Thermostat no longer knows when phone is home

[PilgrimJ]

Hi, I've been look at this issue ever since heating season started! I have my system schedule set to turn heat on in the morning about 730, and off about 10pm. But, it doesn't come back on in the morning, apparently because it doesn't sense any activity if I don't get up in time. I thought it would come on because my phone is home but it thinks I'm always away. I've tried turning location sensing on and off, removing and readding the device, etc. Changing 'Away' to 'Home' manually is getting me along, but its getting close to time to buy a different brand of theremostat unless I can get this working. Any thoughts?

[Markjosephp]

Hi PilgrimJ,

Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating issue with your Nest Thermostat. The fact that it's not sensing your presence correctly and failing to turn on the heat as expected can indeed be bothersome. Here are a few suggestions to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Ensure that the geofencing feature is set up correctly on your thermostat app. Geofencing relies on your phone's location, so make sure the app has the necessary permissions to access your location.
2. Verify that your phone's location settings are configured properly. Sometimes, a simple adjustment in your phone's settings can resolve geofencing issues.
3. Ensure that both your thermostat app and your phone's operating system are up-to-date. Sometimes, compatibility issues arise when one or the other is not running the latest version.
4. Check if your thermostat has any occupancy or motion sensors. If it does, make sure they are clean and free from obstructions. Calibration issues with these sensors can affect the device's ability to detect activity accurately.
5. Ensure that your thermostat is properly connected to your Wi-Fi network. Connection problems can sometimes interfere with the geofencing feature.

It's understandable that manual adjustments are becoming cumbersome, but trying these steps might help resolve the issue before considering a different brand. If all else fails, let me know so we can check for more possible steps.

Best,
Mark

[PilgrimJ]

Thanks for responding but I'm not seeming to make any progress. I've removed and added and reset this thermostat, uninstalled and reinstalled both the nest thermostat app and the home app. Part of the issue is that I have a clock, lights, a stereo receiver, all set up on this and I didn't trust that I wouldn't get spammed so some of these are connected to one google account and some to another. And in the course of removing someone who moved out I attempted to I thought delete the home and add another. So at this point I have no heat and the thermostat is not working at all it seems. Real thermometer says inhouse temp is 63, nest thermometer says temp is 69 and that heat is set at 68. Some of this I recognize is my own doing but now willing to essentially trash everything and reinstall lights clock and stereo later just to get the heat back on!

[Markjosephp]

Hey there,

I'm sorry to hear about the challenges you're facing with your Nest Thermostat and home automation setup. Given the complexity of your smart home configuration with multiple devices connected to different Google accounts, resolving the issue may require a systematic approach.

Firstly, let's focus on getting your thermostat and heating system back online. Confirm that your heating system is operational. If the Nest app shows the correct temperature and set point but there's no heating, there might be an issue with the HVAC system.

Consider consolidating your smart devices under one Google account to streamline the management process. This may involve unlinking and relinking devices, but it can simplify troubleshooting in the long run. It's crucial to have all devices connected to the same Google account for seamless integration.

As for the removal of the home and the addition of a new one, double-check the settings to ensure everything is configured correctly. It's possible that there might be lingering issues from the previous configurations.

Thanks,
Mark

[PilgrimJ · Accepted solution]

Thanks Mark, as a retired software engineer I have a pretty good sense of how this ought to work. Definitely overcomplicated and I can see why Google is withdrawing support for nest in April. So, after seeing that, I decided this winter I could do without 'sensing'. I turned off sensing presence, turned off using a phone to detect home/away, and turned off learning. Then I put a schedule in place and I manually switch on my phone when I'm leaving and when I'm returning. So, all the features I paid extra for essentially don't work so they're off. But I have heat now, I can turn it up or down or to eco when I'm upstairs in bed, in the car an hour away, etc. I'll get through this winter and then think about another thermostat and read the reviews carefully this time. Seems to me things were working fine until Google decided to include their Nest app with their Home app. Makes sense on the surface (ie, to superficial marketing types), but the implementation is a failure from what I see. Thanks for trying to help. Jeff 

[Markjosephp]

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Nest Thermostat. It sounds like you've found a workaround to ensure your heating works for you this winter. I understand that the recent changes have affected the functionality you originally paid for. Your feedback is valuable, and I hope we can make it up to you in the future. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to reach out.

Best regards,
Mark