Honeywell Thermostat Won’t Turn On AC: How To Troubleshoot

Going home to an extremely hot or cold home is the last thing that you would like to experience. This is because your home ought to be the epitome of comfort, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. When it comes to maximizing the comfort of your home, there are many options that can help you get started. From insulating the walls to installing a carpet in your home, there is a myriad of options that you can consider.

Besides this, installing a Honeywell thermostat can help maintain a consistent temperature in your home for a longer period. Whether you want to make your home cool or warm, you will be able to do so through a voice command or a touch of a button. Typically, the Honeywell thermostat will follow the commands given and thus prompt the AC in your home to either cool or warm your house at a given time period.

Although the Honeywell might be turning on the AC as desired, there are some instances when it may fail to do so. If you are a first-timer, you can freak out. The good news is that we shall take a closer look at why the Honeywell thermostat won’t turn on and how to troubleshoot such issues on the go.

Reasons Why Your Honeywell Thermostat Won’t Turn On AC And How To Troubleshoot

Ideally, your Honeywell thermostat should turn on the AC at the right time so that you can either warm or cool your home promptly. If you had gone to work, you can program the Honeywell thermostat and command it to either raise the temperatures or lower them to a certain degree.

By the time you get home, you will find your home at the right temperature and thus enjoy the much-needed comfort. However, if the Honeywell thermostat cannot do this with utmost precision, chances are that the following reasons are responsible for that problem and their respective troubleshooting methods.

1) Dead batteries

Some thermostats usually rely on the main power supply while others rely on batteries for them to function. If your model belongs to the latter category, chances are that the batteries have died and need to be replaced promptly. Once the batteries have died, the thermostat will no longer show anything on the screen. In addition, the screen will be unresponsive and can even start flashing. All these are a clear indications that your batteries are dead and you need to purchase new ones. Once you purchase new models, you can now command the Honeywell thermostat and see if it will turn the AC on or not.

2) Dirty thermostat

Besides having dead batteries, your thermostat may fail to turn on the AC as desired due to dirt and dust. Just like other appliances, the thermostat can start collecting dust and dirt during the summer months. In most cases, these elements are normally trapped behind the cover of the thermostat.

If these elements are not removed in good time, they might lead to various problems. One of them is the unresponsiveness of the AC whenever you command the thermostat to either raise or lower the room’s temperature. To be on the safe side, you should remove the cover and then use a spray can in order to eliminate these elements on the go.

3) Loose wires

Whether you have an old model or a new model, the problem of loose wires can be imminent in both models. The good news is that you can now check this problem on your own, without essentially having to engage a professional.

All you need to do is to turn off the power and then remove the thermostat from the wall. Thereafter, you can check the terminals of the device and see if there are any loose wires. If there are some loose wires, you can fix them back as stipulated in the device’s manual. In case you cannot do this on your own, seek the services of a professional technician near you.

4) Unleveled thermostat

For your thermostat to read the temperature more accurately, the mercury switch inside it has to be positioned well. Here, it should be in a level position. In case someone mounted the device wrongly, the level may tilt and thus make it difficult to take the readings of your house’s temperature.

In fact, this can make the unit turn on and off every now and then, throughout the day. Consequently, the AC will not be turned on as expected. If you discover that the thermostat is not positioned well, you can remove it and reinstall it. For optimal results, ensure that you use a level in order to mount the device perfectly on a level position.

5) Broken sensor

Just like other components, the sensor in your unit might have outlived its usefulness. As a result, you may be required to either replace it or just upgrade your current model. Unlike other problems, this one is common among those models that have been in use for ages.

Instead of replacing the sensor in that particular unit, you can choose to purchase a better model with better features. The good news is that you will not miss a model that suits your needs at your brick-and-mortar home improvement store or online. More importantly, talk to an experienced HVAC technician so that you can purchase the right model for your home.

6) The circuit breaker has issues

If you have tried all the above-mentioned solutions and the problem is still persistent, chances are that the circuit breaker has issues. If this is the case, power will not be flowing to the thermostat and thus might make it not to command the AC to turn on.

To solve this problem, you should try to flip the circuit breaker and determine if your model is able to get power afresh or not. Once you do so, try to listen for a ‘Click’ sound. If you do not hear that sound, the Honeywell thermostat is not yet powered on.

In this case, take a closer look at the circuit breaker and determine if it is overloaded or not. If this is the case, you may have to alter the manner in which you have connected the devices in your home. Ideally, it should not keep on tripping. If it does, something is wrong and you may be required to contact your nearest professional electrician to diagnose the problem for you.

7) Reset your thermostat

If the Honeywell thermostat does not turn on the Kayo can try to factory reset it. Depending on your model, the steps involved in this process may vary. Technically, the main aim here is to eliminate any bugs that might be present on your thermostat. By doing so, the model will run as if you have just purchased it from the manufacturer.

A) Honeywell 4000 Series

In case your Honeywell thermostat falls under this category, you should first ensure that your device is switched on. Thereafter, look out for the button labeled ‘Program’. Press and hold that button for about 5 seconds and then release it. 

As you press the button, ensure that you are gentle enough not to mutilate the thermostat. Once you release the ‘Program’ button, you will have managed to reset the device to the factory settings successfully.

B) Honeywell 6000 Series

Models under this category are also easy to factory reset. Just like the models under the Honeywell 6000 series, you should ensure that your model is switched on. Thereafter, press and then hold the ‘Fan’ button and the ‘Up’ arrow button simultaneously.

Ideally, you should hold these buttons for about 5 seconds. Once you are done, release the buttons at the same time. Thereafter, press the button at the bottom left until ‘39’ appears on your screen. Once the number appears on the display, press the down arrow keys until the number finally changes to ‘0’.Press the ‘Done’ key and you will have managed to factory reset your thermostat.

C) Honeywell 7000 Series

Unlike the models in the previous categories, factory resetting here is done differently. Here you need to ensure that the model is switched off. Thereafter, ensure that the device is not receiving any power supply.

Once you have ensured that the device is no longer receiving power, remove it from the wall plate and then remove the batteries. After removing the batteries, insert them afresh in the opposite direction for about 5 seconds.

After 5 seconds have elapsed, remove the batteries and then insert them in the right way. By doing so, the display will turn on. Thereafter, you can now restore power to the device and you will have managed to factory reset the device.

D) Honeywell 8000 Series

In case your model falls under this category, you will be required to press the ‘System’ button on your screen. Thereafter, press and then hold the blank button you will see at the center of your screen.

For optimal results, ensure that you hold it for about 5 seconds. You will see the ‘Reset to factory settings’ option on your screen. Click it and you will have managed to factory reset your model.

By following the steps outlined above, you will be able to eliminate any malicious code that might be in your device’s system. Consequently, your device might be able to turn on the AC afresh.

8) Contact Honeywell’s customer Support team

If all the above-mentioned ideas fail to work out, consider contacting the Honeywell customer support team. Once you contact them, narrate your issue and they will be able to help you on the go. From sending a technician near you to giving you a new model, there are many solutions that this team can offer.

For the latter option, you may be able to get a new model if your current one had a warranty from the manufacturer. However, if your device developed these issues weeks or months after the warranty period has elapsed, you have no alternative but to purchase a new model.

Final Words

Not being able to control the temperatures of your home is not only stressful but also very inconveniencing. If you have visitors at home, they might not enjoy their stay there. To be on the side, you should diagnose that problem using the ideas mentioned above. If the problem still persists, contact Honeywell’s customer support team for further help and guidance. Since they have they are always willing to help you, be sure that your problem will be solved on the go.

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