Oh no, you came home from work and found that you have no heat. Instead of panicking, you do some research on the Poston Brothers site and find that many no heat calls we get are because the thermostat isn’t working. How can you tell if your thermostat is working? Test it! But how do you test a home thermostat? Luckily, the experienced heating and air conditioning system technicians at Poston Brothers are here to walk you through how to test a home thermostat.
Step-by-step Guide for Testing Your Thermostat
Thermostats tend to have a lifespan of around 10 years. That doesn’t mean that your thermostat is going to quit on you the second it turns 10, but like every appliance you buy, it has a limited lifespan. Ten years is also a long time for technology to advance, and recent developments in HVAC technology have created smart thermostats, which you might want to consider replacing your old thermostat with if your current one isn’t working.
But let’s focus on the current issue at hand: testing your thermostat. Follow our steps to test your home’s thermostat. It helps if you have a screwdriver, your camera phone, and a partner to stand by the furnace while you look at the thermostat.
Step 1: Check to See that the Thermostat Is Receiving Power
Is the screen on your thermostat lit up? If not, check your circuit breaker or fuse box to make sure that the HVAC breaker hasn’t been tripped. If it has, flip it back and see if that restores power to your thermostat and HVAC system. Your thermostat might rely on a battery for power, if it does, try changing the battery.
Step 2: Make Sure the Thermostat Is Set to the Proper Settings
It might seem silly, but make sure that your thermostat is not in the off position and that it’s set to the desired setting. If you have no heat, make sure the heat setting is on. Many times, the thermostat setting is overlooked when there is no heat.
Step 3: Turn Up The Heat
If you’ve confirmed that the thermostat is receiving power and is set correctly, but you still have no heat, try initiating the furnace to turn on. This is where your partner comes in. Have them stand by the furnace while you slowly raise the temperature inside. When the furnace burner ignites, it should make a clicking sound. Communicate with your partner if they can hear the furnace turning on.
Step 4: Turn Off The Power to the Furnace
If your furnace isn’t starting up, turn off the HVAC power at the home’s breaker box.
Step 5: Remove the Thermostat Cover
Use a screwdriver to remove the thermostat cover to expose the wiring. If you have a multimeter handy, use it to confirm the thermostat is not receiving power. Located the red and white wires to turn on the air conditioning, and red and white wires to turn on the furnace.
Step 6: Check the Wiring of the Thermostat
Take a picture with your camera phone so you remember which terminals the wires inside were connected to. Make sure the wires are tightly connected to the various terminals. Sometimes loose wires are the issue and you can return power to the furnace and try again.
If tightening the wires to the screws doesn’t work, open the thermostat cover again, remove the wires from the terminals and wrap the wires around each other. Make sure none of the other wires are touching these wires connected to each other.
Step 7: Turn On Power to the Furnace
If the blower turns on and the furnace burner ignites, then the thermostat was improperly connected or the wiring is defective. This means that the thermostat was not sending a signal and the thermostat needs replacing. If the burner does not ignite, check the wires to see if there is a break, otherwise, your furnace needs repairs.
Still No Heat? Call Poston Brothers
Poston Brothers are your Burlington, Kentucky heating and cooling specialists. If you’ve gone through all these steps and are still not able to get your furnace to work, call us right away. We can perform the necessary furnace repairs or replace your thermostat for you. Call us today.