Q&A for How to Install a Nest Learning Thermostat

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

Why do I have to reset the date and time on my thermostat every day?

Community Answer

You probably need to get a new thermostat. You should pay a little more for one of higher quality. The cheap ones don't last.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question

What is the best thing to do if there are only three wires present?

Community Answer

If you only have three wires, you probably do not have a heater. If that’s the case, then you do it using W1.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 0
Question

I have a blue wire connected to terminal C on the old thermostat. Does it get connected on my Nest?

Community Answer

Yes, it gets connected to C on Nest also. That is the common wire of the transformer.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 4
Question

What if the old thermostat uses high voltage to baseboards?

Community Answer

You can install a 24-volt transformer and a relay. I did this, installing them in large electrical boxes in my basement; I use the nest to control the relay. The relay supplies current to my base boards. You have to make certain that the nest receives 24 volts to keep its battery charged.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

Will the Nest work with an Android phone?

Mark Tidwell

Community Answer

Yes, it will. Just download the Nest app on the Google Play store.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

How do I get a clock display on a nest thermostat?

Community Answer

Third generation nest thermostats have Farsight, and this allows you to set the display to show the time (or weather, or temperature).

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
Question

Do I need to install the red jumper wire of my old thermostat to my Nest learning thermostat?

Community Answer

No, the Nest stats do not need the jumper to be moved over from the old stat.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question

Can the nest themostat be installed with only two wires present?

Community Answer

Under certain circumstances, yes, but certainly not in all applications. I recommend that you go to the official Nest thermostat website, as they have a great compatibility test tool on there that let's you enter the quantity of wires that you have and it will tell you if the Nest stat is compatible for you or not. One other thing, you may see only two wires coming through the wall into your existing thermostat, but you may also find that the cable contained more wires and the installer didn't need to use them. In those situations the installer normally tucks the unused wired back into the wall hole, so definitely check that.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

My old thermostat only had red and white wires and those go back to a boiler zone panel. What do I need to do?

Community Answer

Are you sure that you have only the two wires coming from the zone panel to the existing thermostat? What you may find is that it could be that you have more wires there but the unused ones are tucked back into the wall opening behind the existing thermostat. The easiest way to check that is to have a look at the end of the cable at the zone panel and see how many wires it has.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question

Can I install a smart thermostat if my home doesn't use central air?

Community Answer

Yes, you can. Go to the official Nest thermostat website and look for the compatibility test tool. That will let you enter some details and tell you if your home's heat/cooling is compatible with the Nest.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

How do I install a nest learning thermostat when I don't have an installer?

Community Answer

The Nest website has very clear directions on how to install one of their thermostats (you'll also find many unofficial guides too by Googling). More importantly, their website also has a great compatibility check tool, and I recommend that you use that before deciding to purchase the product.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0