Now that another season is upon us, it's time to think about proper operation of your heating system. Switching out the batteries as part of thermostat maintenance should definitely be on your to-do list. Today, we're going to explore why this is important and how to complete the task.
What Your Batteries Help Control
Thermostats have certainly changed over the years and are now more advanced than ever. Here are a few things that batteries typically control in modern thermostats:
- Temperature control
- Custom temperature settings
- Date and time
- Custom on/off times
- Battery backup in the event of a power outage?
- Weather news/info
The Effects of a Low Battery in Your Thermostat
No matter how advanced our thermostats get, they still need batteries for certain functions, as listed above. Here are a few of the effects you might see when batteries are low or completely out of power:
- Temperature control doesn't operate properly, preventing you from keeping warm.
- Temperature will remain at a default setting as determined by the manufacturer.
- Information such as date, time, and weather news/info will not be available.
- Custom temperature settings will no longer exist, including both the temperature itself and the on/off times.
- Thermostat will not function during a power outage.
How to Change the Thermostat's Batteries
The good news is that regardless of how advanced the thermostat is, replacing the batteries will be a simple task. Here are the steps for you to follow:
- If a "low battery" warning light or tone comes on, then it's time to switch out the batteries.
- Locate the battery compartment cover, which is usually quite visual, on either the front, back, or side of the unit.
- The batteries are often released by pulling on a cloth or plastic tab, but some units require a screwdriver to get into the compartment.
- Switch out the batteries and replace the battery compartment cover.?
For more expert advice on thermostat maintenance or other questions related to home comfort, contact the HVAC professionals at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning. We've been serving the needs of New Haven and the surrounding areas since 1963.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.