Which app for Thermostat?

[Shilohtown]

I'm sure this has been answered, so I apologize for asking again, but I couldn't find the answer.

I previously had a basic Google Nest thermostat and used Google Home app for that, and it worked great. I just purchased a new Nest Learning thermostat and I had to install the Nest app. But it's now also showing up in my Google Home app. Does it matter which app I use?

[MplsCustomer]

@Shilohtown 

The Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat get installed in the Google Nest app (and then should automatically appear in the Google Home app); we don't have Nest thermostats, but apparently they can be controlled from either app, though I don't know if the controls are the same in both apps. The Nest Thermostat gets installed in the Google Home app and does NOT appear in the Google Nest app.

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9274936?hl=en

[EdwardT]

Hi folks,

@MplsCustomer, thanks for the help!

@Shilohtown, thanks for reaching out. I hope that MplsCustomer's response answered your question. Let us know if you have other questions and we'd be glad to assist you.

Thanks,

Edward

[Shilohtown]

I'm ok with the app question.

But my Nest Learning thermostat is not working correctly with my new Daikin 2 stage unit.

It will only blow cold air for stage 1 heating, works fine for stage 2 heating.

I've spoken with 5 Google help folks and nobody can help me get it working. I bought two additional Nest Learning thermostats and same issue. None of them will run stage 1 heating correctly.

Finally plugged in a generic Honeywell unit and it worked fine. So it's for sure the thermostat and not the new gas pack unit. 

I've seen a bunch of folks on here with the same issue, Stage 1 heating not turning on. But I've yet to find a solution. I really want to use this nest thermostat but I'm thinking I may be at my end and may need to use something else.

If I have the W2 wire disconnected, then stage 1 will work. But if w2 wire is connected (as it should be) stage 1 only blows cold air and the nest will not turn on the gas to the heater.

If I put stage 1 wire in the G green fan wire spot, and test "Fan" then the heat for stage 1 comes on. so the unit is surely working. Just something about the Nest that is not playing correctly.

Anyway, if anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them. Otherwise, I'm going to go get a replacement. 

[EdwardT]

Hi Shilohtown,

Thanks for the response. I'm sorry to hear that you're having issues with the stage 1 heating of your Nest Thermostat. I'd love to know more about this. Could you share photos of how your Nest Thermostat and your current thermostat is wired?

Thanks,

Edward

[Shilohtown]

Hi EdwardT, sure, here are some photos.

When it's all hooked up "correctly", and I call for heat like 1-2 degrees above house temp (which should be stage 1 heating), the fan comes on and only blows cool air. When I crank it up to let's say 10degrees above house temp, the 2nd stage kicks on and heats as it should. But then let's say I set the house to 70, once it reaches 70 the system shuts off, as it should. But the house then starts to cool and when it gets down to 68 or so, stage 1 should kick on. The thermostat shows "heating" and is orange, but it blows cold air not warm.

Side note... Today I purchased a basic Honeywell Smart Wifi Color Thermostat and installed it, with the wires in the same exact spots as I set up the Nest. And it worked as it should on all stages with no issues. So, it's for sure something about the Nest not communicating correctly to our system. I really would rather use the nest, it's just more user friendly (when working), not to mention I already have other Google Nest products that I'm very happy with. 

If I had to guess, I'm thinking it's a software issue with the Nest.

[EdwardT]

Hi Shilohtown,

Thanks for sharing some photos. We'd like to know more about this. Please fill out this form so we could investigate further.

Thanks,

Edward

[Shilohtown]

Thank you, I filled out that form a couple days ago.... Google is still working on it. My case number is 3-4210000033564. 

I just hope that my issue can help others, as there seems a bunch of people with the same issue. 

I haven't heard any updates.

[EdwardT]

Hi Shilohtown,

Thanks for the response. Please let us know once you receive a response. Keep us posted.

Thanks,

Edward

[EdwardT]

Hi Shilohtown,

I wanted to follow up and see if you are still in need of any help. Please let me know if you are still having any trouble from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further.

Thanks,

Edward

[Shilohtown]

Hi Edward, I have not heard anything from Google in the past few days (But I know it's the holiday). 

At this point, I think I've exhausted all of my options for installing the Nest to work with our system, without something being done on the Nest side. So any final suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, I'm going to have to just install a competitive brand that I know works just fine with our system.

[EdwardT]

Hi Shilohtown,

Thanks for letting us know. I checked your case and our team is investigating it. Please keep an eye on your inbox for an email from our team.

Thanks,

Edward

[Shilohtown]

Hi @EdwardT ,

I'm still awaiting a response on my inquiry, it seems they are still investigating it behind the scenes. Im curious if you have heard anything.

I went back and re-read some other posts and it seems like @CoolingWizard had some great ideas on other people's issues. CoolingWizard, if you happen to see this, I'd love to pick your brain and see if I'm doing something wrong on my end.

Long story short.... I have a two stage heating, two stage cooling "gas pack" unit. I have  my 3rd gen Nest Learning thermostat setup correctly as best as I can tell (I've posted photos of wiring). When I do a "test" of heating (heat stage 1), it simply blows cool air. when I do test of heating stage 2, it works fine. 

If I unplug the heating stage two W2 wire, then heating stage 1 works just fine. 

I've tried another brand name thermostat hooked up exactly the same, and it works as it should. So I'm baffled. Google is "investigating" behind the scenes and I get updates every few days that they are working on it. Which I really appreciate, but just hoping to resolve sooner than later. 

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi Shilohtown,

Thanks for getting back to us. 

I reviewed your case and our senior support team is still checking on this. I suggest waiting for their update through email. I've also followed up with them and they will be reaching out to you shortly.

I will keep this case open until you're supported.

Best,

Mel

[Shilohtown]

Ok, thank you. 

[CoolingWizard]

Hello Shilotown,  I have seen the problem you were describing when the Nest was not configured properly for the function of the W1 and W2 terminals.  You need to make sure that the Nest thermostat is configured for 2-stage heating on a single fuel. I also note that you have a two stage cooling as well.

OK, so let’s try this, on your nest thermostat, go into settings and then rotate the ring until you get to EQUIPMENT. The first thing you will see will be a picture of the back plate and the wires that the Nest currently recognizes as being present. This will be the first place you might see if something is missing. For example, W1 and W2 both should have a wire connected. And the wire label should say something like heat 1 and heat 2. If the W2 says auxiliary then there is a configuration error. If it all looks good, CONTINUE on.  The next screen will show you your system and it’ll probably say HEATING, COOLING, FAN. Just CONTINUE and then the next screen will say equipment settings DONE, HEAT TYPE, PRO SETUP. We are going to choose PRO SETUP. You’ll get a warning about doing something wrong here will be really bad. Just continue and you’ll see the Nest backplate again. All the wires will have a green or yellow wedge on them. Anyone with a yellow wedge needs to be defined. If it is Yellow then the Nest knows there’s a wire there, but doesn’t know what it for.  You can also rotate ring to highlight the W2 wedge, and if it was wrong, select it, and you can change what it does now, for example, you can set it to Stage 2 heat. Make sure W1 is defined as stage 1 heat and that your heat type is set to GAS.

As a minimum, just go in there to the equipment and see what the wires are present and which ones are defined as what and let me know. I will see if I can help you further from there.

Ken, The AC Cooling Wizard

[Shilohtown]

Hello there @CoolingWizard thank you for your two cents.

see enclosed photo of the equipment settings. I don't see anything off, looks like it's recognizing the correct wires. I did end up going into the Pro mode and both the W1 and W2 wires were yellow. I went in and made sure both were set to "Gas", "forced air" and fan to "don't activate". So I hope I have it set correctly. 

Still when I go to test mode, I'm getting the cool air when testing "heating", but warm air when testing "heating stage 2".

Still 

[Shilohtown]

Sorry, I meant to add a photo of the actual wires that it has attached.

[CoolingWizard]

Your heat is not defined correctly, right now the thermostat thinks you’re using electric heat. You need define gas as your heat Type.  is set to gas.

[Shilohtown]

I do believe it's set correctly. the photo you may be looking at that states "electric" is "cool", which should be correct. Both heat and heat 2 are set for gas.

[CoolingWizard]

Well, that all looks correct.  Hmm, now why is the heating not working correctly.  I am stumped now. 

[Shilohtown]

Gotcha!! ha, no I don't mean to laugh, but now you know where I'm coming from, I'm pulling my hair out. Google is stumped as well. The only thing I can think of is for some reason it just doesn't want to play with this brand new Daikin gas pack or it's a software glitch. I've tried two other brand thermostats and they both work fine. Again, it's just stage 1 heating, just blows cool air, but if heating 2 is called for, it blows warm. OR if I unplug W2 wire, then heating stage 1 works fine. I've seen other posts with not the exact issue, but similar issues around heat blowing cool air, and other people have stated it started after the latest software upgrade (may). No clue if that has anything to do with it or not, hoping Google is looking at it. Anyway, thanks @CoolingWizard wizard for looking at my post, I really appreciate it. Cheers,

[CoolingWizard]

Do you happen to have a Volt Ohm multimeter? Would like to check the AC voltage between C and W1 at the air handler control board when the nest calls for stage 1 heat.

The AC Cooling Wizard

[Shilohtown]

The guys that did the install of our HVAC unit, came back and tested everything. One of the things they did was some readings. I can't be 100% certain where the meter was hooked up, but I have a video (too large to post here) showing the volt meter reading 27.8 when we turned on stage 1 heat. The system is running but at 15 seconds in you hear a short "buzzzz" and the voltage drops back to 0.1 

And what I didn't spell out earlier is, I took the original Nest Learning thermostat back to the store for a replacement (Based on comments from 1st google tech help). The replacement Nest had the exact same issue. I also bought another Nest from another Home Depot, and same issue. So it's for sure not just a single bad unit. It's something about Nest and trouble speaking to this Daikon DP16GM gas pack unit. 

Here is a link to the video, but again, I can't be sure where they have it hooked up.

Gas Pack video voltage 

[CoolingWizard]

Let’s try a different type of test. Remove the Nest display from the backplate.  Disconnect the Y2 wire and tuck it out of the way.  Then attaché the display.  Now go into settings and equipment and see if the Y2 is blank and does not have yellow wedge.  We need to be unused.  If it is unused, start a heating  with a set temperature 2 degrees above current room temperature.  If the stage 1 heat is working, then wait 5 minutes and change the setpoint to 5 degrees higher.  See if stage 2 heating activates.  

Report back your findings.  
The Cooling Wizard

[Shilohtown]

Good morning!

Ok tried that. Pulled Y2 wire, Y2 was blank and no yellow wedge. W1 and W2 were both yellow and I had to define them both again as heat, forced air, no fan. 

House temp = 66, turned thermostat to 68, and it turned orange and started blowing air. Air coming out of vents was around 61F. After about 5 min the fan just stopped. Thermostat is still orange and showing 68 in 15 min.

Waited  5 min. Cranked thermostat to 72, it turned bright orange "stage 2 heating" in 25 min.... and nothing happened. Outside unit did not turn on this time. 

Waited 5 min again. Turned thermostat mode to "Off", waited a min. Turned back on to heat and cranked thermostat to 72F, bright orange, stage 2 heating... started blowing strong warm air. 

This is how it's been acting when wired correctly. 

[EdwardT]

Hi folks,

@CoolingWizard, thanks for the help!

@Shilohtown, thanks for the update. We'd like to know more about this. Please fill out this form so we could investigate further.

Thanks,

Edward

[Shilohtown]

Edward thanks for looking into it, but I already filled out the form 3 weeks ago. My case number is 3-4210000033564. But they’ve already responded that they don’t have an answer for me. 

[Shilohtown]

Hi @EdwardT my case number is 3-4210000033564.

I was never able to get anywhere in working with multiple people. I've seen people on the forums with not the exact same, but similar issues. And whereas my unit is brand new, theirs all started with the last software update. I'm currently running a different brand thermostat on my system and it's working just fine. I've now tried 3 different Nest Learning thermostats and they all have the exact same issue. I also had a "nest" expert look at it, and his thoughts are it's a software issue. 

I can't be the only one having this issue, so I'm hoping it gets fixed.

[EdwardT]

Hi Shilohtown,

Thanks for sharing the case number. I'm sorry to hear about your experience. We hope we can make it up to you in the future. Let me know if there's anything else.
 

Thanks,

Edward

[aatienza]

Hey there,

Since this thread hasn't had activity in a while, we're going to close it to keep content fresh. Feel free to submit another post, and provide as many details as possible so that others can lend a hand.
 

I appreciate the help, Edward.

Thanks,

Archie

[CoolingWizard]

Shilotown,

can you try one more test.  Take the W1 and W2 wires out of the nest base, strip about 1/4” more insulation off the W1 wire.  Wrap the W2 wire around the W1 wire next to the insulation.  A couple times around should be fine.  Then put the W1 wire back into W1.  Now, make sure the thermostat configuration only shows a single stage if heat.   Then, test the heat and let me know what it did.  

Ken, The AC Cooling Wizard. 

[Shilohtown]

Ken, thanks very much for the continued support. Sadly, I've already returned the thermostat and I'm not running with something else which is working. If for some reason I decide to get another device, I'll try this first.

Thank you.

Bill

[Markjosephp]

Hello folks,

I appreciate your unwavering assistance, Ken.

We're sad to see you go, Shilohtown. We hope we can make it up to you in the future. Please don't hesitate to give us a shout if you have any other questions or concerns, as this thread will be locked within 24 hours.

Regards,

Mark