You don’t need to adjust your Google Nest thermostat to save energy each time you leave home. It can automatically help save energy by switching to Eco Temperatures.
But if you're going to be away for a long time, such as a vacation, you have a few options:
- Manually set your thermostat Eco Temperatures
- Set it to Off mode
- Turn off power to your system
Each has different effects on your energy savings.
Set a steady temperature on the thermostat
Use Eco Temperatures to maintain a steady temperature while you’re on vacation. When you arrive home, it should take less time to reach your preferred temperature than if you had set your thermostat to Off mode.
Your Nest thermostat can automatically switch to Eco Temperatures to help save energy after it senses that nobody’s home, but if you let your thermostat automatically switch to Eco Temperatures, your thermostat might switch back to its normal schedule. For example, if you ask a neighbor to take care of your pet or collect the mail, this could make your thermostat switch to heating or cooling mode to reach a regularly scheduled temperature.
To keep your thermostat in Eco Temperatures, switch your thermostat’s mode to Eco, or use the Hold temperature button (depending on your thermostat). For full instructions, refer to Set Eco Temperatures to hold for a long period of time.
Set your thermostat to Off
If you plan to be gone for a longer period of time, such as on an extended vacation, set your Nest thermostat mode to Off to save more energy instead of using Eco Temperatures. Note that if you use Off mode your home might not be as comfortable when you come back.
How to set your Nest thermostat to Off
Important: Off mode won’t turn your thermostat off, your system will only heat or cool your home to Safety Temperatures which will help prevent damage to your home.
Turn power off to your system or home
Some people prefer to turn off power to their system or entire home if they plan to be away for a long time. If you do this with a Nest thermostat, there are some things to keep in mind:
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Your Nest thermostat won't charge its battery when power to your system or home is off. It will eventually shut down and won't be able to control your system. When it shuts down, it will also appear offline in the app.
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Before your thermostat shuts off, it will likely show you one of the help codes below:
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E3 E4 E23 E24 |
E72 E73 E74 |
E298 M20 M22 |
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For the Nest Thermostat: Remove the batteries from your thermostat before you leave the home. When you turn your system power back on, you can wait until your thermostat recharges or put in new AAA batteries. |
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For the Nest Learning Thermostat or Nest Thermostat E: When your system power is turned on, your thermostat will probably need to recharge before it automatically turns on. It will show a solid yellow light (Nest Learning Thermostat 4th gen) or blinking red light (all other models) while it charges its battery. |
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Recharge your thermostat or replace the batteriesDepending on how low the battery charge is, charging can take up to 3 hours. If you have a Learning Thermostat or the Thermostat E, you can speed up charging with a USB cable. If you have the Nest Thermostat, you may need to replace the batteries. You should only need to replace the batteries if you’ve been away from your home for a while. |
