Yes, thermostats can work without batteries. But this depends on whether they’re connected to your home’s electrical grid. If they are, then they’ll continue operating even if the batteries run low.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should let your thermostats run on the electrical grid alone. If your thermostat has a battery slot, then ensure you equip it with the right batteries to serve as power backup.
Will Honeywell thermostat work without batteries?
If you’ve been thinking about buying a Honeywell thermostat, you’ll be pleased to know that it can work without batteries.
During the initial installation, you’ll need to wire this thermostat to your home’s grid system. This will enable it to operate even when the batteries run out. Similarly, in case there’s a power outage, the thermostat will automatically switch to the battery backup; hence remain operational.
Why do thermostats have batteries?
Have you been wondering whether there’s any need to buy batteries for your newly installed thermostat? The answer to this is a resounding yes.
Thermostats have batteries for one key reason, and that is to store or save any programmed settings in case there’s a power outage.
Nearly all thermostats are programmable. So most homeowners configure these appliances to save settings, eliminating the need to program every other time.
Now if there’s an outage, and the thermostat goes out, all the settings that had been saved would get lost.
This is where the battery backup comes in handy. It ensures that in the event of an outage, the thermostat doesn’t go off immediately. This saves you from having to reprogram your thermostat from scratch.
Signs that your thermostat is running low on battery
How can you tell whether the batteries on your thermostat are low or dead? Well thankfully, most modern thermostats come equipped with indicators.
These indicators display a low battery warning, at least a month or two before the battery runs out completely. The types of warnings issued vary from one model to another, although the majority show a flashing light or a battery symbol.
What I like most about modern thermostats is the fact that they issue warnings quite early. This way, you have plenty of time to look for compatible batteries and replace them.
So don’t wait until the screen on your thermostat becomes completely blank. At that point, it’s already run out of juice.
What happens if the thermostat battery dies?
In an ideal situation, you should change your thermostat batteries before they run out of juice. But in the event that you forget, here’s what you can expect:
The display will go blank
This is the first thing you’ll notice. Unless your thermostat is connected to your home’s grid system, it will lose all the programmed data and the display will just become blank.
The HVAC system will cease working
Once the batteries die, they will no longer be able to supply power to the HVAC system. This, in turn, means that you face the risk of having your home become too cold or too hot; hence, uncomfortable to live in.
The thermostat fails to respond to commands
Do you like to operate your thermostat using voice commands? Well, once the batteries die, don’t expect it to continue responding to your commands.
Thermostat malfunctions
If your thermostat runs solely on the grid, and there’s not enough power, you may notice some odd or inconsistent behavior. For instance, it may start producing strange noises or turning on and off repeatedly.
In the event that this happens, check whether it’s being caused by inconsistencies in your home’s electrical grid. Other common culprits that can cause your thermostat to malfunction include:
- Improper placement of a thermostat – it should be positioned strategically so it can get an accurate reading
- A dirty thermostat – you should not allow dust to accumulate on this unit as it can cause problems
- Loose wiring or miswiring – if you have no experience installing thermostats, it’s best to leave it to a professional who can do the wiring correctly
How long do batteries last in a thermostat?
Unfortunately, there’s conflicting information on this subject. Some believe that batteries can last for up to 10 years while others are of the opinion that they only last a couple of months.
To be on the safe side, you’ll want to invest in a thermostat with a battery indicator. This way, you’ll be notified when you should replace the batteries.
We also recommend replacing your thermostat batteries at the start of every peak-usage season. For instance, if the winter season is approaching, check the condition of your batteries and replace them if necessary.
How to change batteries in thermostat
If you’ve been alerted that your thermostat batteries are running low, now is a good time to replace them. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to help you change them:
Things you’ll need
- New batteries
- A flat blade screwdriver
The process
- Start by switching off the thermostat
- Pull the thermostat’s housing from the wall mount plate. If you’re struggling to remove the case, there’s a good chance that you just need to slide it upwards then pull it off.
- Inspect the rear of the thermostat to see the type of batteries it uses. Thermostats are designed differently. In some cases, you may have to use a screwdriver to pry the battery slot out.
- Replace with the new batteries; being careful to place them facing the right direction. Unless it’s indicated otherwise on the thermostat, place them with the plus sign facing up.
- Gently place the thermostat housing back on the wall plate. Switch on the thermostat, and test it to see if it’s working.
Why is the thermostat not working after battery replacement?
You just put in some new batteries, but your thermostat still won’t work. What could be the problem? There are a few reasons that explain this scenario, namely:
- Using the wrong batteries – you should replace the batteries with an exact replica. By this we mean that they should have a similar voltage. If you use the wrong type, they may not be able to power your appliance.
- Replacing just one battery – if your thermostat uses two batteries, then replace all of them in one go. Don’t mix the old and new ones as they’ll have different charge levels, which can prevent your thermostat from working.
- Installing the batteries incorrectly – counter check the battery slot and confirm that the batteries are in the correct orientation. If this is not the case, then switch them up.
If you’ve done everything right and your thermostat still won’t work, consider doing a factory reset. This is sure to resolve any persistent problem affecting your device.
But keep in mind that resetting will also take it back to the default settings. So if you had saved any programmed settings, you may have to configure them again.
What type of batteries do thermostats use?
This will depend on the brand of the thermostat you’re using. For Honeywell thermostats, most models use either alkaline AA or alkaline AAA batteries. But if you have a Nest thermostat, you’ll likely need two standard AAA alkaline batteries.
If you aren’t sure of what batteries to buy, just remove the housing of the thermostat and check the existing ones. Alternatively, you can read the user manual (assuming you still have it) or inquire directly from the manufacturer.
Another important thing to note is that you should never replace batteries with ones that are damaged or exhibiting signs of leaking or corrosion. Similarly, you should not try to recharge used batteries unless they are the rechargeable kind.
Why do thermostats drain batteries fast?
As we mentioned earlier, thermostat batteries should be able to last a couple of months at least.
If your batteries are draining too fast, this could be a sign of an underlying problem. More specifically, you could have a faulty or old thermostat on your hands.
Here’s the deal, the settings you configure on your thermostat have very little impact on the battery life. Similarly, turning off your AC in the summer doesn’t help to save your thermostat’s battery life.
So if the batteries are draining rather fast, the most likely culprit is the battery or the thermostat device itself. Remove the batteries, and test them on a different device. If they’re working just fine, it means the thermostat is the culprit.
Conclusion
Most thermostats are designed to run on two sources of power: your home’s electrical grid and/or batteries. Batteries are very resourceful in the event of a power outage. In case this happens, the batteries kick into action to save any programmed information and keep the thermostat running until the power is back on.