Contact a local HVAC system proĪ trained professional will be able to quickly tell what kind of system you have and identify the wires. This picture will be an essential reference to identify wires and correctly install a Nest thermostat.Ĭheck this article if you need help removing your thermostat's cover. There are several ways to identify your thermostat wires: Take a picture of your current thermostat’s wiringĪlways take a picture of your current thermostat’s wires before you remove it from the wall and install a Nest thermostat. In rare cases, a wire may be in the wrong thermostat connector, which can cause your system to malfunction. In some cases, you’ll need to check your system’s control board to accurately identify the wires. Sometimes a thermostat’s wire connectors have two labels, which can be confusing, or no label at all.
The Nest app and Home app will also let you know if your system is compatible and give you a wiring diagram for installation. Usually, you just remove your thermostat’s cover and enter the wires you find into the compatibility checker. You’ll need to check your current thermostat’s wires to tell if your system is Nest thermostat compatible, and which thermostat models it will work with.