The Programmable Thermostat is Conking Out: What to Do?

Programmable thermostats are one of the most cost efficient ways to reduce your energy consumption. Like any other thermostat though, they can break down once in a while. The good news is that you don’t have to necessarily call a professional technician in to fix it, because there are a few common problems that are easy to fix:

• Are your batteries dead? You don’t have to worry about batteries if your programmable thermostat is hard wired to your HVAC system. If your thermostat won’t come on and it is powered by batteries, replace them and see if that remedies the problem.
• Check for loose connections. Over time wire connections can come apart, especially if the installation was a bit sloppy. Start by turning off the thermostat and its power supply, either the batteries or household electrical supply. Take the cover off the thermostat so the wire connections are visible and fix any loose connections.
• Is the A/C the issue? If your problem is that the A/C won’t turn on, it may not be the thermostat. Test this by setting your thermostat so that the heat should come on, and turn on your furnace if necessary. If the heating comes on, you need a technician to look at the A/C, not the thermostat.
• Repair or replace. These are the most common issues, but far from the only possible ones. If you still haven’t found your problem, either call in a technician to take a look or replace your thermostat with a new one. A new programmable thermostat will clear up most issues.

If you’re having trouble with the HVAC system in your Greater Cleveland area home, contact the experts at Stack Heating, Cooling, Plumbing and Electric.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Cleveland, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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