According to a report from The Verge, Nest’s doorbells stopped working in cold weather. Google has yet to release a statement on the matter. Nest’s doorbells are one of the company’s most popular products, and it seems that they may not be as reliable in cold weather as they are in warmer climates. This is likely due to the fact that the devices need to be kept warm in order to work properly. It’s not clear how widespread this issue is, but it’s definitely something that people should be aware of if they live in a colder climate. If your doorbell doesn’t work in cold weather, you can try warming it up before using it or contacting Google for help. ..
“At temperatures below freezing, the lithium-ion battery in your Google Nest camera or doorbell won’t be able to charge. Many devices, including popular models of doorbell cameras and cell phones, use lithium-ion batteries for their high power and long life, but these batteries are also affected by temperatures below freezing,” reads Google’s support page.
This seems like a bit of an oversight by Google, as a large portion of the population lives in places that routinely see temperatures below 32 degrees. For a device that’s designed to be left outside all year, not charging in the cold really limits its functionality.
Important to note is that the doorbells won’t receive power even when plugged in when in temperatures below freezing. That’s because it’s still not a wired device but rather a wireless device that needs to receive a trickle charge to work.
Thankfully, there are other smart doorbells you can use outside of the Google Nest if you want one that’ll work in the cold. For example, Ring doorbells have removable batteries, which allow you to bring the battery inside to charge while another battery powers the device.
If you live somewhere warm, this shouldn’t be an issue for you, but if you live in a cold climate, you should definitely avoid the Nest Doorbells (Battery) and Nest Camera (Battery) unless you want to bring them inside to charge them.
