How to Fix a Honeywell Thermostat That's Not Working

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Common problems and simple fixes to get your thermostat working again

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Digital & Programmable Thermostats

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Smart Thermostats

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Analog Thermostats

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Tips

If your Honeywell thermostat isn't working, your home could quickly become uncomfortably cold or hot. But don't worry—whether you have a digital and/or programmable thermostat, a Honeywell Home smart thermostat, or even an analog model, you can do a few easy fixes at home to avoid costly estimates and repairs. This How.com.vn will teach you how to troubleshoot your Honeywell thermostat when it's not working.

Things You Should Know

If your Honeywell thermostat's screen is blank, check the batteries, breakers, and C wire (for smart thermostats), and make sure the furnace door is closed.
You may need to override the program if you can't change the temperature.
If you subscribe to an energy demand response program, your smart thermostat may not be usable during peak hours.

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Section 1 of 3:

Digital & Programmable Thermostats

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1
Check your electrical panel for tripped breakers. If your digital Honeywell thermostat has a blank screen or isn't kicking on your furnace or air conditioner, check the breaker that powers the wall on which your thermostat is mounted. Also, check the breaker that powers your AC and/or furnace. If any breakers are tripped, reset it to the proper position.
- If you just installed your Honeywell thermostat and it's not working, make sure you've wired it exactly as your previous thermostat was wired.
2
Override the current program. If your programmable thermostat is set to turn off or on between certain times, you may be unable to change the settings without unlocking or overriding the program. On most Honeywell thermostats, you can do this by selecting the desired temperature and pressing the Hold button. When you want to return to the program, just press Run.^{[1]XResearch source}
- On some other thermostat models, you can press the Fan and Up Arrow buttons at the same time to unlock the screen.
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If your Honeywell thermostat has a blank screen, it may just need new batteries. Most thermostats that aren't Honeywell Home smart thermostats use batteries to power the display rather than C wires.^{[2]XResearch source} A blank display could indicate that the battery that powers the screen needs to be replaced. The steps vary by model, but you'll typically just need to remove the cover to access the battery.
If your Honeywell thermostat's screen works, but it will not heat or cool your home, locate the power switch on your furnace and/or air conditioner, and make sure it's set to the On position. If the furnace is turned on but no heat is coming through your vents, make sure the door to the furnace is closed securely.^{[3]XResearch source}
If you see a snowflake, flame, sun, "Heat On," or "Cool On" blinking instead of remaining solid, or the word "Wait," wait 5 minutes. The flashing icons occur when the thermostat is in delay mode, or when the compression protector has engaged.^{[4]XResearch source}
6
Remove the faceplate and check your connections. If your Honeywell thermostat still isn't working, make sure the wires are connected to the proper terminals. Your thermostat's manual came with a wiring diagram that specifies which wires must connect to which terminals, so make sure your wires align with what you see in your manual. Before touching any wires or connections, be sure to turn off the breaker that powers your thermostat.
- All Honeywell thermostats use the "G" terminal to control the fan. If no wire is connected to the G terminal (or the wire is not secure), the fan will not activate. If the G wire is fine but the fan won't turn on, your HVAC system needs servicing.^{[5]XResearch source}
If your Honeywell thermostat activates the fan but it isn't blowing the right temperature, the wrong system type may have been selected during setup or while someone was programming the thermostat.^{[6]XResearch source} The steps to check and change the system type vary by model, so check your thermostat's manual. If you don't have the manual, go to https://www.honeywellhome.com/us/en/support/air/thermostats/product-selector/device-not-working/ and select your model to download it in the PDF format.
If you want to restore your digital Honeywell thermostat to its original settings and delete any programmed temperature preferences, start by removing the batteries. Wait 10 seconds, and then reinsert them. If this doesn't work, some technicians recommend first reinserting the batteries incorrectly (backward), leaving them in for 10 seconds, and then replacing them correctly. This will clear any programming that may be interfering with your heating and cooling system.
Contact a licensed HVAC professional if your Honeywell thermostat is still not working. You can also call Honeywell Home Products Support at 1-800-633-3991, or use Honeywell's Find a Pro tool to find a Honeywell professional in your area: https://www.honeywellhome.com/us/en/find-a-pro/

Section 2 of 3:

Smart Thermostats

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If you subscribe to an energy-saving program through your electric company, your Honeywell Home smart thermostat may turn off your heating or cooling system during peak energy times. If you want to stay in control of your thermostat when energy demands are high, select Opt Out on either your Honeywell Thermostat or in the Resideo app.^{[7]XResearch source}
If your Honeywell Home smart thermostat has a blank screen or isn't kicking on your furnace or air conditioner, the breaker may have tripped. Check the breakers for the thermostat, your furnace, and your air conditioner to make sure everything is powered on.
3
Check the C wire. All Honeywell smart thermostats with Wi-Fi use a C wire to power the display. If you've recently installed your thermostat and the screen is blank, it's typically because the C wire (or C-wire adapter) hasn't been connected. Before messing with wires in your thermostat, turn off the breaker to the wall on which your thermostat is mounted. Then, remove the faceplate and make sure the C wire is securely connected to the "C" terminal.^{[8]XResearch source}
- You'll also want to make sure the C wire is also connected to your furnace or cooling system's C terminal.
4
Inspect the furnace or air conditioning unit. If your Honeywell smart thermostat's screen works but will not heat or cool your home, locate the power switch on your furnace and/or air conditioner and make sure it's set to the On position. If the furnace is turned on but no heat is coming through your vents, make sure the door to the furnace is closed securely.^{[9]XResearch source}
- If you've turned on the heat or air and see "Heat On" or "Cool On" flashing on the screen (or the associated heating and cooling symbols for your model), wait 5 minutes for the system to engage.
5
Connect your thermostat to Wi-Fi. If your Honeywell Home smart thermostat is not connected to Wi-Fi, you can usually reconnect it from the thermostat itself. Just look for the Menu item on your thermostat, select Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi Setup, tap Choose Network, and select your Wi-Fi details.
- For other models, you will need to connect your computer, phone, or tablet to your Honeywell thermostat as a Wi-Fi access point (it'll be called New_Thermostat, followed by some numbers). This will take you to the setup page, where you can add your Honeywell thermostat to your Wi-Fi network.^{[10]XResearch source}
- If it's your first time setting up your Honeywell smart thermostat, be sure to register it at MyTotalConnectComfort.com so you can use it remotely.
6
Reset your thermostat. The steps to reset your Honeywell smart thermostat vary by model. Keep in mind that doing a factory reset will erase all of your settings, including your Wi-Fi connection.
- If your thermostat has a Menu option or button, such as the Smart WiFi T5, T6, T9, or T10, the option to reset it is in that menu. The menu names are a little different on all Honeywell models, but you'll usually find a Reset or Factory Reset option in a menu called Advanced Setup, Preferences, or Thermostat Information.
  - On the VisionPRO TH8321WF, which has a Menu button, select Dealer Information on the menu, scroll down and write down the date code, then press Done. Then, select Installer Options, enter the date code, and select Reset.
- If you have a Honeywell FocusPro 6000, press and hold Arrow Up and Fan. Change the number on the left to 90, and the one on the right to 1. Select Done to reset.
- On the VisionPRO 8000, press System, press and hold the blank box in the center, change the number on the left to 0710, and the one on the right to 1. Select Done to reset.
- For the Smart/Lyric Round, press and hold the cloud icon, then select Reset.
If your Honeywell Home smart thermostat still isn't working, you can also call Honeywell Home Products Support at 1-800-633-3991, or use Honeywell's Find a Pro tool to find a Honeywell professional in your area: https://www.honeywellhome.com/us/en/find-a-pro/

Section 3 of 3:

Analog Thermostats

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1
Check for electrical problems. Try switching your analog Honeywell thermostat to the Heat position and turning the heat up to 80. Wait a few moments to see if the heat kicks on. Then, if you also have air conditioning, turn the AC down to 60 to see if it kicks on. If this test doesn't activate the AC or heating system, there could be an electrical problem.
- Check the breaker that controls the wall your thermostat is attached to. Then, check the breaker that controls your furnace and/or AC.
- On the furnace or AC unit, make sure the on/off switch is in the On position and that no doors are open.
First, turn off the breaker for your thermostat to avoid damage or injury. Then, gently pull the faceplate away from the Honeywell thermostat to expose the wires inside. Inspect the wires and look for any that are loose, frayed, or disconnected. If a wire is loose, you can reattach it. If a wire has detached from the wall, it's best to contact a professional.
If your thermostat still isn't working, it may be time to replace it with a digital or programmable model. Contact an HVAC professional for advice on the best thermostat for your heating and cooling equipment.

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Tips

Many Honeywell smart thermostats will display an error code when a problem occurs. You can look up the error code and possible fixes in your thermostat's manual.
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