Nest thermostat can cause a few compressor problems, some of which may not be its fault, partly or entirely.
Nest cannot control or regulate a failing compressor.
However, your Nest thermostat could be the causal or facilitating reason for many common compressor problems.
Here are 9 solutions if your Nest thermostat causes compressor problems:
- Place the Nest thermostat at a temperature-neutral place.
- Use Nest temperature sensors in different rooms.
- Verify if the Nest thermostat’s wiring is accurate.
- Review the Nest thermostat settings.
- Check Nest thermostat battery and test Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Inspect the ducts or vents, filters, and air handling unit.
- Consult an EPA-certified HVAC technician.
- Repair, replace, or upgrade the compressor.
- Switch or replace the Nest thermostat.
Nest has resolved many significant glitches in their thermostats over the years.
However, some users continue to encounter several issues, including compressor problems.
This guide provides solutions to the usual and atypical compressor problems caused by Nest thermostats.
1. Place the Nest Thermostat at a Temperature-Neutral Place
Nest thermostats don’t function optimally when too close to a vent, window, and cold or heat source.
If the temperature sensor cannot ensure uniform cooling throughout a room or house, you may have to keep changing the temperature settings, thus stressing the compressor.
Consider uninstalling and reinstalling the Nest thermostat at a place that’s relatively temperature-neutral.
Choosing a wall equidistant from the door or windows and vents or ducts is better.
Also, keep the thermostat away from typical cold and heat sources in your home.
Nest thermostat is highly sensitive, and it keeps regulating the HVAC unit until the sensor detects the required temperature, which is the nearest rounded-off degree per its auto-schedule, mode, or what you manually select.
Thus, a Nest thermostat may turn the compressor on and off.
A compressor functions well when it operates steadily. Frequent starts, restarts, shutdowns, or hard starts will cause problems and reduce the compressor’s longevity.
Changing the placement of a Nest thermostat is probably the simplest solution you can try.
2. Use Nest Temperature Sensors in Different Rooms
A Nest thermostat installed in one room may not sufficiently regulate the temperatures in a midsize to a large house.
Consider using Nest temperature sensors for uniform cooling or heating.
These sensors can facilitate varying temperatures or modes for your rooms.
You can buy one or a pack of Google Nest Temperature Sensors from Amazon.com.
These sensors are compatible with Nest Learning Thermostat and E models.
The batteries can power the sensors for up to 2 years, and you can have as many as 6 of these in your house.
3. Verify if the Nest Thermostat’s Wiring Is Accurate
Nest thermostats will cause uneven cooling or heating and stress the compressor if the wiring is inaccurate.
Ideally, you should get a professional to install your Nest thermostat to ensure the wiring is accurate if for no other reason.
Don’t replicate the wiring of an old thermostat.
Watch this video about the difference between conventional and Nest thermostat wirings:
4. Review the Nest Thermostat Settings
Nest has numerous settings, and many users find them perplexing.
Any significant setting can change how the thermostat operates, thus affecting the compressor’s usual functioning.
Review the learning and other advanced features of your Nest thermostat and turn them off if necessary.
Take the Airwave mode, for example.
Nest’s Airwave feature shuts down the compressor before your chosen or the auto-selected temperature is attained inside your home.
If the sensor doesn’t detect the specific temperature in a while, it’ll turn on the compressor again immediately.
The high sensitivity of Nest thermostats coupled with the relentless pursuit of reducing energy consumption can overwork many compressors.
A compressor will have problems if Nest continues to turn it on and shut it down frequently.
Such toggles may also cause short cycling.
Traditionally, short cycling has been a mechanical or electrical problem with many potential causes, such as low refrigerant or a broken component inside the compressor.
Nest thermostats complicate this issue with smarter sensors and advanced settings controlling the compressor.
5. Check Nest Thermostat Battery and Test Wi-Fi Connectivity
Nest thermostats tend to have a blank or dim display when the battery is dying.
Check the battery voltage on the app and recharge. Also, check the Wi-Fi connectivity.
If a Nest thermostat is disconnected, it needs a reset, or it won’t function and may affect the compressor.
Check your Wi-Fi router. Reboot the Nest thermostat if your Wi-Fi is working fine.
Sometimes, a Nest thermostat won’t reset due to a glitch in the device.
Thus, you have no option but to reach out to Nest’s support. If the device is faulty, you may get a brand new one for no cost.
Watch this video to know more about Nest’s Wi-Fi glitch:
6. Inspect the Ducts or Vents, Filters, and Air Handling Unit
Nest thermostat isn’t always the cause for all typical compressor problems.
You may have clogged ducts or vents, excessively thick or unclean filters, and the air handling unit could be malfunctioning for some reason.
Each of these issues will impair the compressor’s functioning.
Clean the ducts and vents, replace dirty filters, and inspect the air handling unit.
Preventive maintenance can avert almost all common compressor problems unless your unit is really old and the parts inside fail.
Also, check the refrigerant to know if it’s low or in excess.
7. Consult an EPA-Certified HVAC Technician
Most compressor problems require a professional inspection. Consult an EPA-certified HVAC technician if you don’t know what’s causing a compressor’s short cycling, any rattling or banging noise you may hear, any icing on specific parts of your indoor and outdoor units, and other issues.
Many compressors run backward when there’s a significant differential pressure fluctuation.
In some cases, the compressor may keep running in reverse even when the differential pressure is restored to normal.
Only a technician can check for these anomalies.
8. Repair, Replace, or Upgrade the Compressor
In rare cases, an outdoor unit or a compressor may not be compatible with a Nest thermostat. You may repair or replace worn-out parts, if possible.
Alternatively, you can consider upgrading the compressor.
Also, not all HVAC systems respond to Nest thermostats as you may expect.
This video highlights the Nest thermostat compatibility issue:
9. Switch or Replace the Nest Thermostat
Last but not least, replace the Nest thermostat if it’s faulty.
Google or Nest doesn’t always acknowledge every reported or detected glitch, but it may quietly offer a replacement.
If the warranty is valid, you’ll receive a new Nest thermostat or prove the glitch for a free one.
You have a tough choice if your HVAC or the compressor, in particular, is incompatible with Nest.
You may switch to another thermostat or upgrade your HVAC system in due course.
Also, assess the possibility of the air handling unit causing or facilitating the compressor problems.
Final Thoughts
Nest thermostats don’t have repairable parts like some conventional versions.
Thus, a technician can only address compressor problems.
Hopefully, the first few solutions in this guide will solve your compressor issues. Otherwise, you need an HVAC pro or Google Nest support.