Expiry
Why Nest Protect has an expiry date
- All carbon monoxide (CO) alarms expire because their sensors have a limited lifespan. To comply with certification standards, 2nd gen Nest Protect has to be replaced after ten years, while 1st gen Nest Protect has to be replaced after seven years.
- Because CO sensors have a limited life expectancy, certification standards require Protect to chirp after its sensors have expired or have failed. To help you remember to replace your Protect before it expires, you’ll be sent reminders long before your Protect’s expiry date.
- You’ll no longer be protected from smoke or carbon monoxide if you don’t replace your Nest Protect when it expires.
Important: To get app notifications and emails about your Protect’s expiry, your Protect needs to be set up in the Nest app and connected to Wi-Fi. Even if your Protect isn’t connected to the app, it will still chirp after it has expired.
How Nest Protect lets you know that it will expire soon
Because your safety is a priority, there are several ways in which Protect will let you know that it needs to be replaced soon.
The Nest app will notify you ahead of time
You'll be sent a push notification to your phone 3 months, one month, and 7 days before your Protect expires. You’ll also get a message in the Nest app on those same days. To view the message, tap on the notification, or go to the Nest app 
Each notification will remind you that your Protect will stop working soon and will show you when it needs to be replaced.
In the app, your Protect will have a yellow ring instead of a green one. It will also say "Expiring soon." Tap your Protect in the Nest app for more information.
How Nest Protect lets you know that it’s working
3 months before your Protect’s expiry date, days in your Protect’s history will begin to appear as yellow and tell you that Protect is expiring soon. This will persist until Protect expires or is removed from the app.
You'll be sent emails to your account address
Nest will send you a reminder email 3 months and one month before your Protect expires.
Your monthly Home Report will also tell you that Protect is expiring soon and will need to be replaced.
Protect will tell you
Your Protect’s light ring will turn yellow when you turn the lights off for the night (Nightly Promise). If you press Protect’s button, it will say 'Heads-Up. Nest Protect will expire in the [name of room]. Replace Nest Protect soon.'
After Nest Protect has expired
The Nest app will notify you
When your Protect’s sensors have expired, you’ll be sent a notification to your phone and a message in the app. To view the message, tap on the notification, or go to the Nest app
In the app, you’ll find a yellow ring on your Protect and the Home ring. Your Protect will also say "Expired." Tap your Protect in the app for more information.
How Nest Protect lets you know that it’s working
In Protect’s history, the day of expiry will appear as grey. This will persist until Protect is removed from the app.
You'll be sent emails to your account address
Nest will send you an email the day that your Protect expires.
Your monthly Home Report will also tell you that Protect has expired.
Protect will tell you
Your Protect will chirp continuously after it has expired.
Protect’s light ring will be yellow when you turn the lights off for the night (Nightly Promise). When you press Protect’s button, it will say 'Heads-Up. Nest Protect has expired in the [name of room]. Replace Nest Protect now.'
Find Nest Protect's expiry date
You can always check the status of your Nest Protect and check its expiry date using the Nest app.
- On the app home screen, tap your Protect.
- Select Settings
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- Tap Technical info. You’ll find the expiry date next to "Replace by."
.You can also check the replacement date on the back of your Protect. To do this, you’ll need to disconnect your Protect from the backplate.
- To remove a battery-powered Protect, turn Protect counterclockwise until it disconnects from its backplate.
- To remove a wired Protect, first turn off the power to it at the breaker box. Then, turn Protect counterclockwise until it disconnects from its backplate.
Sensor damage
Things that can damage Nest Protect's sensors
Like other electronic devices, Protect’s sensors can be damaged by:
- A significant incident, such as a building fire or flood
- Detergent or cleaning solvents (such as glass cleaner)
- Other chemicals including paint, air fresheners, hair spray, other aerosols or vehicle exhaust
- Open flames
How Nest Protect lets you know that its sensors have failed
The Nest app will notify you
When your Protect’s sensor has been damaged, you’ll be sent a notification from the app that says that the smoke sensor or carbon monoxide sensor has failed, and that you’ll need to replace Nest Protect.
You tap your Protect in the app for more information.
How Nest Protect lets you know that it’s working
In Protect’s history, days when the smoke sensor or carbon monoxide sensor fail will appear as yellow
Protect will show you
Protect’s light ring will be yellow when you turn the lights off for the night (Nightly Promise). If you press Protect’s button, it will say: 'The sensors have failed in the [name of room]. Replace Nest Protect now.'
What to do if Nest Protect's sensors have failed
If there hasn’t been a major incident like a fire, Protect’s smoke chamber may simply have excessive dust in it. Try cleaning it. If the notifications stop, you can continue using your Protect as usual.
If the notifications continue, you’ll need to replace Protect.
Recycle and replace Nest Protect
Tip: To help keep your home safe, you should have your new smoke or CO alarm ready to install straight after uninstalling your old Protect.
Uninstall Nest Protect
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Wired
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Battery powered
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After you uninstall your Protect, follow your new smoke or CO alarm's manual to install it. You can find instructions on how to install Nest Protect in our Help Centre.
You can also find out how to properly dispose of Nest Protect and remove Nest Protect from your account in the Nest app in our Help Centre.