Nest Thermostat Not Cooling? - Don't Worry [Do This Instead]

With Google’s Nest Thermostat, users are enticed. Although it’s Google’s top product, it lacks a few features from earlier versions, like the Nest Learning Smart Thermostat and Nest Smart Thermostat E.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are complaining that their Google Nest Thermostat isn’t cooling anymore.

While this is a significant problem, this article will give you all the information you need to fix it.

Okay, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Why Is My Nest Thermostat Not Cooling?

Though Nest thermostat is not perfect, these gadgets are great for air conditioning and temperature control.

You can eventually have problems with a Nest system, just like any other gadget. You might panic if your thermostat stops cooling.

It’s not always an expensive repair when your cooling stops.

Problems can be caused by a few things:

You Have a Dirty Thermostat
You Have Blocked Vents
Your thermostat requires calibration.
There Are Loose Wires
Your Thermostat Needs Repair
Your Air Filters Are Obstructions
Your thermostat is in the wrong place.
The thermostat You Have Is Old
Battery life is poor.
Motion sensing on a thermostat won’t function.
On rare occasions, your thermostat loses connection to Wi-Fi.
Short cycling, or turning on and off repeatedly in a short period, describes heating or cooling.
Your Nest thermostat’s screen displays a message that reads, “heating is delayed for 2:30 minutes.”

Troubleshooting Guide If Nest Stops Cooling

Whenever you’re repairing your Nest thermostat, remember to use caution. Let’s start with the most logical solution. Next, try each suggestion separately until you find one that works.

1. Reset Your Nest Thermostat’s Schedule

The nest thermostat is amazing. It can figure out what temperature makes you comfortable and make sure it stays there.

If your nest thermostat isn’t cooling, there’s either a problem with your Nest thermostat or it made an error when scheduling your evening temperature.

Resetting the schedule is probably the simplest thing to do.

Navigate to the thermostat’s settings.
After clicking Reset, pick Schedule.
For other Nest models, choose Reset or Clear.
Your nest is ready for a new habit now.
Check if the “Nest Thermostat Not Cooling” problem is fixed.

2. Verify that the wires are correctly inserted.

Usually, this sort of problem is caused by faulty wiring. Therefore, you should also inspect all of your wirings.

Here’s what you need to do:

First, shut down the system. As a result, this procedure won’t cause any harm.
After that, gently remove the Google Nest thermostat display.
Check all the wires to make sure they’re connected.
Afterward, you can re-insert the wires if needed.

Check if the cooling problem is fixed. If not, don’t worry, use the next method.

3. Check for compatibility

It’s another reason why your Nest thermostat isn’t cooling. The Nest Thermostat was designed to work with 24V systems. If you use it in something that’s not compatible, you’ll have this problem.

Although the Nest app will tell you if your nest thermostat is compatible with your device when you install it. In addition, the Nest app guides you to use the right wire.

Use the Google Nest compatibility checker to see if your device is compatible.

If you want to check compatibility, all you need to know is what type of heating system you’ve got (it doesn’t matter what brand or model).

Check your manufacturer’s website or the manual book or contact customer service to find out what kind of heating system you have.

Install the c-wire on the Nest if you don’t want to go deep. Check the nest problem code, which will help you understand and troubleshoot the issue.

Here’s how to install C-wire: How to install C wire on a nest?

You can learn about troubleshooting codes here: Nest thermostat help code.

I found both links to be very helpful and they’re from Google.

4. Examine and fix your AC

Your air conditioner is at fault if your thermostat isn’t cooling your house effectively. Unfortunately, most people don’t know how often they have to maintain their ACs.

Fresh air filters should be changed every month, and the fan and fins shouldn’t be dusty.
You need enough coolant for your AC to work.
Ensure your air conditioner is clean, and add more coolant if necessary.

Check if the “Nest Thermostat Not Cooling” problem is fixed.

5. Examining Battery Life

Look for a low battery warning or a flashing red light on your Nest Thermostat’s display. This indicates that the HVAC system may cease operating while the thermostat struggles to maintain its Wi-Fi connection.

Use the wall charger USB cord or connect it to a common wire transformer to power your Nest Thermostat. Replace the battery or recharge it. Make sure the thermostat’s battery is more than 20 mA to avoid problems.

If you’ve had power outages in your area, your thermostat might need to be recharged.

Check out this video if your Nest won’t charge.

6. Fixing or attaching a C wire

Check the C connection on the thermostat by removing the display. If there’s a wire in the C connection, make sure all cables are firmly connected. Look for a C wire on the system board so you can connect the thermostat.

Make sure none of your system’s cables are connected to the C connector. The Nest Thermostat’s C connecter can be connected to any wires connected to the system’s C terminal.

If the C terminal on the system board is wireless, you’ll need a Nest Power Connector or a C wire.

First, install a Nest Power Connector. With this gadget, you don’t need a C wire to power your Nest thermostat. It’s usually cheaper and easier to install than adding a new cable.

You shouldn’t install a C wire yourself. Installing a C wire into your system is something Google warns against doing yourself since it can be dangerous.

Though, here is the detailed guide on how to install c-wire if your nest won’t cool.

7. Check Wi-Fi Connectivity

The Nest Thermostat might not be able to connect to Wi-Fi due to the battery or Nest service. The problem could also be caused by a missing C wire.

If your Wi-Fi is working on your other devices, try rebooting your Nest Thermostat. Once that’s done, open the Nest app to see if the air conditioning’s off.

In case that doesn’t work, replace the C wire or reconnect the C wire.

If your wifi isn’t working, reboot your router or modem and re-connect the thermostat.

8. Restart the HVAC system

With today’s technology, you’d assume everything would always work. However, even with the most recent thermostats and air conditioners, we periodically need to employ the “turn it off and back on” technique.

Turn off your HVAC system by finding your breaker box.
The thermostat should be treated the same way.
Turn it off for a while. Make sure the lights are off, because the AC might still be on.
Shut off your generator if you have one. Re-energize the thermostat after 5 to 10 minutes.

9. Verify If You Have a Dirty Thermostat

It’s inevitable that things will get dirty. Your thermostat is also not immune to grime. It’s possible that dirt and dust can clog up your thermostat’s mechanical connections, making it hard to read your settings.

Remove any visible dust or dirt with a soft cloth. If you see any corrosion, use an electrical contact cleaner, which is easy to find at most hardware stores.

10. Verify If Your Air Filters Are Obstructions

A blocked air filter might be the cause of your broken thermostat. Locate your furnace before finding your air filter. Once you have successfully located your furnace, remove it and give the air filter a thorough inspection.

Most of the time, you can tell immediately whether your air filter needs to be replaced. For instance, if your air filter is black and covered in dirt, it needs to be replaced.

If you can’t see the light going through your filter, even if it’s clean and clear, it needs to be changed. Afterwards, your thermostat problems will be fixed, and a clean air filter will make your house healthier.

This is why experts recommend changing your air filter every three months.

11. Verify If You May Have Blocked Vents

If something is obstructing the vents, your thermostat won’t cool anymore. Verify that nothing is blocking any vents in or around your property, such as furniture.

Make sure all of your vents are open while you’re at it. Sometimes vents get shut off by accident.

12. Thermostat You Have Is Old

You can’t avoid old thermostats. You’ll find that your thermostat will have a harder time performing the functions it used to.

The average thermostat lasts ten years. However, it’s time to start considering changing your system if you notice that your existing thermostat has significantly decreased in accuracy and struggles to maintain specified temperatures.

13. You May Have a Poor Location for Your Thermostat

Your thermostat’s location matters. For example, if your thermostat is in a room that fluctuates more than the rest of your house, you might want to move it.

It’s also a good idea to keep your thermostat away from windows, kitchens, and fireplaces.

14. Complete any upkeep that is required

The external and inner parts of your Nest thermostat may need to be serviced if it isn’t operating correctly. Additionally, filters need to be cleaned or replaced as needed.

Filters in your house may erode over time, causing poor air quality.
Check the exterior base of the Nest for any broken wiring, especially near any water entry points.
Make sure your Nest thermostat fits your installation and location.

15. Verify If A Circuit Breaker Has Tripped

If your Nest isn’t turning on the heat, look for tripped circuit breakers on the electrical board. It might only need a rest if your circuit breaker tripped.

Electric circuit breakers protect electrical equipment by interrupting power. Anything hooked into it might be harmed by an energy excess or surge. There’s a risk of your Nest thermostat catching fire if this happens. After a while, they’ll turn themselves back on if they don’t turn on again.

Disconnect the HVAC and Nest from the breaker box. Then, remove the Nest from the wall and carefully inspect the wires.
If you see a loose wire, remove it from the terminal and reinsert it. Again, there should be extra focus on the C terminal.
If there is no common wire, locate it and install it.

16. Examine For A Blown Fuse

If the Nest thermostat is still not working, it’s possible that a fuse within the unit blew. You may check whether this is the case by taking off the Nest thermostat’s back.

Look for any evident signs that it has been blown or shattered. Replacing it if you find it is the only option.

17. Verify your ac unit’s drain pan and lines

Condensation will eventually fill the drain pan of your air conditioner with water. In addition, the drain pipes need to be cleaned since they could get blocked with leaves and grime.

If the drain pan and drain lines are full and blocked, your AC won’t work properly. The problem may worsen at night as the temperature lowers and the trapped water freezes or expands.

The fan will continue to run, making you think the Nest thermostat is to blame for the issue.

Remove the cap from the drainpipe.
The drainpipe should be cleaned with a delicate wire brush.
Pour a mixture of water and bleach into a 1:1 ratio. In addition, vinegar may be used for bleach.
After allowing the mixture to sit for 15 minutes, turn on the air conditioner.
If the drain pan is still full, wait 15 minutes before turning on the air conditioning.

18. Remove the Power-Saving Box

To reduce how much power you consume, utility providers install electricity-saving boxes in HVAC systems. This could be the issue if your air conditioner normally runs during the day but not at night.

When the energy-saving gadget detects high power usage, it will cut off electricity to your HVAC system. The box is next to the breaker or AC box. Usually, it has a few flashing red and green LEDs. If you have this box, find someone who can remove it safely.

19. Update the Nest software

The Nest thermostat stopped cooling or operating, which is the least likely reason. The program needs to be updated. A sudden loss of Wi-Fi connectivity to the device is something that many customers observe.

Software that is out of date is the reason. Therefore, open the app and choose the update tab. Verify if an update is accessible.

20. Factory Reset

If the Nest thermostat is not cooling, you should do a factory reset after eliminating all other probable causes. A quick refresh may take care of the problem in under a minute. Follow the guidelines listed below to factory reset your device.

On your smartphone, open the NEST app.
On your home screen, in the upper-left corner.
Choose the home where the thermostat you wish to remove if your house is connected to other homes.
Tap the thermostat you wish to remove on the app’s screen.
Now click “Setting,” located in the top right corner.
Scroll down to the bottom.
“All settings” is displayed as a red button.
The thermostat will be removed from your Nest account when you touch it to confirm.

Last but not least, contact customer care

It’s recommended to consult a professional if you’ve tried everything above and are still experiencing cooling problems. They will be able to identify all the electrical problems you cannot. They may also manage the project safely.