Learn about Heat Link for Nest thermostats in Europe

If you use a Google Nest thermostat in Europe, your device comes with a Heat Link that connects to your heating system. It’s controlled by your Nest thermostat, and allows you to start and stop your heating.

Each Nest thermostat model comes with its own unique Heat Link. You can find which Heat Link model matches your thermostat here:

Nest Thermostat E	3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat	2nd generation Nest Learning Thermostat

How the Heat Link works with Nest thermostat

Your Nest thermostat and Heat Link work together so that you can heat your home to your desired temperature at the time you want:

You can place your Nest thermostat in the most comfortable place for you, and you can connect it wirelessly to the Heat Link.
Your Nest thermostat lets you set a schedule with specific times and temperatures. You can also turn your thermostat’s dial to select a new temperature any time you like.
Your thermostat senses the ambient temperature in your home. It can also take other factors into account, such as the current weather and how long your home usually takes to heat up and cool down.
To keep your home at the temperature you set, your thermostat will automatically turn heating on and off by sending a signal to Heat Link.

Installing Heat Link

Can I install a Nest thermostat without using a Heat Link?

No, Nest thermostats for the EU only work with Heat Link. It’s the main device that tells your heating system to turn on or off.

Can I connect a Nest thermostat directly to my boiler using existing thermostat wires?

No, the thermostat cannot be wired directly to your heating system.

Since you use Heat Link to control your heating, you can put the thermostat where you’d like. If you don’t have thermostat wires in the wall or if your former thermostat was poorly placed, you can still install your Nest thermostat in a convenient place.

Learn where you can install your Nest thermostat.

Using Heat Link

How is Heat Link different from a programmer?

While Heat Link and a programmer both control your heating system, they aren’t the same.

A programmer is a stand-alone device that turns your heating system on or off. Some programmers include a schedule, but this schedule is not based on the temperatures you want. It can only turn the heat off during the times that you’ve selected.

Your Heat Link lets you heat your home to the temperature you want, when you want. Heat Link replaces either your programmer (for 2nd or 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat) or your existing thermostat (for Nest Thermostat E). Working together, Heat Link and your Nest thermostat combine the functionality of a thermostat and a programmer, so you no longer need a programmer.

Can I use Heat Link to turn on the heat instead of Nest thermostat?

Yes, Heat Link includes a button you can press to turn heating on and off manually.

We don’t recommend using Heat Link to manually control heating unless there is a problem, for example, if your Nest thermostat loses its connection with Heat Link.

For more information about manually controlling your system with Heat Link, visit the following article:

How to turn manual heating on or off with Heat Link.

Differences between Heat Link models

The basic operation and use of the different versions of Heat Link are nearly identical, but there are some differences.

How to tell which Nest thermostat and Heat Link you have.

The following table shows the differences between Heat Link models. All other features are essentially the same.

	Heat Link for Nest Thermostat E	Heat Link for 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat	Heat Link for 2nd gen Nest Learning Thermostat

Hot water control for a system boiler with separate hot water tank	-	✔	-
Hot water control for a combi boiler	✔	✔	-
Built-in temperature sensor	✔	-	-
Compatible with OpenTherm	✔	✔	-
Uses replaceable batteries	✔	-	-
Number of status lights	2	3	1
Connection to Nest thermostat	Wireless	Wireless or wired	Wireless or wired
Location	Replaces the existing thermostat on your wall	Near your heating system	Near your heating system
Installation	DIY or Nest Pro	Nest Pro	Nest Pro

Learn how your thermostat communicates with the Heat Link

Your Heat Link and thermostat can communicate wirelessly or through a wired connection. This feature varies based on your thermostat model, your system type, and how you’ve installed your thermostat.

The Heat Link doesn’t use your Wi-Fi router or network, instead, it uses a wireless mesh network called Thread to directly communicate with your thermostat. Learn more about Thread networks.

The Thread connection is used to send commands from your thermostat to the Heat Link like changing the temperature and turning hot water on or off. It’s also used for to send software updates to the Heat Link.

In addition, the Heat Link reports the temperature it senses to your thermostat. For instance, your Heat Link in the hallway may sense a slightly lower temperature than your thermostat in your living room. Tap on your thermostat in the app to see the temperatures that your Heat Link and thermostat are currently reporting.

Nest Thermostat E

The Nest Thermostat E exclusively uses a wireless Thread connection to Heat Link. There is no way to directly wire it to the Heat Link.

This is because the thermostat comes with an integrated stand and isn’t designed to be mounted in place of your old thermostat. Instead, the Nest Thermostat E’s Heat Link is mounted where your old thermostat was, and is connected to the thermostat wires.

Nest Learning Thermostat

You have two options for Nest Learning Thermostat installation:

Place it on the Nest stand: Your thermostat will only use the wireless Thread network to communicate with the Heat Link.
Place it on the wall and connect it to your old thermostat's wired: It will use both the wires and wireless Thread to communicate with the Heat Link.

How to set up and control your Heat Link for Nest Thermostat E

Set up your Heat Link

If you have a Nest Thermostat E, you can set up your Heat Link settings from the Google Home app.

Open the Google Home app .
Tap Favorites or Devices your thermostat.
Tap Settings Heat Link. If there’s no Heat Link connected to your device, pair your Heat Link to your thermostat.
- You can control your Heat Link automatically or manually. Manual mode lets you control the temperature of your Heat Link. To switch off manual heat, tap Turn off Turn off. You can turn on manual heating at the Heat Link until a connection with the app is established. Manual mode can later be disabled from the app.