No Power to Thermostat – The 5 Basics You Should Know

By: Jan Hajek | Date Posted: July 28, 2020

It is not only frustrating and annoying if there is no power to the thermostat, as it can also keep you from maintaining the most comfortable temperature inside your home. There are actually several common reasons why a thermostat doesn’t have power, and being familiar with them can go a long way in solving the problem.

Thermostats are special devices that automatically regulate temperature or they can also activate a device once a specific temperature has been reached. You can find thermostats almost anywhere you go and you might even use them in your everyday life, including those you can find in fridges, freezers, boilers, and ovens.

When the days turn too cold or too hot, a faulty thermostat is the last thing you’d want to have in your home.

But before you think of handling the problem with your own two hands, there are several important things you have to know:

Thermostats and Their Different Types

No Power to Thermostat

To solve the issue of no power to the thermostat, it is important to know the different types of thermostats that you can find in the market right now. You wouldn’t want to use the right method of fixing the wrong appliance. Thermostats come in several types, and for this reason, you need to understand these types before fixing the device.

  • Programmable

A programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature in the same way that you set an alarm clock in advance. The temperatures can also be pre-set to the specific times you prefer and the certain times of the day.

  • Non-programmable

This kind of thermostat mainly features a LED display screen and buttons to help you increase or decrease the temperature or switch from cooling to heating.

  • Touch Screen

Smart thermostats are those that let you do everything with a mere touch of your finger. These smart thermostats are now very popular with the rise of so-called smart homes.

  • Outlet

This is a type of thermostat that works great with portable appliances, which explains the name.

  • Wireless

Wireless thermostats are very trendy, although you can expect them to add to your electricity and gas expenses.

No Power to Thermostat – Things to Check

no power

There are different reasons why your thermostat doesn’t have power. The most common causes include the following:

  • Power

It is a must that you check all the thermostat details and identify the number of volts it requires to run. You also have to know if your source of power can supply the necessary volts to your thermostat. Don’t expect a thermostat with 240V to work if your power source is the only 120V.

  • Blown Fuse or Tripped Circuit Breaker

Every time a power surge occurs, it can take its toll on the fuse and circuit breaks, and if they are hit too hard, they will stop working, and you might assume that you have a faulty thermostat. If this is the case, you can fix the problem by getting a replacement for the circuit breaker or fuse.

  • Battery

Most of the time, the battery is the one at fault, and you can bring your thermostat back to life by getting new batteries. If your thermostat battery is dead, it will make you think that the problem lies with your device. Buying fresh batteries can go a very long way to fix the problem of no power to the thermostat.

  • Check the Thermostat Settings

It is a problem common in touch screen thermostats wherein you touched a particular setting when you meant to change the other, or the thermostat doesn’t fit your finger’s size. You might have accidentally changed the settings without you knowing it. Check to make sure that every setting is exactly what you like it to be. If there are some changes, you didn’t remember making, set the settings to default or pick those suitable for you.

  • Thermostat Wiring

Those wires surrounding your thermostat might be the culprit behind the problem. One wire was probably loosely connected, burnt out, or has completely come off. Screwing or replacing the wire is sometimes all it takes to have the issue fixed.

  • Anticipator

The anticipator is the electrical resistor device you can find in the middle of the thermostat. Its primary function is fine-tuning all the points wherein the thermostat has turned the furnace burners off. Your thermostat can work once again if you adjust the anticipator. But again, you have to make sure that you concentrate well when doing this.

  • Dust

Similar to other types of appliances, you need to dust your thermostat. If you notice too much build-up of dust on the device, use a dry cloth to wipe it off.

  • Longevity

Longevity is probably why there is no power to the thermostat. Think how long you have been using your thermostat. If this has been used for quite a long time, chances are the device already died of old age.

Other Tips When There is No Power to Thermostat

thermostat tips

When shopping for your thermostat, always check its quality. You don’t need a low-quality device that could end up breaking down any time with no warning signs.

It can also help to troubleshoot your thermostat. Like your phones and laptops, thermostats can also get overloaded, making a reboot necessary. It could be one of the first steps you have to take if your thermostat has no power. Just be careful, though, because problems may arise if the thermostat has an electrical fault.

Always rule out any other possibility before you assume that the problem lies in the thermostat itself.

The Bottom Line

Before getting in touch with a professional, try to follow first the tips mentioned above. This way, you will know if the issue is something you can fix on your own, or it requires an expert to solve it. Practice extreme care when doing these steps to stay safe and prevent electrocution.

No Power to Thermostat FAQ


Is replacing a thermostat easy?

Usually, yes, it’s easy, nothing difficult. But sometimes, you can find a rare thermostat, which will be hard and dangerous to replace. Call the master in this case.

When need to replace your thermostat?

Every time you replace your heater or air conditioner, you should be installing a new thermostat as well.

Can the thermostat work without the battery?

Not a long time as you wish. Modern thermostats can be working a few hours without a battery and then will need to replace it. Older types can’t work without a battery.

What happens if my thermostat batteries die?

Nothing good. You will see a black screen on your thermostat, and all gadgets connected with this thermostat will stop working.

Thank you for reading!

Jan Hajek
 

I am an experienced writer. I write about home improvement topics such as construction, electrical work, plumbing, security and safety, interior design, exterior design, tools and woodworking, gardening, and garage organization. I love helping people improve their homes and make them more enjoyable places to live.

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