The word Thermo literally means in relation to heat. This makes the Thermostat a truly efficient device for measuring temperature. Most of the experts use a Thermostat in order to maintain a system or read about the temperature here around you. Having a Thermostat along with yourself is always a great advantage to have and especially when you can get so many features. But if you are facing some problems to determine the temperature with your Thermostat, you must repair it immediately. But before you do so, you must know why it is having such a problem. If you have queries in your mind about Thermostat not working, here is a complete guide about how you can detect the problem and resolve it.
How to Fix Thermostat?
Before you opt to fix up a Thermostat, you must understand all about the components it has. Without the components, troubleshooting or fixing your problem can really get difficult. Also, you must know about how a Thermostat works if you wish to know more about fixing it.
Components of Any Thermostat:
Here is a list of the components that any Thermostat has:
Sensor
Display
Battery
Wires and Circuit
How Does a Thermostat Work?
There are different types of Thermostats available in the market which has a different mechanism for different sensor types. However, we can talk about any electronic Thermostat which is easily available in the market. This type of Thermostat comes with a heat-activated switch. Here the sensor detects the heat and causes the switch to open or to close. The sensor sends the signal to an electronic circuit present inside the device that displays the actual temperature. The main work of the Thermostat is to regulate the temperature and this happens with the electrical circuit running along with the system of the Thermostat.
So clearly, the sensor and the electrical circuit are the two major parts of the Thermostat. If you are facing problems with measurements, here is a guide that you can follow.
1. No Display available?
One of the common problems of any Thermostat is the display not working. If the screen is not damaged, it may happen because of two minor issues. Here are the steps that you can follow:
Step 1:
Check the batteries. Often due to low power in the batteries, this problem may arise. This is definitely the first thing that you may check before you go for the technical part. Most of the Thermostats contain AA Lithium batteries which help to run it. You can change it and get a new one.
Step 2:
Dust the Thermostat without opening the circuit. Dust may be a common problem for why this is happening. Try to dust off and then check the display again. With new power and complete dusting, things will go fine for the Thermostat. When germs lock the circuit, it is evident that the display may not function properly.
Often we feel that a thermostat is not giving the accuracy and there is a huge gap of temperature in our surroundings than what it is actually showing. In such cases, you can always follow the instructions below.
Step 1:
Check the location. This may seem to be quite obvious, but a lot of people ignore the location of the Thermostat. A Thermostat always needs to be away from heat sources or from exposure to direct sunlight. This causes a complete fluctuation in the readings. Try to avoid it from a computer, lamp or any other source of heat.
Step 2:
Check the sensors. Different types of Thermostats have a different type of sensors. However, the most common sensors of any electronic Thermostat are the NTC sensor, RTD sensor, Thermocouple and also the semiconductor-based sensors. There are different tools available for checking the sensors and their current conditions. However, this is not all; each of the Thermostats has different measurement ranges so you need to know which type of sensor is working on your Thermostat. Once you figure it out, things will go good.
3. Internal circuit Not Working?
Now let us come to the technical part where it is all about the Thermostat. If the two methods are not working, you may have a major problem in the internal circuit. You can fix your Thermostat by following the steps below:
Step 1:
Check the age. Nothing is built with an everlasting life span and almost every Thermostat has a lifespan after which it stops working. If your Thermostat is old or even you do not remember how old it is, you can consider asking a technician to check the Thermostat. Most of the modern Thermostats are energy efficient and they are built to last longer than the old models.
Step 2:
Check the circuit. If you are not technically knowledgeable about the Thermostat circuit, it is obvious that you will not be able to repair it. Still, you can try by turning off the power and then remove the thermostat cover. We recommend you to take a picture of the circuit and make a note of the wires before untangling them.
Now just unscrew the wires and try to replace them with new ones. Make a note if the circuit has any smoky smell or there are signs of burning. If it is burnt, you can do nothing about the circuit. Get the wires back to the R and W and then twist the ends.
Check this video of Honeywell thermostat troubleshooting process
Still Not Working?
If you have tried all the above methods and the Thermostat is still not working, you can consider it to be dead. It’s better to exchange for a new and modern one to ask a technician to repair it again and again. However, if it is still your favorite one, you can always consult a technician and check for the circuit in order to completely make the Thermostat work. But we recommend you do not stay without the Thermostat for too long. Always try to keep maintaining the product so that it does not have any problem in the future.
