Why Does My Nest Say “Delayed?”
A Nest thermostat is an excellent way to streamline your daily routine with an affordable piece of technology.
However, experiencing issues with your Nest thermostat, especially during extreme temperatures, can be more than just inconvenient; it could be deadly.
If your Nest thermostat is saying delayed, here’s what to do.
Why Does My Nest Say “Delayed?”
A Nest thermostat will say delayed when there is a power issue. The Nest Thermostat requires a C wire for power. Without one, it won’t get enough power to function properly, causing the Nest thermostat to respond as if there was a low battery and show the delayed status in its Menu.
Additionally, if the wiring configuration is set up with an EZ Wire but still no C Wire, your Nest will not draw enough power and show an error message saying “Delayed.”
How to Fix the Delay Issue
The C Wire is very important.
If you have a Nest Thermostat, please follow these steps and fix the nest delay problem:
Step #1
Take a look at the back of your Nest unit on the bottom of it and notice the power connection.
It may be found in a sticker or label that says: “Wired to 120VAC 20A”.
Now, the C wire is required for Nest to function.
If it does not have a C wire, you must get one for this to work.
Step #2
Now that you know the source of the problem, you need to get your hands on a C wire or a power extender that will provide enough power from the outlet it’s on to function.
Newer homes may already have one in place if they are built with newer electrical wiring; this can be done by looking at your circuit breaker box, finding a two-prong female receptacle with a screw or push button, and then searching online for other locations where you can buy it.
The C wire is very cheap, and the Nest Thermostat needs to be very close to that receptacle.
If you don’t have one, connect one with your bare hands.
The power that it gives off is enough to turn on the thermostat.
Step #3
Now that you know that the C wire is needed, follow it back to where it enters your home on your circuit breaker box.
That C wire should have a female connector on it.
Putting the C Wire back into your wall depends on the type of housing that you have for your thermostat.
It may be a 4″x4″ or a 2″x4″.
The best way to ensure success is to take the Nest unit off the wall and connect the C wire directly into your wall without the Nest; this will ensure that you are putting it back in correctly.
If you have access to an electrician, he can do this job for you and guarantee proper placement.
Step #4
Once you have connected the C Wire, put your thermostat back on your wall and test it out. It should now work properly.
If you believe that you may need to update the firmware, please follow these steps:
- Go to the Nest website, log in using your email address and password, and change the date on your Nest thermostat to the day you believe it was manufactured. Incorrectly changing the date could cause other problems with it working or not working. If this doesn’t solve your problem, we recommend contacting Nest directly for further assistance because it is not covered under their warranty.
- Ensure that you have an “Authorized Nest” to update the thermostat.
- Access your thermostat through the app or on the home page in your browser and update it using the link below:
- https://mynest.googlecode.com/files/ThermostatFirmwareUpdate.mbh
- Once it finishes, unplug your thermostat, wait a couple of minutes, and plug it back in to ensure that the updates go through correctly.
- This should solve your problem and put any delayed status that you are experiencing on your Nest Thermostat to rest!
What to Do If You Don’t Have a C Wire
If you lack a C wire, you can try out a different solution.
One of the tried and tested solutions is using a Venstar adapter since it helps to add additional wires at ease.
You can also acquire a thermostat that doesn’t need a C wire.
A thermostat that doesn’t require a C wire is called Z-Wave, the most popular thermostat in the industry.
Before you do any of this, ensure that you know whether you have a mechanical thermostat or electronic thermostat by taking a look at your current thermostat.
A mechanical thermostat will have more wires and may be slightly larger than an electronic thermostat.
Final Thoughts
Today, you have learned about the Nest Thermostat and how to solve the problem of a delayed status on your Nest unit.
You have also learned how to fix an issue if you do not have a C wire.
Remember that this is not a solution to every problem with your Nest unit.
We suggest that you contact someone from Nest if you still need further assistance and verify if it is covered under warranty or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What type of thermostat do I have? Electronics or mechanical?
A: To find out which type of thermostat you have, you need to look at the back of your existing thermostat.
If the wires are larger and the housing is made from a large material, it’s a mechanical thermostat.
If it has smaller wires and is made from plastic or metal, it is an electronic thermostat.
Q: How to change the time on my Nest thermostat?
A: You can easily change the time on your Nest thermostat by following these steps:
- Go to the Nest website and log in using your email address and password.
- Go to My Nest and select the thermostat you want to change the time for. Find a menu option named Change Time under Current Date and Time. Select this option.
- On the next screen, you will see an option to change the date. Select that option. On this screen, select one of the options.
- The next screen will show you the time for your Nest Thermostat, and then you can choose the time you want to enter.
- You will then be able to change the time from your device.
Q: How do I find out if my Nest Thermostat is broken?
A: You should contact someone from Nest to handle your issue because it could be one of many possible causes that are not covered under warranty.
Q: I have a Wi-Fi thermostat, and it constantly has a delayed status.
A: If you have followed this guide, but it hasn’t solved your problem, then strongly consider having an electrician diagnose your wiring and ensure that everything is connected correctly.
Q: What is the difference between a C wire and a Z wave thermostat?
A: A C wire is a control wire that helps your thermostat communicate with your HVAC system. If you have a Z wave wireless thermostat, then it does not require a C wire which means that it has been built to work under any installation regardless of whether or not you have a C wire.
Q: I have a Nest thermostat, but I don’t have a C wire. What can I do?
A: There are many alternative solutions to getting Wi-Fi thermostats to work in apartments or homes that don’t have a C wire. One of them involves using a Venstar adapter which allows you to add wires to your thermostat at ease. Other alternatives include purchasing a Z-wave wireless thermostat which does not require a C wire.