When to replace your Nest Protect

Expiry

Why Nest Protect has an expiry date

• Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms expire because their sensors have a limited lifespan. To meet certification standards, the Nest Protect (2nd gen) requires replacement 10 years after the manufacture date.
• Because CO sensors have a limited lifespan, certification standards require Protect to chirp when the sensors expire or fail. To help you remember to replace your Protect before it expires, you'll receive reminders before your Protect's expiry date.
• To ensure continuous protection from smoke and carbon monoxide, make sure that you replace your Nest Protect when it expires.

Important:

• You need to connect your Protect to your Wi-Fi and set it up in the Nest or Google Home app to get app notifications and emails about its expiry.
• Your Protect will still chirp after expiry, even if it’s not connected to the Nest or Home app.

How Nest Protect notifies you before it expires

Protect notifies you in several ways when it needs to be replaced.

The Nest and Home app will notify you ahead of time

You'll receive a push notification on your phone three months, one month and seven days before your Protect expires. You’ll also get a message in the Nest and Home app on those same days.

• Nest app: Tap on the notification or go to the Nest app tap Menu Messages.
• Google Home: Tap on the notification or go to the Home app tap Favourites   Inbox .

Each notification reminds you that your Protect will stop working soon and shows you when it needs to be replaced.

In the app, your Protect displays a yellow ring instead of a green one and shows the message 'Expiring soon'. Tap your Protect in the Nest or Home app for more information.

How Nest Protect lets you know that it’s working

Starting three months before your Protect’s expiry date, days in your Protect’s history turn yellow to indicate that it’s expiring soon. This continues until the Protect expires or is removed from the app.

You'll receive emails on your account address

Nest sends you a reminder email three months and seven days before your Protect expires.

Your Monthly Home Report also notifies you that your Protect is expiring soon and needs to be replaced.

Protect will tell you

Your Protect’s light ring turns yellow when you turn off the lights for the night (Nightly Promise). If you press the Protect button, it will say, 'Heads-Up. Nest Protect will expire in the [name of room]. Replace Nest Protect soon.' Learn more about Nest Protect lights and sounds.

Know when Nest Protect has expired

The Nest app will notify you

When your Protect’s sensors expire, you’ll receive a notification on your phone and a message in the app. To check the message, tap on the notification or go to the Nest app tap Menu Messages.

The Google Home app will notify you

You'll receive a push notification on your phone with the Protect's name and expiry date. To check the message in the Google Home app, go to the Home app tap Favourites Inbox .

A yellow ring appears on your Protect and in the app. When you press the button on your Protect, it also says '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 expiry date appears grey. This continues until Protect is removed from the app.

You'll receive emails on your account address

Nest sends you an email the day that your Protect expires.

Your Monthly Home Report also tells you that Protect has expired.

Protect will tell you

Your Protect chirps continuously after it expires.

Your Protect’s light ring turns yellow when you turn off the lights for the night (Nightly Promise). When you press the Protect button, it will say, 'Heads-up. Nest Protect has expired in the [name of room]. Replace Nest Protect now.'

Learn more about How to replace your Nest Protect after expiry and Nest Protect lights and sounds.

Find Nest Protect's expiry date

Check the status of your Nest Protect and its expiry date.

In the Nest app:

1. On the app home screen, choose your Protect.

2. Select Settings .

3. Tap Technical info. You'll find the expiry date next to 'Replace by'.

In the Google Home app:

1. On the home app screen, choose your Protect.

2. Select Settings .
3. Tap Device information. You'll find the expiry date under Technical information, next to 'Replace by'.

On the back of your Protect:

• Disconnect your Protect from the back plate.
• To remove a battery-powered Protect, turn it anticlockwise until it disconnects from the back plate.
• To remove a wired Protect, first turn off the power at the breaker box. Then, turn Protect anticlockwise until it disconnects from the back plate.

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 sensor has failed

The Nest and Home app will notify you

When your Protect's sensor has been damaged, you'll receive a notification from the Nest or Home app that says the smoke sensor or CO sensor has failed and that you need to replace Nest Protect.

In the Google Nest app

• Tap your Nest Protect. It'll show the latest information about the device.
• If everything is fine, your Protects should be green in the Nest app.
• If there is a problem, like low batteries, the Nest app shows you what's wrong and provides instructions.
  • Battery-powered Protects check in once a day.
  • Wired 120 V Protects check in every 30 minutes.

In the Google Home app

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. Tap Favourites .

• To check the overall status of all the smoke alarms, tap the Smoke alarm tile under 'Categories'. 
• To check the status of each smoke alarm, tap the device from the list.

How Nest Protect lets you know that it’s working

In Protect’s history, days when the smoke sensor or CO sensor fails appear as yellow.

Protect will show you

Your Protect’s light ring turns yellow when you turn off the lights for the night (Nightly Promise). If you press the Protect 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 to clean it. If the notifications stop, you can continue to use your Protect as usual.
• If the notifications continue, you’ll need to replace Protect.

Recycle and replace Nest Protect

To help keep your home safe, you should have your new smoke or CO alarm ready to install straight after you uninstall your old Protect. Learn more about how to replace your Nest Protect after expiry.

Uninstall Nest Protect

Wired	Battery powered
Turn off the power at the breaker box. Turn Protect anticlockwise to disconnect it from its back plate. Unplug the 120 V connector from the back of Protect. Unscrew the back plate.	Turn Protect anticlockwise to disconnect it from its back plate. Unscrew the back plate.

After you uninstall your Protect, follow your new smoke or CO alarm's manual to install it.

Learn how to properly dispose of Nest Protect and remove Nest Protect from your account in the Nest app in our Help Centre.