Nest Thermostat Not Heating To Set Temperature? (Easy Fix)

Is your Nest thermostat not heating to set temperature? Time to explore the topic!

If the thermostat’s temperature differs from your actual temperature, you must fix it.

The possible causes include faulty wiring, incorrect settings, or software glitches.

To fix your thermostat and get it to set the right temperature, you need to check your thermostat’s wiring, especially by connecting the C wire. You’ll then need to check your Eco temperature settings and set it to your desired temperature.

Alright, let’s dive into all the details.

Nest Thermostat Not Heating to Set Temperature – 8 Proven Solutions

We listed different solutions to help you find one that works for you. Some are simple and easy, while others require some technical skills. 

1. Power Cycle Your Thermostat

Power cycling your thermostat is the best way to fix your problem.

It involves turning it off and on to resolve various issues and ensure optimal performance.

This resets your device’s settings and clears any errors that prevent it from heating your home properly. 

Here’s how to do this:

1. Press and hold the ring on your thermostat for 10 seconds until it turns off.
2. Wait for a few seconds before turning it back on. 
3. Check if your Nest thermostat is heating to your set temperature. 

Tip: Leave your device off for at least 30 seconds before turning it back on to allow for a complete reset and refresh of its internal settings. 

2. Make Sure Your Thermostat is Set to Heat Mode

Sometimes, your Nest thermostat switches to cool or eco mode by mistake or schedule.

This prevents it from heating your home as expected. To fix this, ensure your thermostat is set to heat mode.

Here’s how to check and change your Nest thermostat’s mode:

1. Tap the mode icon on the bottom left corner of your thermostat’s screen. 
2. You’ll see a list of modes: heat, cool, heat-cool, eco, and off.
3. Select heat mode if it’s not already set. 
4. See if your thermostat is heating to the temperature you set. 

Pro Tip: Establish a seasonal routine and be proactive about thermostat settings to ensure your home stays warm and comfortable during the colder months. 

3. Check Your Thermostat’s Wiring

A faulty wiring between your thermostat and the furnace is another reason your device is not heating to the temperature you set.

If you have a loose or damaged wire, it will interfere with the communication between your two devices and cause heating issues. 

Here’s how to check and fix your thermostat’s wiring:

1. Turn off the power to your Nest thermostat and furnace at the circuit breaker.
2. Gently pull off your Nest thermostat from its base.
3. Check the wires connected to the terminals on the back of the thermostat. 
4. Ensure they are firmly inserted and not frayed or corroded.
5. Replace faulty wires with new ones or contact a professional for help.  
6. Reattach your thermostat to its base.
7. Turn on the power to your thermostat and furnace. 
8. Check if your thermostat is heating to the set temperature. 

Tip: Before you begin, ensure that the power to your Nest thermostat and furnace is turned off to avoid electrical shock or damage to your equipment. 

4. Verify Your Thermostat’s Schedule

Nest thermostat learns from your habits and preferences and creates a schedule based on them.

However, this does not always match your current needs and even lowers the temperature when you want it to be higher. 

If your thermostat’s schedule is overriding your manual settings, here’s how to fix this:

1. Tap the schedule icon on the bottom right corner of your thermostat’s screen.
2. The timeline of your temperature settings for each day of the week will be displayed.
3. Look for points where the temperature drops below your desired level.
4. Tap and drag the temperature control up or down to change it. 
5. Tap a point to delete it. 
6. Tap the trash icon on the top right corner.
7. Tap on an empty space on the timeline to add a new point. 
8. Drag the point to your desired temperature and time. 

Tip: Make sure the schedule aligns with your routine and verify the settings for each day of the week. 

5. Adjust Your Thermostat’s Heat Balance

If your thermostat’s heat balance is not optimal, your device won’t be able to maintain a consistent temperature throughout your home.

That said, your home will feel excessively warm or chilly when the temperature is too high or too low. 

Here’s how to adjust your thermostat’s heat balance:

1. Open the Nest App on your phone.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Tap your thermostat on the home screen.
4. Tap the Settings icon in the upper right corner.
5. Tap on Nest Sense.
6. Select Heat Balance.
7. Adjust the heat balance from low to high by dragging the slider.

Alternative: Tap Auto to let your device decide what’s best for you.

• Low means your furnace will turn on less often but run longer, saving energy but causing uneven heat. 
• High means your furnace will turn on more often but run shorter, improving your comfort but using more power. 

6. Check the Eco Temperature Settings

Another answer to the question, “Why is my Nest thermostat not heating to set temperature?” is too low Eco Temperature settings.

Eco Temperature helps you save energy by lowering the temperature automatically when you’re away or asleep. 

However, the Eco Temperature is sometimes lower than you want, making your home too cold when you return or wake up.

To fix this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Nest App on your phone.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Tap your thermostat on the home screen.
4. Select Eco Temperatures.
5. You will see two sliders that let you adjust the eco temperature.
6. Drag the heating slider to your desired minimum temperature.

Alternative: Tap Default to use the recommended setting of 10C or 50F.  

Note: When adjusting your Eco Temperature settings, strike a balance between energy savings and comfort. 

7. Examine Your True Radiant Settings

True Radiant is a feature that helps you avoid overshooting or undershooting the temperature you set by learning how long it takes for your system to cool down or warm up.

Your home will be too hot or cold if set too high or too low. 

Here’s how to examine if your thermostat’s True Radiant settings are suitable for your heating system:

1. Open the Nest App on your phone. 
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Tap the Settings icon in the upper right corner.
4. Tap on Nest Sense.
5. Select True Radiant.
6. Toggle either Early-On or Time-to-Temperature on or off as you prefer.  

Alternative: Tap Auto to let your thermostat decide the best option for you. 

• Early-On prioritizes comfort by starting heating earlier but using more energy. 
• Time-to-Temperature shows when your home will reach the desired temperature to help you plan ahead. 

8. Fix or Install a C Wire

A C wire gives your thermostat constant power. If your thermostat doesn’t have one, you will encounter problems like low battery, display issues, WiFi disconnection, heating or cooling errors, or system noises.

There are two ways to fix this:

Installing a Nest Power Connector

A Nest Power Connector connects your furnace and gives power to your thermostat without needing a C wire. 

1. Turn off the power to your heating or cooling system.  
2. Find the control board of your furnace. 
3. Connect the wires of the power connector to the terminals on the board. 
4. Plug in the power connector to an outlet.
5. Turn on the power to your system. 

Adding a New Wire to Your System

Alternatively, add a new wire to your system by running from your furnace to your thermostat, which requires technical skills and tools.

Ensure the cables match your system and thermostat. 

1. Turn off the power to your system.
2. Remove your thermostat from its base.
3. Check the wires connected to the terminals on the back of the thermostat.  
4. Ensure they are firmly inserted and not frayed or corroded. 
5. Insert the new wire into the C terminal on the thermostat and furnace control board. 
6. Reattach your thermostat to its base. 
7. Turn on the power to your system. 

Tip: Take your time and ensure correct connections to help avoid issues and maintain a reliable cooling and heating system.

If you are uncomfortable with any part of these solutions or encounter difficulties, hire a professional technician or electrician to troubleshoot your Nest thermostat. 

Quick Recap

If you have a Nest thermostat not heating to set temperature, check for potential issues like faulty wiring, incorrect settings, low battery, or software glitches.

Adjust the thermostat’s wiring and heat balance to address the problem. 

Additionally, don’t forget to review and modify your Eco Temperature settings for optimal comfort and efficiency. 

For extra Nest thermostat details, check out our blog!