For conventional type:
     • Did you verify if Fan and Heating still work?
7. Did you  turn off the power to your HVAC system?
   • Are the breakers turned on?
   • Did you recently experience a brownout or blackout?  
   • Did you have any construction or maintenance work done on your home?
8. Do you have a photo of your old thermostat? Make sure your Nest Thermostat is wired correctly and verify that the display is receiving power.
9. Did your utility company install a box on your HVAC system that turns the system off during high demand (peak) times to save energy? 
   • Are you the homeowner or tenant? 
10. Have you experienced extremely hot weather lately?
11. Do you see a power error code on your thermostat?
12. Have you set up a temperature schedule for your thermostat?

I'll look forward to your response. 

Best,

Zoe