Using a smart thermostat is a great way to save energy and make the heating and cooling of your home more efficient. Having an HVAC system in your home can be a bit troublesome if you have to adjust the settings regularly. With Google Nest thermostat, it will be done automatically.
If you plan to get one, you need to know some of the technical info and specifications of the device including how to properly use it and how to change the Nest battery. A lot of problems usually pop up when it comes to batteries so you have to understand how it works and how you can troubleshoot the problem.
Here are some of the common questions asked by Nest users along with the answers to help you figure out how to use it.
What Type of Battery is Used to Power Up Google Nest?
Before we mention anything about the batteries, you need to know that Google Nest gets its power from the power supply through your HVAC system. Nest has an internal battery that usually keeps the patterns and other data from your HVAC.
Nest learning thermostat only uses its batteries during power outages. It means that the batteries are only considered as a backup if there are problems with electricity.
There are specific types of batteries used depending on the model that you are using. If you are using the Nest Thermostat E, it uses AAA alkaline batteries. The 3rd Generation model, on the other hand, uses lithium-chargeable batteries.
Take note that these batteries can be bought in your local hardware store or you can buy them online if you want so they are accessible.
How to Change your Google Nest Battery?
We listed down a short guide on how to properly change the battery of your Google Nest thermostat.
1. Remove the Baseplate
You need to prepare a Phillips screwdriver to remove the baseplate from the Nest thermostat. Make sure that you keep the screws and place them in a safe place as they are extremely small. You might accidentally lose one or two of them.
2. Remove the Cover
The cover is held by clips so you should never force it. You need to turn the baseplate counterclockwise and pull it out.
After this, you need to detach the main PCB. You’ll need to remove 4 screws. There is a display cable on the right side that you need to disconnect. When it’s done, pull the main PCB slowly out of the Nest thermostat.
3. Installing a New Battery
Once the main PCB is already removed, you will see the battery of your Google Nest. Since you need to get a replacement battery, you need to know exactly what type of battery you’re going to buy.
At the surface of the battery, you will see a series of numbers. Usually, you can see the battery type, which is 284650. The 28 is 2.8 mm thick, 46 is the length of the battery, and 50 is the width.
It would be very tricky to find an exact battery like this. If you can’t find the exact battery, you just have to make sure that the thickness and width are the same. You can get a shorter lithium-ion battery as it can also fit perfectly in your Nest thermostat.
To remove the old batteries, pull the two connectors located at the bottom. Be careful with the battery connector as it’s very fragile. Once you’ve got the new batteries, just reverse the process and start using your Nest thermostat.
Why is My Nest Thermostat Draining my Batteries?
When your Nest thermostat is draining your batteries, there are a few reasons behind this:
1. Loose C Wire Connection
If you noticed that the batteries get drained fast, there might be a problem with your C terminal. You need to check if there is a loose C wire connection. If this kind of thing happens, you need a C-wire adapter to help stabilize the power.
For this problem, you just need to tighten the C wire connection to make sure the Nest thermostat is functioning properly. Once you finished troubleshooting the wires, restart your thermostat.
2. Problems with the Thermostat
Another possible reason is that the thermostat itself is already faulty. If you already fixed the C connection, but you still get a low battery warning, there might be a problem with your thermostat. You will have to bring it to a professional so they can fix your Nest thermostat right away.
You can also confirm if the actual Nest thermostat is the problem if you try to use the batteries on other devices. If they work on other devices, but not working on your thermostat, it means that the unit is already broken.
3. HVAC Power Source is Faulty
The problem may also be related to your HVAC power source. A notification will be constantly sent to you if something’s wrong with the power. It means that your battery is not getting enough power. If this is the issue, it’s better to get a technician to fix the issue immediately.
4. Battery Problems
Batteries don’t last forever, especially if you are using low-quality ones. Remember that low-quality batteries can only last for around a year or a few months. High-quality Nest thermostat battery lasts for more than 5 years.
If the battery power is the problem, you need to figure out how to change it. You don’t need an expert to change the batteries. You can DIY since it’s not too complicated.
Conclusion
If you buy a Nest Thermostat, you need to read about the possible problems that you may encounter in the future. The battery problem is just one of the issues that you might experience with the Nest Thermostat so you need to do your own research about this.
You can always bring it to a licensed and professional technician if you want. However, if you are saving money, you can troubleshoot the problem and see if you can fix it on your own. Hiring a technician should be your last resort.
If you have any ideas on how to effectively change your Nest Thermostat’s batteries, you can comment down below and share your insights.