Honeywell Thermostat Not Working – Reasons & Solutions

876

If your Honeywell thermostat is not working, there could be several reasons why it is not functioning properly. Here are some common reasons and their solutions:

1. Dead Batteries: The first thing you should check is the thermostat batteries. If they are dead, replace them with new ones.
2. Thermostat not receiving power: Make sure that the thermostat is receiving power. Check the circuit breaker, fuse box, or any other source of power.
3. Incorrect wiring: If the thermostat is wired incorrectly, it may not work correctly. Double-check the wiring to ensure that it is correct.
4. Dirty or faulty components: Sometimes, dirty or faulty components can cause the thermostat to malfunction. Clean any dirty parts and replace any faulty components.
5. Incorrect settings: Ensure that the thermostat settings are correct. If they are not, reset the thermostat to the correct settings.
6. Software or firmware issues: Sometimes, software or firmware issues can cause the thermostat to stop working. In this case, you may need to update the software or firmware.
7. Thermostat location: The location of the thermostat can also affect its performance. Ensure that it is installed in a suitable location.

Read on to dive in all of these reasons and solutions in greater details.

How Do I Fix an Unresponsive Honeywell Thermostat?

Try the following solutions to fix an unresponsive Honeywell thermostat.

Change the Batteries

Software bugs may cause the Honeywell thermostat not to respond. Removing the battery rests the system settings to their default state, solving any software bug problems. 

Follow the guide below to remove your Honeywell thermostat battery.

1. Unplug all wires from the thermostat.
2. Remove the thermostat from the wall plate.
3. Now remove the batteries.
4. Leave it for about five minutes before replacing the batteries.
5. Reconnect all wires. 
6. Turn on your thermostat.

 

Check for Any Power Disruptions

If you change your batteries and the thermostat won’t respond, try checking for power disruptions. 

Check to see if any wire is broken—broken wires won’t supply power; thus, the thermostat won’t respond. 

Also, check to ensure that the furnace cabinet doors or the air handler doors are closed. The HVAC system will stop working if left open or not closed properly.

Related: Honeywell Home T9 Vs. Nest Vs. ecobee 4 Smart Thermostats

 

Is There a Reset Button on a Honeywell Thermostat?

Yes, there is a reset button on the Honeywell thermostat.

To reset your Honeywell Thermostat, follow the steps below. 

1. Ensure your thermostat is on. 
2. Now, press and hold the menu button for about five seconds. 
3. Scroll leftwards and click on the Reset tab. 
4. Select Factory.
5. Select Yes on the “Are you sure” prompt message on the screen.
6. You’re good to go.

 

Alternatively, you can manually reset your Honeywell thermostat using the steps below. 

1. Turn off your thermostat.
2. Flip the circuit breaker. 
3. Go to the breaker panel and turn off the appropriate breaker. Let it be for at least 30 seconds.
4. Turn the breaker back on.
5. Turn on your thermostat. 
6. You’re good to go.

Related: Ultimate Review Of Best Smart WiFi Thermostats in 2023

 

How Do I Fix an Unresponsive Thermostat?

Use the solutions below to fix an unresponsive thermostat.

Change Batteries

If your unit does require batteries, replacing them is easy. If your screen looks dim or goes blank, don’t get worried until you replace the batteries. Here’s how to do it.

1. Plug off the faceplate of your thermostat.
2. Now, remove the batteries. Be sure to confirm their sizes.
3. Get new batteries of the same size and install them on the thermostat battery compartment.
4. Return the faceplate into position.

 

Check Circuit Breaker

If your thermostat has a tripped circuit breaker, it won’t supply power. Therefore, the thermostat won’t respond.

Locate the breaker box and find the breaker for your thermostat. After getting it, switch it off and back on and see if the thermostat starts responding.

 

Check Thermostat Programming

Programming errors may cause a thermostat not to work appropriately. Programming a thermostat may be challenging. So, check on the owner’s manual to see if it is programmed correctly. If not, follow the instructions provided in the manual to set your controls correctly. 

 

Check the Furnace Switch

The heating system or air conditioner may cause your thermostat not to work correctly when faulty. Therefore, check the furnace switch to ensure it is on to supply power to the thermostat. If the switch is off, turn it on. 

Ensure the Air Flow Is Adequate

Airflow affects the efficiency of the heating and cooling systems of your thermostat. If there is insufficient airflow, the thermostat may stop working. 

Open closed vents and unblock blocked vents to facilitate enough airflow. Also, remove any obstacles around the thermostat that may obstruct free air circulation.

Related: What are RH and RC on Thermostats? (Simple Answer!)

  

How Do I Know if My Honeywell Thermostat Is Faulty?

The following signs should show you that your Honeywell thermostat is faulty. 

• AC or furnace won’t turn on

A heater or air conditioner that fails to turn on indicates a faulty thermostat. Primarily, this problem results from broken or loose wires between the thermostat and the HVAC unit. 

• AC or heater won’t turn off

Unsurprisingly, a faulty thermostat may cause the AC or the heater to work non-stop without turning off. If your thermostat works non-stop for an extended period, flip the switch off. If it continues running, then it is incorrectly connected or wrongly programmed. 

 

• The thermostat reading doesn’t correspond with the room temperature 

A normal thermostat should usually show the accurate room temperature on its screen. However, a faulty one will display the incorrect room temperature. 

• The thermostat has no power

A dead screen signifies no power supply. Typically, the thermostat screen should be on and display the current room temperature and the programmed schedule. However, if the screen is dark, it might signify old batteries or a different thermostat problem.

 

• The thermostat doesn’t respond

A typical working thermostat should respond immediately when you adjust settings. Usually, you should hear a clicking sound followed by ductwork action. If you move closer to the vent and hear or feel nothing, the thermostat isn’t responding and might be damaged. 

• Short Cycling

Short cycling happens when a thermostat HVAC system shuts down before the cooling or heating cycle is over. This feature will cause the house to feel uncomfortable as the desired temperature is far from reach. 

Be warned that your electricity bill will increase significantly if your thermostat develops this problem.

• The thermostat skips programmed schedules

A programmable thermostat should respond according to your respective schedule. Something is wrong if you notice that your thermostat fails to respond to the schedules accordingly.

  

Honeywell Thermostat Display Not Working

If your Honeywell thermostat display fails to work, you may need to reset it. 

Follow the procedure below to reset the thermostat. 

1. Make sure your thermostat is on.
2. Press and hold the menu button for about five seconds. 
3. Scroll leftwards and click on the Reset tab. 
4. Select Factory.
5. Select Yes on the “Are you sure” prompt message that pops up on the screen  
6. You have successfully reset your thermostat. 

 

Honeywell Thermostat Not Turning On AC

If your Honeywell thermostat fails to turn your AC, try the following fixes.

• Reset your thermostat
• Replace the batteries
• Check the wiring
• Clean the thermostat’s air filter

Also:

• Set the thermostat to cool mode
• Then set the temperature to low

 

Honeywell Thermostat Not Working No Batteries

You should know that your Honeywell thermostat will still work even after you remove the batteries—the thermostat will rely on AC power. However, it will display a LOW BATTERY alert. Shortly after the alert low battery display fades off, the display will turn black, and the thermostat will stop working. 

If your no-battery thermostat fails to work, try resetting it manually. To do so, follow the steps below. 

1. Turn off your thermostat.
2. Flip the circuit breaker. 
3. Go to the breaker panel and turn off the appropriate breaker. Let it be for 30 seconds. 
4. Turn the breaker back on.
5. Turn on your thermostat.

 

Honeywell Thermostat Reset

Follow the steps below to reset your Honeywell thermostat.

1. Turn off your Honeywell thermostat.
2. Remove all batteries.
3. Return the batteries, but this time, in the wrong way. That is positive to negative and vice versa.
4. Leave them in that position for about ten seconds. 
5. Remove the batteries and put them in their correct order. 
6. The thermostat will reset to factory settings. 
7. Program back your thermostat to the regular schedule.

  

This reset procedure is for battery-powered Honeywell thermostats. For hardwired programmable thermostats, use the procedure below. 

1. Turn off the thermostat.
2. Remove the thermostat from its wall plate. 
3. Detach and open the battery compartment to remove the batteries.
4. Return the batteries, but this time, put the negative lead into the positive terminal
5. Wait for about five to ten seconds. 
6. Remove the batteries and insert them in their correct order. 
7. Reinstate the thermostat in its position.
8. Power the thermostat on, and you’re good to go. 

 

Honeywell Thermostat Not Working On Auto

Follow the guide below to fix a Honeywell thermostat not working on auto-mode.

1. Reboot your thermostat.
2. Confirm if you have enabled heating.
3. Enable the fan auto feature.

After performing this procedure, you’ll need to factory reset if the thermostat fails to work on auto.

 

Honeywell Thermostat Won’t Change Temperature

If your Honeywell thermostat doesn’t change temperature, try the following fix.

1. Reboot your thermostat. 
2. Disconnect the thermostat from the power source.
3. Leave it for about twenty seconds. 
4. Turn the thermostat back on.

 

Old Honeywell Thermostat Not Working

Old Honeywell thermostats tend to stop working. If you experience this problem with your old Honeywell thermostat, you may need to change the batteries. However, if the thermostat won’t work after changing the batteries, inspect your circuit breaker and wire connections—ensure all of them are correctly plugged in and not broken. Your last option should be a hard reset if all other fixes prove ineffective. 

Note that your thermostats don’t have a specific lifespan. Therefore, it can age anytime, and components may begin to malfunction. Expect this to be after about ten years of use.

 

Honeywell Thermostat Not Turning On Heat

If your Honeywell thermostat fails to turn on the heat, the sensors might be faulty. Otherwise, it might be tripped circuit breakers or incorrect installation.

You can solve this issue through a hard reset.

Sharing is caring!