Nest Thermostat Battery Won’t Charge: How To Troubleshoot

Using the Nest Thermostat, you can manage your heating and air conditioning systems from your smartphone. A single app allows you to regulate the temperature settings in several rooms while also providing useful information.

As a result, it is a useful tool that homeowners like me cannot live without. Unfortunately, no technology is flawless, and after a few of years of usage, my Nest Thermostat began to cause a little amount of discomfort.

In particular, I observed that my Nest Thermostat was frequently flashing low battery alerts and that it was not charging as it should have been done. Thanks to the wealth of knowledge available online, I was able to identify a few simple solutions while also learning a great deal about the Nest Thermostat.

Suppose the battery in your Nest Thermostat stops charging. What should you do? Ensure that your Nest Thermostat is properly attached to its base and that its C-Wire has not come loose if your Nest Thermostat’s battery is not charging properly. Aside from that, you might try manually charging your Nest Thermostat using the right USB cord.

How To Troubleshoot: Nest Thermostat Battery Won’t Charge

Nest thermostats are available in three different models, each with its own built-in battery. The battery is charged directly from your home’s HVAC system using the Rh or Rc wires, and a common wire (C-wire) is utilized to connect the two wires together to complete the circuit.

Because the Nest Thermostat has a built-in battery that is constantly being recharged by the HVAC system, it may continue to function even when the HVAC system is switched off for an extended length of time.

A power outage or cases when there is no direct power supply to the HVAC unit make use of the built-in battery quite convenient. Nest Thermostat’s illuminated screen, Wi-Fi card, and other unique features are all powered by the device’s battery.

Low Battery Indicator on Nest Thermostat: What Does it Mean?

When the Nest Thermostat’s battery is running low, you will either see a Low Battery notice flash on the device’s screen or witness a flashing red light on the device’s front panel. When you see these symptoms, it is critical that you charge your Nest as soon as possible. It can be recharged with the help of a USB cable.

If you do not do so, you may have difficulties with the Nest device, such as:

  • The Nest display screen will not function properly or may become unresponsive.
  • This means that your Nest device will not be able to control your HVAC system’s heating and cooling functions.
  • The connection between your Nest and your home’s Wi-Fi network will be broken.

In order to prevent these problems, it is recommended that you manually charge your Nest as soon as possible and then focus on debugging the system.

Once your Nest is securely charged, you may want to spend some time determining why your Nest was unable to charge itself automatically through the power supply of your HVAC system.

Battery Life of the Average Nest Thermostat

The Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat include built-in batteries that can keep your gadget running for a number of hours to a couple of days, depending on use. On the whole, the battery’s life is determined by the sort of continuous power source it gets from your heating and cooling system.

Depending on how well the built-in battery is able to recharge itself continually via the steady supply of electricity, the battery may last anywhere from 5 to 10 years. In the event that the battery does not get adequate charge and is overtrained, some reports indicate that the battery will begin to fail after two years of installation.

The Nest Thermostat comes with replacement AAA batteries that can last up to two years and can keep your device working for up to two hours in the event of a power outage or other power interruption.

How to Charge your Nest Thermostat Battery

In most cases, your Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat should be able to automatically charge its battery from the power supply of the HVAC system that it is connected to.

However, if there is a problem with the power supply to your HVAC system, a power outage, or if your Nest battery is simply unable to charge itself, you will need to discover a workaround to resolve the problem.

It is recommended that you manually charge your Nest Thermostat batteries to prevent battery issues with your Nest Thermostat.

There are a few different methods for manually charging your Nest Thermostat batteries in order to assist you in troubleshooting problems with your Nest device. If your Nest Thermostat is not operating properly due to a low battery, manually charging the device should resolve the problem.

Solution 1: Check to See Whether Your Nest Device Is Properly Connected

Make sure that the Nest Thermostat is properly linked to the Nest Base Station before you begin to stress about the battery life of your gadget running out of power.

Nest Thermostat

Solution 2: Inspect the C-wire

The Nest Thermostat charges its built-in battery by drawing power from the HVAC system, which is always on and running. This is accomplished via the use of the C-wire that is included with your Nest Thermostat and aids in the completion of the circuit.

Sometimes the C-wire may have become loose, or it may have ceased to work correctly in certain instances. As a result, it is critical that you properly inspect the C-wire before proceeding. If dealing with the C-wire is a hassle for you, you should know that you can actually install a Nest Thermostat without a C-wire in certain cases.

The third option is to manually charge the battery using a USB cord. A significant amount of variation exists across Nest Thermostat generations, and I’ve documented the differences between the 4th gen Nest Thermostat and its predecessors. There are also slight variances when it comes to the process of charging the battery.

Charge your Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat Battery manually using a Mini-USB cord for your Nest Learning Thermostat (1st Gen) or a Micro-USB cable for your Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat Battery to see if it helps to temporarily cure the problem (2nd and 3rd Gen).

The fourth option is to replace your thermostat unit. Whether you are experiencing problems with your Nest Thermostat batteries, be sure to check to see if your equipment is still protected by the manufacturer’s warranty term.

If your battery is dying and your item is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, you may be able to get the unit replaced.

In the event that your warranty term has passed, you may still contact Google Support to find out what additional options are available to you. You have the option of purchasing a new item or attempting to replace the internal battery.

Can You Replace the Nest Thermostat Battery?

The battery in your Nest Thermostat might deteriorate over time as a result of normal wear and tear. It is possible that the battery will take an increasing amount of time to completely charge and that it will not be able to give the same performance even when it is operating at full capacity.

It is recommended that you change the batteries in your Nest Thermostat on a regular basis to guarantee that you get the best possible service. In order for the Nest Thermostat to function, it requires two normal 1.5V AAA alkaline batteries, which should be changed as soon as you notice any problems with the batteries.

However, keep in mind that the batteries in the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Thermostat are built-in and cannot be replaced by the end-user. Using a USB cord, you will need to manually charge the battery in your Nest Thermostat if you have one of these types on your system.

If your Nest Thermostat is still under warranty, you may speak with a customer service representative to learn about your other choices for replacing it.

How to Replace the Nest Thermostat Battery?

You can only change the batteries in the Nest Thermostat devices; you cannot replace the batteries in the Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat models. In the event that you get a low battery alert on your Nest device, it is time to change the batteries in your Nest Thermostat; this is what you should do:

  • Take your Nest Thermostat’s display screen off the wall.
  • Turn it around and remove the old AAA alkaline batteries from the rear of the machine if necessary.
  • Activate the gadget by inserting the fresh AAA alkaline batteries into the battery slots.
  • Restore the gadget to its original position on the display.

Conclusion:

It didn’t take long to figure out why my Nest Thermostat’s battery wasn’t charging, and it wasn’t complicated. It was about as simple as resetting the Nest Thermostat’s delayed message to work properly.

In order to guarantee that your Nest Thermostat is operating properly, it is critical to understand the cause of the low battery levels on your device. Managing low battery issues with the Nest Thermostat E and Nest Learning Stat may prove to be a bit more difficult with these devices.

We recommend that you check to see whether the equipment is properly connected, getting a consistent power source, or if its battery life is about to expire before proceeding forward. On the other hand, for the Nest Thermostat, it is as simple as swapping out the batteries to restore your gadget to its original condition.

Best Seller List of Nest Thermostat:

SaleBestseller No. 1
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - 3rd Generation Nest...
  • No more programming: With Auto-Schedule, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat learns from you and programs itself..Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page
  • Home/Away Assist: don't heat or cool an empty home. Home/Away Assist adjusts the temperature after you leave.
  • Remote control: Control your thermostat from anywhere using the Nest app.
  • Know more, save more Check your Energy History to see how much energy you use and why.
  • Look for the Leaf: The Nest Leaf appears when you choose a temperature that saves energy.
SaleBestseller No. 2
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - 3rd Generation- Works...
  • Programmable smart thermostat that learns your schedule and the temperatures you like and programs itself to help you save energy and stay comfortable
  • Home/Away Assist automatically adjusts itself to an Eco Temperature after you leave, so you don’t heat or cool an empty home; remote control lets you change the temperature from anywhere on your phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
  • With Energy History, just check your phone to see how much energy you used and why, or use Quick View on the display to reach Energy History, settings, or your schedule; the Nest Leaf appears when you choose a temperature that saves energy
  • Smart thermostat with HVAC monitoring, which looks out for your heating and cooling systems; sends an alert if something doesn’t seem right, along with helpful reminders to make maintenance easier[2]
  • The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the Nest Temperature Sensor (sold separately) to help make sure a certain room is the exact temperature you want it to be
SaleBestseller No. 3
Google Nest Thermostat - Smart Thermostat for Home - Programmable Wifi Thermostat - Snow
  • ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat for home that helps you save energy and stay comfortable.Product note: You can also check your system’s compatibility before purchasing a Nest thermostat with our online Nest Compatibility Checker on the Google Nest support page.Connectivity Protocol : ‎Wi-Fi.Connectivity Protocol : ‎Wi-Fi
  • The Nest Thermostat is designed to work without a C wire in most homes, but for some systems, including heating only, cooling only, zone controlled, and heat pump systems, you’ll need a C wire or other compatible power accessory. Lock feature: No
  • Nest Thermostat turns itself down when you leave, so you don’t waste energy heating or cooling an empty home; easily program an energy efficient schedule in the Google home app on your Android or iPhone
  • Remote control lets family members change the thermostat temperature from anywhere on a phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
  • Savings Finder looks for more ways your thermostat can help you save, and suggests tweaks to your schedule in the app; check with your energy provider to learn more about rebates and more ways to save on a Nest thermostat
SaleBestseller No. 4
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - Smart & Programmable for Home - 3rd Generation - Works with Alexa...
  • Programmable smart thermostat that learns your schedule and the temperatures you like and programs itself to help you save energy and stay comfortable
  • Home/Away Assist automatically adjusts itself to an Eco Temperature after you leave, so you don’t heat or cool an empty home; remote control lets you change the temperature from anywhere on your phone, laptop, or tablet[1]
  • With Energy History, just check your phone to see how much energy you used and why, or use Quick View on the display to reach Energy History, settings, or your schedule; the Nest Leaf appears when you choose a temperature that saves energy
  • Smart thermostat with HVAC monitoring, which looks out for your heating and cooling systems; sends an alert if something doesn’t seem right, along with helpful reminders to make maintenance easier[2]
  • The Nest Learning Thermostat works with the Nest Temperature Sensor (sold separately) to help make sure a certain room is the exact temperature you want it to be
SaleBestseller No. 5
5,411 Reviews
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - 3rd Generation Nest...
  • Auto-Schedule - No more confusing programming. Nest learns the temperatures you like and programs itself
  • Nest Leaf - The Nest Leaf appears when you turn Nest to a temperature that's energy efficient. It guides you in the right direction
  • Auto-Tune - Auto-Tune finds ways to automatically lower your energy bill while keeping you comfortable. It enables two Nest features: Rush Hour Rewards and Seasonal Savings
  • System Match - Get the most out of your high-efficiency system. Nest turns on specific features for forced air, heat pump or radiant to help you save energy and stay comfortable
  • Sunblock - In many homes the thermostat is in direct sunlight, causing it to warm up. Nest automatically adapts to direct sunlight to read and set the right temperature
Bestseller No. 6
Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation) with Nest Temperature Sensor (T5000SF) (White)
SaleBestseller No. 7
1,602 Reviews
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - 3rd Generation - Smart Thermostat - Pro Version - Works With Alexa
  • This specific product is intended for Professional Installers only and not to be sold direct to consumers. Please see other consumer facing listing for more color options
Bestseller No. 8
Google Nest Learning Thermostat - Programmable Smart Thermostat for Home - 3rd Generation Nest...
  • Control type: Button Control
Bestseller No. 9
Google Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation, Compatible with Alexa - Black (Renewed)
  • Auto-Schedule - No more confusing programming. Nest learns the temperatures you like and programs itself
  • Nest Leaf - The Nest Leaf appears when you turn Nest to a temperature that's energy efficient. It guides you in the right direction
  • Auto-Tune - Auto-Tune finds ways to automatically lower your energy bill while keeping you comfortable. It enables two Nest features: Rush Hour Rewards and Seasonal Savings
  • Auto-Tune - Auto-Tune finds ways to automatically lower your energy bill while keeping you comfortable. It enables two Nest features: Rush Hour Rewards and Seasonal Savings
  • Sunblock - In many homes the thermostat is in direct sunlight, causing it to warm up. Nest automatically adapts to direct sunlight to read and set the right temperature
SaleBestseller No. 10
Nest Thermostat E
  • This Certified Refurbished product is manufacturer refurbished, shows limited or no wear, and includes all original accessories plus a 90-day limited hardware warranty.
  • Finish: White
  • Manufactured By: Nest
  • Diameter: 3.3 in.

Last update on 2024-03-29

Lance Ulanoff is a renowned tech journalist, commentator, and on-air expert with over 36 years of experience. He has held esteemed positions including Editor in Chief of Lifewire and Mashable, where he delved into the impact of technology on daily life. Lance's expertise has been featured on major news programs globally, and he has made appearances on Fox News, CNBC, and the BBC.