Nest Thermostat Takes Too Long To Heat? (Instant Fixes)

Are you wondering why the Nest thermostat takes too long to heat? We’re here to help!

The reason why your Nest thermostat keeps failing to reach the assigned temperature could be because of a fault with your HVAC or improper thermostat settings.

So, this guide will help you uncover the particular reason why the Nest thermostat goes into cooldown and how to fix it.

Whenever the thermostat takes too long to heat, lower the assigned heating temperature by multiple degrees and factory reset your Nest. Next, verify that there is no heat convection.

Let’s explore the further possibilities of the problem!

Why Does My Nest Thermostat Say In 2 Hours to Heat?

To understand what prevents the Nest thermostat from generating heat fast enough, the first step is to review all possible causes for the reduced effectiveness of the system.

Note that it takes longer for the Nest thermostat to heat larger households compared to smaller homes.

Here are most of the possible causes for the heating issues with the Nest thermostat:

The Nest thermostat often tells the user how long it will take to reach the assigned temperature based on the current room temperature and the condition of the HVAC system.

The thermostat may take too long to heat during the winter season or if the furnace hasn’t worked in a while.

What is the Standard Nest Heating Rate?

So, based on the readings you’ve done to your system, it is easy to rule out whether the Nest thermostat is taking too long to heat or is working just fine.

For all Nest thermostat models and most HVAC systems, it is customary to expect at least a degree-per-hour temperature increase.

Of course, the rate at which the Nest heats your home depends on multiple factors, including the productiveness of the radiators at the type of your HVAC furnace.

You should also note that some of the generated heat flow might be escaping through an unclosed window or door!

Nest Thermostat Takes Too Long to Heat – Fixed Easily!

Tip: Apply the steps and instructions in chronological order!

1. Reboot the Nest Thermostat

The Nest unit may have failed to utilize the heating/cooling schedule, thus, the system must be restarted to become operational again.

The first task is to power off the Nest thermostat, wait for a few minutes, and then reactivate the heating schedule to resolve the cooldown problem.

• To power off Nest, push the thermostat down until the screen powers off. (~10 seconds)

Remember that the system restart is not the same as the system reset.

Performing a factory reset on the thermostat will erase all content, settings, and saved schedules, while the reboot will simply power the device ON/OFF without uninstalling any information.

Note: The Nest reboot process typically takes between 1 and 2 minutes, based on performance!

2. Adjust the Temperature Manually

To quickly heat your home, you should attempt adjusting the current temperature manually and wait until the radiators start generating enough heat.

Sometimes, schedules may not work as intended, especially if the heat sensors are not working correctly.

Here’s how to adjust the temperature of the Nest thermostat manually:

1. Open the Nest or Home app on the mobile Android/iOS device.
2. Select your Nest thermostat device from the app’s homepage.
3. Select modes and set the Nest thermostat to the “Heat” option.
4. Drag the dial clockwise/counterclockwise to adjust the degrees.
5. Press on “Save Changes” to complete the Nest’s configuration.

Do not set the temperature mode to “Cool” or “Heat • Cool,” as this can cause fluctuations in the consistency of the heating.

Also, work with less demanding heating temperatures, as it could take the Nest thermostat much longer to achieve higher temperature adjustment.

Bonus Tip: Deactivate Nest Schedules!

If the Nest thermostat is not following the ordinary heating rate, it could be because of an active cooling or heating schedule conflicting with the current setting.

This can be resolved quickly by deactivating all active schedules within the thermostat’s menu or the Nest/Home application.

• To deactivate schedules, go to “Quick View” > “Reset” > “Schedule” > “Reset/Clear.”

Info: Selecting “Reset” will reset the schedule settings, while “Clear” removes the schedule!

3. Prevent Convection of the Warmth

So, not securing all windows, doors, and other openings inside your home might cause heat convection.

This is when the warmth generated by your heater or heating system leaves your home, and the environmental temperature remains at one level without increasing any further.

Typically, radiators are installed underneath the windows in your home, so keeping the window open will cause all the heat to rise up and get out. 

How to Prevent Heat Convection?

As established, verify that all windows and doors in the thermostat and the radiators’ room are closed tightly and that there is nowhere for the heat to go.

• Hence, there shouldn’t be an airflow to preserve the generated heat by the system and prevent any cold air from entering the room.

The more often the door or the window within the room is left open, the more likely it is for the heat to escape and for a convection to happen.

Keep track of the achieved degrees through the Nest temperature sensor if you have it installed in a room that has HVAC heaters in it.

Note: Check if the door and window seal are in proper condition and no air is going in/out.

4. Correct Nest Thermostat’s Wiring

There’s a chance that Nest cannot heat on time because of an improper installation of the wires.

All cables going in and out of the thermostat’s base are crucial to achieving the heating/cooling schedules quickly enough, specifically for activating and managing all of the HVAC components.

Warning: It’s crucial to stop the power supply to your Nest thermostat from the primary circuit breaker.

Here’s how to configure the wiring installation of the Nest thermostat correctly:

• The Blue wire wraps around the “C” terminal.
• The Yellow wire wraps around the “Y1” terminal.
• The Gray wire wraps around the “Y2” terminal.
• The Green wire wraps around the “G” terminal.
• The Orange wire wraps around the “OB” terminal.
• The Red wire wraps around the “RC” terminal.
• The Brown wire wraps around the “W2/AUX” terminal.

Only after verifying that each of the wires is installed correctly, push the breaker switch of the system towards the “ON” position and test.

If the Nest thermostat has an external adapter at the circuit breaker, check the condition of the cable while managing the system’s power supply.

Note: For burnt spots or melted wires, contact an HVAC technician!

5. Inspect the Central Heating System

Perhaps it’s worth considering the possibility of a potential fault with the distribution of the heated water and the boiler installation of the HVAC system.

If the water that reaches your radiators isn’t warm enough, Nest will take much longer to elevate the room’s temperature.

How to Increase HVAC Boiler Heating Setting?

There is a way to adjust the rate at which your HVAC boiler heats the water before distributing it to the pipes and the radiators.

Locate the boiler room in your home, recognize the boiler units, and find the dial installed on the back that controls the heating.

• Before adjusting, restrict the water flow through the safety switch installed on the boiler’s pipe.

Next, push the dial towards the red margin on the meter and set the heating according to the displayed degrees (Fahrenheit or Celsius). Finally, release the water and test your thermostat.

Note: None of the radiators will heat up while the boiler’s water flow is restricted!

6. Restore the Nest Thermostat to Defaults

You can quickly address any functionality complications with the Nest thermostat by resetting the device’s system to factory defaults.

This is a proven and effective way to resolve issues related to the heating of the system, as well as the connection with the HVAC system and its operation.

Here’s how to perform a factory reset on any Nest thermostat model:

1. Tap on the thermostat once and go to the “Quick View” menu.
2. Choose the Settings icon on the upper part of the home page.
3. Turn to the right once and highlight the “Reset” on-screen icon.
4. Rotate to the right to “All Settings” and then “Select” to enter.
5. Wait for a few minutes until the Nest thermostat entirely resets.

Note: The initial utilization of the Nest thermostat may take between 5 and 10 minutes!

Quick Recap:

The fix whenever the Nest thermostat takes too long to heat, power cycle the unit by taking out the batteries and then prevent convection of the heat.

If the issue persists, deactivate the automatic schedules, correct the base’s wiring, and perform a full reset.

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