Increased energy bills: A low battery in your thermostat can decrease the efficiency of your HVAC system, and you might see higher energy bills as a result. Inaccurate temperature readings: A thermostat with low batteries may struggle to read the room temperature correctly, reading to discomfort and wasted energy.
Low batteries in your thermostat can indeed disrupt your comfort by losing stored settings and hampering the ability to control your HVAC system. Without adequate power, thermostats can fail to maintain desired temperatures, resulting in increased energy bills and discomfort.
The most obvious sign that you need to change your thermostat batteries is when the thermostat literally tells you the batteries are about to die! Most programmable models will now flash a low battery warning, usually about a month or two before the battery completely dies.
The battery in the thermometer is almost consumed. If batteries are low on power, the display may show errors.
To reset a non-programmable digital thermostat, you'll need to take the face-off and hold the reset button for five seconds. You can also try removing the batteries for five seconds. Both of these methods should result in a reset thermostat.
When low batteries eventually die, you'll see a black display screen, the thermostat will stop working and your heating or cooling units won't function. The heating and cooling system cannot respond to nonexistent temperature commands.
Locating the Reset Button
Remove the thermostat cover by either snapping it off or unscrewing it, depending on the model. Most modern thermostats will have a clearly marked reset button inside the panel. It's usually small and recessed, so you might need a pointed object like a paperclip to press it.
One of the most common reasons for a malfunctioning digital thermometer is simply dead batteries. If your thermometer is not turning on or displaying erratic readings, try replacing the batteries with fresh ones. This simple fix can often solve the issue quickly.
Every HVAC thermostat uses batteries to function, regardless of the thermostat's features. The batteries are the power source for the electrical relays and wires that let the two talk and create the heating and cooling you want in your home.
During the charging process of Lithium based batteries small amounts of water can build up inside the cell as part of the chemical processes during charging. The water built-up later is reversed. BUT: At temperatures below 0°C this temporary built water can freeze, destroy the cell and even lead to blow-up or fire.
The answer is a resounding yes. Many traditional thermostats can function without batteries, utilizing the main AC power source. Batteries are typically used as a backup to retain settings during a power outage.
A bad thermostat can be detected when your AC or furnace is not turning on, your HVAC systems are not turning off, the thermostat not responding, your HVAC system is short-cycling, the room temperature not matching the temperature displayed on the thermostat, and the programmed setting resetting themselves.
Replacing the batteries of your thermostat is a simple and easy home maintenance task you can carry out yourself when necessary. As a rule, thermostat batteries will need to change about once every year. If you periodically change them, you shouldn't have any problems maintaining control of your thermostat.
No power: If the thermostat isn't working at all, there could be a power issue. Try checking the circuit breaker box or replacing the batteries. Bad wiring: The thermostat may be unresponsive if the wiring has gone bad. Remove the cover and check inside for loose, detached, or corroded wires.
A thermostat that has low batteries could cause the system to shut off and turn on again. To see if this is the problem, put fresh batteries in your thermostat and let the system run for about an hour to see if the problem is solved.
Having a low battery can cause all kinds of bad readings on the thermostat, which means the thermostat may kick on when it's not supposed to, the room temperature may be incorrect, and the central system may not work at all.
The Lifespan of a Thermostat
On average, most thermostats last about 10 years, depending on the model, usage, and proper maintenance. However, many people decide to replace their unit sooner to take advantage of new energy-saving technologies.
But the physical components of any type of thermometer can be jostled—drops, knocks in a drawer, or other physical shocks can change the physical orientation of the components, compromising their accuracy.
Direct sunlight, cold temperatures or a sweaty forehead can affect temperature readings. Variations on user technique, such as holding the scanner too far away from the forehead, also may affect accuracy.
The following circumstances are common reasons why thermostats need to be reset: There has been a power outage. The batteries have been changed. HVAC filters have been cleaned or replaced.
If your thermostat is set to a temperature regulation mode or has an energy-saving program enabled, it might reset to conserve energy.