Nest App not communicating with thermostat

[Howard0]

Had Nest successfully set up in a holiday home for approximately 3 months with no issue. Now suddenly the app won’t control the heating whilst I’m in the property. It still seems to pick up and display data from the thermostat but does not allow the app to control it. I’ve tried resetting the thermostat and logging out and back into my account online. Very strange behaviour as it had been brilliant up to now. Any help greatly appreciated 

[Markjosephp]

Hello Howard0,

I'm sorry to hear about the issues you're experiencing with your Nest Thermostat setup in your holiday home. Is your thermostat showing offline in the app? To troubleshoot the problem, here are a few suggestions:

1. Ensure that both the thermostat and your mobile device have a stable internet connection. Sometimes, connectivity issues can disrupt communication between the app and the thermostat.
2. Make sure you have the latest version of the Nest app installed on your mobile device. Outdated apps can sometimes cause compatibility issues.
3. Double-check if your Nest account is logged in correctly. Confirm that it is the right email address associated with your thermostat.
4. Try restarting both the thermostat and your mobile device. This simple step can often resolve minor glitches and restore normal operation.

Let me know how it goes.

Best regards,
Mark

[Howard0]

Thanks Mark, for the reply. I did try resetting things in the app, but this did not work. In the end I deleted the app and then downloaded again, and reconnected it. This seems to have worked. Thanks again for your support.

[Howard0]

Hi Mark. I have my nest configured with a passcode so that I can restrict the temperature range that the nets can be adjusted to. As this is in a holiday let it allows my to control the heating remotely when guests have left, but also to prevent them setting it very high with the windows open for example. 

My question relates to a comment from another forum where a Nest user claims that their Amazon Alexa speaker can change the temperature using voice command, and this overrides the passcode. This sounds like a loophole. Can you comment on this please?

[Markjosephp]

Hi there,

I'm glad to hear that you've implemented a passcode for temperature control in your holiday to manage remote adjustments effectively.

Regarding the claim from the other forum about Amazon Alexa speakers changing the temperature via voice command and bypassing the passcode, it's important to note that the interaction between smart home devices can vary based on their integration and specific settings. However, the ability to override the passcode should not be a default behavior, as the passcode is intended to add an extra layer of security and control. To address this concern, there might be specific configurations or permissions that need attention to prevent any unintended overrides from the Amazon Alexa speaker, as the Nest Thermostat's don't have the capability with this feature.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Thanks,
Mark

[Howard0]

Hi Mark. Thanks for the comprehensive reply. 

I have noticed that the heating has been on whilst we have been away over recent days. The nest settings show “Home” and “Away”. When we left the house, the system knows we are not there, as there is no movement and our mobiles are no longer present. The system then sets itself to “Away” correctly, and yet the heating has been on since we left in line with the schedule. Is this correct? 

The only way to switch it off seems to be to put the system in Eco mode. Does it sound like it is operating correctly?  Sorry to keep asking questions, but I thought I knew how it worked and this is surprising me. 

[Markjosephp]

Hi Howard0,

I'm happy to help address your concerns. It's peculiar that the heating has been on despite the thermostat settings indicating "Away" when you're not at home. In theory, the system should recognize your absence based on the lack of movement and the absence of mobile devices.

However, if you're experiencing this issue, it might be worth checking a few things out. Verify that the geolocation services on your mobile devices are enabled, as they play a crucial role in communicating your location to the Nest system.

If using Eco Mode is your current solution, it's a valid workaround. However, the main objective is to have the "Away" mode function correctly. If the problem persists, you might want to review your temperature schedule settings to ensure there are no conflicting instructions. Double-check the time and temperature settings for both "Home" and "Away" modes. It's possible that a scheduling anomaly is causing the heating to operate unexpectedly.

Don't hesitate to ask more questions if needed—I'm happy to assist!

Best regards,
Mark

[Howard0]

Hi Mark. I have checked my schedule (see attached photos) and I think it’s the same for both home and away. I have to admit, I didn’t think it was possible to have a different schedule for each. I then switched the Eco off to see what happened whilst in away mode. Within a couple of minutes the heating had fired up and was heating to 18.5. My concern is that when I did this at around 2pm on a Tuesday the schedule would be for 9 degrees, and it should switch on to 18.5 until after 4pm. So the system seems to be completely ignoring the schedule and the fact that it is set to away. Switching Eco back on, has switched the heating off and seems to be a workaround, but it would be good to find a solution to this. Many thanks