Nest Thermostat Keeps Using Auxiliary Heat: How to Fix

Nest thermostats are fantastic devices, but sometimes problems can arise. Any time you use auxiliary heat instead of your heat pump, you run the risk of greatly increasing your electricity bill. To make sure your Nest thermostat doesn’t switch to AUX heating, you need to make the correct settings.

Please note that it is not uncommon for the auxiliary switch to turn on automatically even when the pump is providing sufficient heat. In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of using a Nest thermostat and what to expect.

Heat Pump Balance Settings

There are four settings to choose from, but only two of them are designed to truly maximize energy efficiency and use less AUX heat.

Image source: Nest.com

1. Maximum savings
   This is the setting you need if you want to minimize AUX heat usage but not turn it off completely. Maximum savings makes your heating system operate at maximum energy efficiency to reduce costs. To achieve this, the heat pump will often start operating earlier to have enough time to reach the target temperature. The lockout temperature is set lower than usual, but not at the lowest value.
2. Off
   Turning off Heat pump balance It means that AUX heat only activates depending on what you set as the lock temperature. If you use the lowest setting, the AUX heating may no longer activate and the notification will disappear. Of course, this will only happen if external factors do not interfere.
3. Balanced
   He Balanced The option helps a little with energy savings. However, it still allows the AUX heat to kick in more than when using the previous settings. It does this to help reach the target temperature faster.
4. Maximum comfort
   If you don’t care about saving energy then Maximum comfort It’s the stage for you. It ensures that your home is always in the optimal temperature range you have set.

Adjust your Nest thermostat using app settings

Most people prefer to use the Nest app to adjust settings because you don’t have to get off the couch.

1. Open your Nest app.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Locate and tap the thermostat icon.
4. Then touch Heat pump balance.
5. Choose between Maximum savings and Off.

Using the built-in Nest thermostat settings

If you can’t find your phone, you can always make the same changes using your thermostat.

1. Bring out the Quick View menu by pressing the thermostat ring.
2. Then select Settings.
3. Gonna Sense of the nest.
4. Select Heat pump balance.
5. From here, choose between Maximum savings and Off.

How to set lock temperature

Setting the lockout temperature is important if you want to minimize AUX heat usage. You can change it from the Nest app or from your thermostat.

1. Gonna Settings.
2. Now select Equipment.
3. Then select heat pump.
4. Change to the desired value.

External factors that can initiate auxiliary heat

If you live in colder states with harsh winters, the outside temperature can affect your heat pump. If the heat pump freezes, AUX heat will activate more frequently to compensate and raise the temperature to desired levels.

Auxiliary heating can also be started if the pump cannot withstand the outside heat on cold winter nights. If the walls of your home are too cold and your heat pump is not powerful enough, you may need AUX heat to compensate for the degrees.

Important notes on Nest thermostats

You don’t need to connect your Nest thermostat to your Wi-Fi network. It will still function correctly but you will not be able to use or configure the Heat pump balance characteristic.

Sometimes he Heat pump balance This option may be missing from Nest Sense. If that’s the case, you may need to recheck the thermostat wiring.

1. Remove the thermostat screen.
2. Check the cable at the AUX/W2 connector.
3. If no wire is present then you have no AUX heat, meaning the Heat pump balance not available.
4. If the W1 and W2 connectors have wires, it means you are running a dual fuel system. Heat pump balance is not available for this type of system.

Please note that you can still set a lock temperature by following the steps mentioned above: Configuration > Equipment > Heat pump.

Final thoughts

Unless the wiring is turned off, Nest systems rarely give off AUX heat notifications for no reason. If your heating system supports an auxiliary heating function, you will need to make the appropriate settings based on your personal needs and preferences.

Nest Sense gives you full control over your heating system. This means that, with the exception of unfortunate and unforeseen external interference, you can avoid using AUX heat to reach your target temperature all winter long.