What the light, symbol or code on your thermostat means: Nest, Hive, Honeywell, ecobee, tado, Wiser and Sensi
71 documented states on 7 makers’ thermostats, each from the maker’s own help site, covering 84 code numbers. On a Nest, E73 means the heating and cooling system has stopped powering the thermostat; N72 means one wire is getting less power than expected, and Google says you can often dismiss it. On Hive the lights that matter are on the receiver by the boiler: solid red there means it has lost the thermostat. A blinking “Cool On” on a Honeywell is a five-minute compressor delay, not a fault. So pick the maker and what you see, or type the code.
Find it by what you see
71 states.
- Nest E73 (also E3, E4, E23, E24, E74, E195): power errorYour heating and cooling system has stopped sending power to the thermostat.
- Nest Any E code (E1 to E452): critical faultE codes are critical and must be fixed as soon as possible: the thermostat will not let you control heating or cooling, and the message will not go away until the cause has been fixed.
- Nest N72 and other N codes: low power to the thermostatOne of the wires in your thermostat is receiving power, but less power than expected.
- Nest M6 or N412: your system needs maintenanceThere is a problem with your heating and cooling system itself, not the thermostat.
- Nest W1: can’t stay connected to Wi-FiThe thermostat can’t stay connected to your Wi-Fi network.
- Nest W2: Failed to connect (router security)Failed to connect: your Wi-Fi router may have security settings turned on that stop the thermostat connecting.
- Nest W3 or W4: Failed to connect (no IP address or no internet)Failed to connect.
- Nest W5: can’t connect to Wi-Fi (possible hardware fault)The thermostat can’t connect to Wi-Fi.
- Nest H1, H71 or H151: can’t reach the Heat LinkThe thermostat can’t connect to your Heat Link to control your heating.
- Nest H2, H72 or H152: the thermostat lost powerYour thermostat has lost power.
- Nest H73 or H153: OpenTherm not detectedThe thermostat can’t detect your heating system’s OpenTherm connection.
- Nest H155: Heat Link went offline, batteries lowYour Heat Link went offline when its batteries were low.
- Nest H156: OpenTherm available but not selectedYour system is wired for and compatible with OpenTherm, but the OpenTherm option wasn’t selected during setup.
- Nest H157 or H158: Heat Link removed from the appH157: the Heat Link has been removed from the app.
- Hive Receiver status light solid greenThe receiver is connected to both the Hive Hub and the thermostat.
- Hive Receiver status light solid redThe receiver has lost its connection to the thermostat.
- Hive No status light on the receiverThe receiver has no power.
- Hive Receiver double amber flashThe receiver is searching for your Hive Hub.
- Hive Receiver single amber flashThe receiver has found the hub and is now ready to pair with the thermostat.
- Hive Receiver status light solid amberThe receiver timed out of pairing mode.
- Hive Receiver single pink or white flashThe receiver is searching for a thermostat to go into standalone mode.
- Hive ‘No Signal’ on the thermostatThe thermostat has lost its connection to the receiver.
- Honeywell “Cool On” or the snowflake blinkingThe thermostat’s built-in delay of up to five minutes.
- Honeywell “Heat On” or the flame blinkingHoneywell Home gives the same answer for a blinking “Heat On” or flame as for “Cool On”: the thermostat has a built-in 5-minute delay to protect your equipment.
- Honeywell “Wait” or “Waiting for Equipment”The compressor protection is on: the thermostat is holding the heat pump or air conditioner off for a few minutes so it restarts safely.
- Honeywell Blank displayNothing on the screen: the thermostat has no power from the system or its batteries.
- Honeywell Alert code 164: heat pump problemThe L terminal is energized at the equipment: the heat pump is telling the thermostat there is a problem with the heat pump.
- Honeywell Alert code 170: memory failureMemory failure in the thermostat.
- Honeywell Alert code 171: set the date and timeA reminder to set the date and time.
- Honeywell Alert code 173: internal sensor failureAn alert to replace the thermostat because its internal sensor has failed.
- Honeywell Alert code 177 or 178: wired sensor readingAn invalid reading from a wired indoor sensor (177) or a wired outdoor sensor (178).
- Honeywell Alert code 181 or 182: replace filterA replace-filter reminder: 181 for filter 1, 182 for filter 2.
- Honeywell BATT with code 405: low batteryLow battery: replace the AA batteries.
- Honeywell Only BATT on the screen, code 407: critically low batteryCritically low battery: only BATT, the alert icon and the battery icon are shown.
- ecobee “Calibrating”, or the thermostat keeps rebootingThe thermostat lost power and restarted.
- ecobee Flame icon orange, or an orange line around the edgeThe thermostat is asking the heating to run.
- ecobee Flame icon white (not heating)The thermostat is not currently trying to run the heating.
- ecobee Flame icon with an exclamation markAuxiliary heat has been temporarily disabled to save on energy costs.
- ecobee Snowflake icon blue, or a blue ring around the edgeThe thermostat is actively calling for a cooling cycle to run.
- ecobee Snowflake icon white (not cooling)The thermostat is not currently trying to run the cooling.
- ecobee Half flame, half snowflake iconThe thermostat is in Auto mode (the flame alone is Heat mode, the snowflake alone is Cool mode).
- ecobee Furnace Filter reminderIt is time to clean or replace your furnace filter.
- ecobee Low Temp AlertThe temperature in the home has fallen below the level you set.
- ecobee High Temp AlertThe temperature in the home has risen above the level you set.
- ecobee Aux Heat Runtime AlertThe auxiliary heat source has run for more than the set amount of time in 24 hours (3 hours by default).
- tado Low battery symbolThe batteries are running low and need to be replaced.
- tado Depleted battery symbolThe batteries are depleted and need to be replaced.
- tado Firmware update symbolThe device is updating to a new firmware version.
- tado Synchronizing symbolChanges made to tado° have not yet been synced to the device.
- tado Legionnaires’ disease protection symbolThe boiler is firing to disinfect the hot water (Legionnaires’ disease protection).
- tado E0: pairing failedPairing failed during installation.
- tado E10: wiring does not match the setupThe wiring on tado° does not match the way it is set up to control your heating.
- tado Wireless Receiver: all lights offThe Wireless Receiver is not supplied with power.
- tado Wireless Receiver: connection or pairing light blinkingThe Wireless Receiver is in pairing mode.
- tado Wireless Receiver: error triangle light onYou may be having connectivity issues.
- tado Wireless Receiver: heat light on or fadingtado° is requesting heat (or, on the UK receiver, hot water).
- tado Radiator thermostat E1: valve closed position not foundCalibration failed: the closed position of the valve was not detected.
- tado Radiator thermostat E2: no contact with the valve pinCalibration failed: no contact was detected between the motor and the valve pin.
- tado Radiator thermostat E4: valve travel too shortCalibration failed: the distance between the valve’s open and closed positions is too short, which can mean the valve is blocked by calcification (limescale).
- Wiser Solid red for 1 second, once an hourBattery low: replace the batteries soon.
- Wiser Red flashing for 5 seconds every minuteThe batteries are critically low: replace them immediately.
- Wiser Blue flashingThe thermostat is recalibrating on the valve: the motor drives briefly to find its position.
- Wiser Red flashing while you hold the cap at minusThe thermostat has entered reset mode.
- Wiser All three lights flash onceConfirmation that the thermostat is factory resetting.
- Sensi No Wi-Fi icon in the top-left cornerThe thermostat’s Wi-Fi radio is off.
- Sensi An X icon, or “Not connected to network”The thermostat can’t connect to your home Wi-Fi network.
- Sensi Flashing X next to the Wi-Fi icon (Sensi Lite)Sensi says the problem is likely system compatibility or the C wire: when the thermostat finds it is outside its compatibility requirements it may turn the Wi-Fi off for a while to save battery, so it goes offline often.
- Sensi “Set To” temperature flashingA/C Protection is on: there is a 5-minute delay before the thermostat turns on the air conditioner or heat pump after a call for cooling, to prevent damage when cooling is turned off and on quickly.
- Sensi Padlock iconKeypad Lockout is on: the thermostat’s buttons are disabled so the set points and settings can’t be changed on the wall; the Sensi app still controls it.
- Sensi Solid white or partial displaySensi ties a solid white or partial display to the “C” wire connection: the thermostat needs 20 to 30 VAC from the system.
- Sensi Smart Alert: Loss of CoolingAn app alert that the home is not cooling.
Nothing matches all of those. Try “Any” on one choice, or type just the code: makers word the same thing differently (amber on one is orange on another), and a Nest code shares its number with other generations.
Codes: type the code as it appears (E73, N72, W5, H1, 181, E0). A Nest code starting with E also brings up the general E-code page, since every E code is critical. Where a maker names a light but not its colour, it matches any colour you pick.
The same symbol, different meanings
Symbols that more than one maker draws, each for its own thing. A snowflake or flame on a boiler’s own panel is different again, and has its own page.
| Symbol | What it means, by maker |
|---|---|
| snowflake |
|
| flame |
|
By maker
- Google Nest thermostat14 states
- E73 (also E3, E4, E23, E24, E74, E195): power error
- Any E code (E1 to E452): critical fault
- N72 and other N codes: low power to the thermostat
- M6 or N412: your system needs maintenance
- W1: can’t stay connected to Wi-Fi
- W2: Failed to connect (router security)
- W3 or W4: Failed to connect (no IP address or no internet)
- W5: can’t connect to Wi-Fi (possible hardware fault)
- H1, H71 or H151: can’t reach the Heat Link
- H2, H72 or H152: the thermostat lost power
- H73 or H153: OpenTherm not detected
- H155: Heat Link went offline, batteries low
- H156: OpenTherm available but not selected
- H157 or H158: Heat Link removed from the app
- Hive thermostat and receiver8 states
- Honeywell Home thermostat12 states
- “Cool On” or the snowflake blinking
- “Heat On” or the flame blinking
- “Wait” or “Waiting for Equipment”
- Blank display
- Alert code 164: heat pump problem
- Alert code 170: memory failure
- Alert code 171: set the date and time
- Alert code 173: internal sensor failure
- Alert code 177 or 178: wired sensor reading
- Alert code 181 or 182: replace filter
- BATT with code 405: low battery
- Only BATT on the screen, code 407: critically low battery
- ecobee smart thermostat11 states
- “Calibrating”, or the thermostat keeps rebooting
- Flame icon orange, or an orange line around the edge
- Flame icon white (not heating)
- Flame icon with an exclamation mark
- Snowflake icon blue, or a blue ring around the edge
- Snowflake icon white (not cooling)
- Half flame, half snowflake icon
- Furnace Filter reminder
- Low Temp Alert
- High Temp Alert
- Aux Heat Runtime Alert
- tado° smart thermostat14 states
- Low battery symbol
- Depleted battery symbol
- Firmware update symbol
- Synchronizing symbol
- Legionnaires’ disease protection symbol
- E0: pairing failed
- E10: wiring does not match the setup
- Wireless Receiver: all lights off
- Wireless Receiver: connection or pairing light blinking
- Wireless Receiver: error triangle light on
- Wireless Receiver: heat light on or fading
- Radiator thermostat E1: valve closed position not found
- Radiator thermostat E2: no contact with the valve pin
- Radiator thermostat E4: valve travel too short
- Drayton Wiser radiator thermostat5 states
- Sensi smart thermostat7 states
What these pages cannot do
- They cannot see your system. A code says what the thermostat detected; the fault may be in the boiler, furnace, air conditioner or wiring behind it.
- They cannot tell generations apart by number. Google gives the same fault a different code on each Nest generation, and tado° uses E1 for a radiator valve problem while Google uses E1 for something else.
- They give no wiring advice. 15 of these states are about wiring, the C wire or power; on those pages only the maker’s own instruction is repeated, with its own line about calling a professional where it gives one.
- When the maker ties a state to the boiler, the boiler’s own panel symbols are on the boiler symbols page; when it blames Wi-Fi, the router’s lights are on router and broadband hub lights.
Left out, and why
A maker gets pages when its own help site documents at least 5 thermostat states and we could read them. All 7 makers above did. These were not used:
- Drayton Wiser Room Thermostat and HubR lights — Drayton’s Wiser Thermostat and Multi-zone Kits guide (a PDF on draytoncontrols.co.uk) refused our fetch (HTTP 403), and the Wiser user guide linked from wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk has moved (HTTP 404). No other Drayton page we could read lists the room thermostat’s lights, so only the Radiator Thermostat is covered. www.draytoncontrols.co.uk Checked 2026-09-29.
- Hive community article on the red receiver light — Hive’s community copy of “What to do if your Hive Receiver has a red status light” answered “Service Not Available” (HTTP 503). The red light is covered from Hive’s support site instead, which gives the meaning but no separate steps. community.hivehome.com Checked 2026-09-29.
Sources
Each maker’s own help pages only, read on the date shown.
Google Nest thermostat
- Google Nest Help: Troubleshoot Nest thermostat help codes — Nest Learning Thermostat (1st to 4th gen), Nest Thermostat E and Nest Thermostat; H codes only where a Heat Link is installed. support.google.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Google Nest Help: Troubleshoot a Nest thermostat W5 code — Nest thermostats with a ring (Quick View menu). support.google.com Checked 2026-09-29.
Hive thermostat and receiver
- Hive Support: Step-by-Step Guide to Reconnecting Your Hive Heating Devices — Hive single- and dual-channel receivers with the Hive 2 Thermostat, Hive Thermostat Mini and Hive 1 thermostat. support.hivehome.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Hive Support: No Heating or Hot Water Troubleshooting — Hive single- and dual-channel receivers. support.hivehome.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Hive Support: What to Do if Your Hive Thermostat Displays a ‘No Signal’ Message — Newer Hive thermostats, including the touch-screen models and the Hive Thermostat Mini. support.hivehome.com Checked 2026-09-29.
Honeywell Home thermostat
- Honeywell Home Support: Why is my thermostat display showing “wait,” “waiting for equipment,” or flashing “cool on”? — Honeywell Home thermostats (each model words the delay differently). www.honeywellhome.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Honeywell Home Support: Why is the “Cool On,” “Heat On,” “Snowflake,” or “Flame” blinking on the thermostat display? — Honeywell Home programmable thermostats, filed under the Wireless 5-1-1 Day Programmable. www.honeywellhome.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Honeywell Home (Resideo) documentation: Troubleshooting and Support — FocusPRO P200 & S200 Series Thermostats Installation Manual — FocusPRO P200 and S200 series. docs.honeywellhome.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Honeywell Home (Resideo) documentation: 7. Alerts and Reminders — T6 Pro Installation Manual — T6 Pro thermostats (codes 177 and 178 not on the TH6210U). docs.honeywellhome.com Checked 2026-09-29.
ecobee smart thermostat
- ecobee Support: Why is my ecobee thermostat rebooting? — ecobee smart thermostats (powered by the HVAC system’s 24 VAC supply). support.ecobee.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- ecobee Support: Heating: Basics and FAQ — ecobee smart thermostats, including Smart Thermostat Lite and Essential. support.ecobee.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- ecobee Support: Cooling: Basics and FAQ — ecobee smart thermostats, including Smart Thermostat Lite and Essential. support.ecobee.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- ecobee Support: What does it mean when the flame icon on my ecobee Thermostat shows an exclamation mark? — ecobee thermostats controlling a heat pump with auxiliary heat. support.ecobee.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- ecobee Support: How to set Reminders & Alerts on your ecobee thermostat — ecobee smart thermostats, including Smart Thermostat Lite and Essential. support.ecobee.com Checked 2026-09-29.
tado° smart thermostat
- tado° Help Center: What do the symbols on the Smart Thermostat or Wireless Temperature Sensor user interface mean? — tado° Smart Thermostat and Wireless Temperature Sensor (V3+ and earlier). support.tado.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- tado° Help Center: What do the LEDs and blinking states on the Wireless Receiver mean? — tado° Wireless Receiver: the UK Programmer with Hot Water Control and the EU version. support.tado.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- tado° Help Center: My Smart Thermostat or Wireless Temperature Sensor shows an E0 error. How can I fix this? — tado° Smart Thermostat and Wireless Temperature Sensor. support.tado.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- tado° Help Center: My Smart Thermostat/Wireless Temperature Sensor Shows an E10 error. What does this mean and what can I do? — tado° Smart Thermostat and Wireless Temperature Sensor. support.tado.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- tado° Help Center: My Smart Radiator Thermostat displays an E1, E2 or E4 error. How can I fix this? — tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat, including the Basic. support.tado.com Checked 2026-09-29.
Drayton Wiser radiator thermostat
- Drayton Wiser: How to Change Batteries in Wiser's Smart Radiator Thermostat — Wiser Radiator Thermostat. wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk Checked 2026-09-29.
- Drayton Wiser: How to Factory Reset a Wiser Radiator Thermostat — Wiser Radiator Thermostat. wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk Checked 2026-09-29.
Sensi smart thermostat
- Sensi Support (Copeland): Why is there no Wi-Fi icon on my thermostat? — Sensi smart thermostat and Sensi Lite. sensi.copeland.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Sensi Support (Copeland): Sensi is not connected to your home network — Sensi thermostats. sensi.copeland.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Sensi Support (Copeland): A/C Protection — Sensi Smart, Touch, Touch 2 and Lite. sensi.copeland.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Sensi Support (Copeland): What is keypad lockout and how do I use it? — Sensi thermostats. sensi.copeland.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Sensi Support (Copeland): Troubleshooting Sensi thermostat with a frozen display — Sensi Smart, Lite, Touch and Touch 2. sensi.copeland.com Checked 2026-09-29.
- Sensi Support (Copeland): Smart Alert: Loss of Cooling — Sensi thermostats with Smart Alerts in the app. sensi.copeland.com Checked 2026-09-29.