The Complete Guide To Using Your Nest Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat is one of the most popular smart thermostats on the market, allowing homeowners to control their home‘s temperature settings and HVAC system remotely from their smartphone. With its intuitive design, energy-saving features, and seamless integration with other smart devices, it‘s easy to see why Nest is appealing to those looking to make their home more efficient and automated.

But while the Nest thermostat offers a wide array of functionality, all of those features can be a bit overwhelming if you don‘t know where to start. To help you unlock the full capabilities of your Nest device, we‘ve put together this comprehensive guide covering everything from installation and setup to schedules, adjustments, troubleshooting, and more. By the time you‘re finished reading, you‘ll be a pro at using your Nest!

Ensuring Your System is Nest Compatible

Before purchasing a Nest thermostat, you’ll want to make sure that your existing HVAC system is compatible. The Nest thermostat works with the majority of home heating and cooling systems, including:

Forced air furnaces (gas, electric, oil)
Central air conditioners
Heat pumps
Boilers
Radiant floor heating systems
Fan coils

However, there are a few system types that the Nest is NOT compatible with, such as:

Two transformer systems
Line voltage heating systems
Cooling only systems (without aux heat)

You can use Nest‘s online compatibility checker by entering your HVAC system details to see if your system will work. If you have any concerns about compatibility, consulting with an HVAC technician is recommended.

Materials and Tools Needed

Before installing your Nest Thermostat, make sure you have the following materials and tools on hand:

Nest Thermostat unit
Nest Thermostat base plate
Wall anchors and screws (usually included)
Power drill + drill bits
Screwdriver
Wire stripper
Level
Voltmeter (optional)

Mounting and Installing the Nest Thermostat

Once you‘ve confirmed compatibility with your HVAC system, you‘re ready to install the Nest. The installation process will take around 30-45 minutes to complete. Here are the basic steps involved:

Turn Off Power to Heating/Cooling System

Before removing your old thermostat or doing any wiring work, be sure to turn off the power to your home‘s HVAC system at the circuit breaker. This prevents accidental electric shocks or shorts.

Remove Old Thermostat

Take a photo of the existing wire connections for reference. Then remove the old thermostat base plate from the wall and detach the wiring.

Mount the Nest Base Plate

Use the included screws and wall anchors to mount the Nest base plate on the wall where you want to locate it. Use a level to ensure it is properly straight. Leave at least an inch space between the top of the base plate and the ceiling.

Connect Existing Wires

There are color-coded connectors located around the edge of the Nest base plate. Connect the existing thermostat wires coming from your HVAC system to the matching wire connectors.

Attach the Nest Thermostat

Once the base plate is mounted and the wires are connected, you simply need to hook up the actual Nest thermostat unit to the base plate until it clicks securely in place.

Restore Power and Test

Head back to the circuit breaker and switch the power back on to your HVAC system. The Nest thermostat screen should light up to indicate it has power. Use the temperature dial ring to test changing the temperature and ensure that your heating/cooling system responds appropriately.

Connecting to WiFi and Finishing Setup

With the Nest thermostat hardware installed, there are just a few steps left to get it fully operational:

Download the Nest App

Download the Nest app (available for both iOS and Android) on your smartphone or tablet. This will allow you to access the thermostat remotely and take advantage of features like schedules, energy history reports, alerts and more.

Connect Nest to Your WiFi Network

On the thermostat under "Settings", select "WiFi" then choose your home WiFi network name and enter the network password when prompted. The Nest must be connected to WiFi for full functionality.

Register Your Thermostat

In the Nest app, sign into or create your free Nest account. Tap "Add Product" and scan the QR code displayed on your thermostat screen. Name your thermostat and tap "Finish" to complete registration.

Set Your Home and Away Addresses

Let your Nest thermostat know your home address so it can utilize the "Home/Away Assist" feature. This automatically detects when you leave home to save energy. It can take a few days for the Nest thermostat to learn your schedule.

Creating Heating and Cooling Schedules

One major perk of the Nest thermostat is the ability to program customized temperature schedules. Here‘s how to set them up:

Use the Built-In Scheduling Menu

On the thermostat under "Settings", select "Schedule" then tap the day(s) you want to program. Use the time and temperature sliders to set your desired schedule, making sure to hit "Save" when finished.

Use Early-On and Heat Pump Balance (If Applicable)

Those with heat pumps can enable settings like "Early-On" to preheat your home by the desired temperature you set. The "Heat Pump Balance" will maximize efficiency by minimizing auxiliary heat use.

Create Additional Comfort Profiles

Have special temperature needs on weekends or holidays? No problem – you can create additional comfort profiles like "Weekends" with customized schedules.

Manually Changing the Temperature

Whether you want to override your set program schedule or if you didn‘t want to set one up, adjusting the target temperature on your Nest is easy.

Use the Dial Ring

The outer ring with numbers allows you to turn clockwise to make it warmer or counter-clockwise to make it cooler. Tap the center to toggle between heating and cooling modes.

Use the Mobile App

Open the Nest app and slide your finger up or down over the image of the thermostat to adjust the set temperature higher or lower.

Leverage Voice Commands

If you have your Nest connected to home assistants like Google Home or Amazon Alexa, you can say things like "Alexa, set Nest to 70 degrees" to change your thermostat temperature hands-free.

Monitoring Usage and History

Wondering how much energy your HVAC system is using or want to optimize your temperature schedule? Take advantage of these handy Nest app features:

View Energy Usage Data

In the Nest app under History, you can view detailed reports on your heating/cooling runtimes and performance to understand your home‘s efficiency.

Enable Home/Away Assist

This built-in feature auto-detects when you leave home to automatically switch into an Eco mode temperature to save energy.

Get Monthly Email Summaries

Opt-in to receive monthly email reports from Nest that summarize your thermostat‘s activity and provide tips for optimization.

Troubleshooting Common Nest Issues

While the Nest thermostat offers reliable performance, occasional issues can arise. Here are some troubleshooting tips for common problems:

Blank/Unresponsive Screen

If your Nest display is frozen or blank, perform a manual reset by holding down the display for 10+ seconds until it reboots. Check WiFi connectivity as well.

Heating/Cooling Not Turning On

Ensure wires are properly connected. Try manually changing target temps or rebooting the device. Contact HVAC technician if the issue persists.

Temperature Keeping Too Hot/Cold

Make sure vents aren‘t obstructed, the sensors are clean, and your Nest fan mode is in "Auto." Adjust schedule or re-run room temperature calibration if needed.

Battery Icon Displayed

A low battery icon means the rechargeable battery needs replacing. Order a replacement battery from Nest‘s website for $5 and it will come with instructions.

Tips for Getting the Most From Your Nest

Here are some final tips and tricks to leverage the full capabilities of your Nest smart thermostat:

Adjust airflow vents seasonally for efficiency
Use Nest Temperature Sensors for trouble rooms
Enable Nest alerts for low battery, unusual usage, etc
Pair Nest with other home automation devices for whole-home control
Use the Nest widget on your smartphone for quick access

We hope this guide covered everything you need to utilize your Nest Learning Thermostat with confidence. By following the usage tips outlined, you‘ll be saving energy and controlling your home‘s comfort from anywhere in no time!