Honeywell Thermostat Not Turning On? 4 Easy Fixes To Try

Do you have a Honeywell thermostat at home? If so, you probably realize that Honeywell thermostats are a great way for you to keep your home comfortable while also saving money on your utility bills.

Unfortunately, many of our readers report that sometimes their thermostat might not be turning on. 

If your Honeywell Thermostat isn’t turning on, make sure to first try new batteries. If that doesn’t work, check the thermostat for any loose wires and check your circuit breaker. If all else fails, you can perform a hard reset on the Honeywell Thermostat to set it back to factory settings.

For more details on all of that, read on below. We’ll go through the most common reasons why your Honeywell thermostat might not be turning on and how you can fix it.

If that sounds good, then let’s dive in.

4 Tips To Try To Get Your Honeywell Thermostat Working Again

A few tips and tricks you may want to try to get your Honeywell thermostat to turn on include:

1. Replace the Batteries

You should start with the easy and obvious solution first. There is a chance your thermostat is not turning on because the batteries are dead. If you have a Honeywell thermostat that uses batteries, you may want to replace them with a fresh set.

Before you replace your batteries, you need to go to the circuit breaker and disable the power to the thermostat.

After this, we need to access the batteries. Many models will have a battery compartment on the side to provide easy access. If not, you may need to detach the thermostat from the wall plate.

This should reveal the batteries in the thermostat. Remove the old batteries and insert the new ones. Make sure you select batteries out of the right size and insert them in the appropriate alignment.

Once you are finished, put your thermostat back on the wall plate. Turn the power back on and see if the thermostat boots up. If it does, you have fixed the problem. 

Change a Honeywell Thermostat Battery In 6 Easy Steps
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Change a Honeywell Thermostat Battery In 6 Easy Steps

2. Check the Circuit Breaker

If your Honeywell thermostat is still not turning on, then you may want to take a closer look at the circuit breaker. You need to make sure there is power flowing to the thermostat. If there is no power going to the thermostat, then this is the reason why it is not working properly. You may want to try flipping the circuit breaker to restore power to the thermostat via the furnace / air handler. 

After you do so, listen for a click. If your thermostat never turns on, then take a look at the circuit breaker again. If the power is off, then the circuit breaker is overloaded. You may need to change the way your devices are connected, so the circuit breaker does not keep tripping. If this is the case, you may need to call an electrician for help.


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3. Check the Wiring for Any Loose Connections

If you are still having issues with your Honeywell thermostat, take a look at the connections. If the wiring is loose, your Honeywell thermostat may not have enough power. 

To check the wiring, remove the face of the thermostat. This should expose the internal wires. Take a look at the white and red wire. If you connect these two wires together, the thermostat should turn on. If you are not comfortable with this, you should contact an electrician for help.

When you work with wires, you need to take the appropriate safety precautions. That being said, most thermostats will be on a 24V connection – but you should still be safe.

When you connect the wires, the thermostat should turn on. If the thermostat turns on, there is a problem with the way the thermostat has been programmed. Make sure the thermostat has been set at the right temperature. This may be the reason why the system is not working properly. 

If you connect the wires and the thermostat does not turn on, there is an issue with the wires themselves. If there is a problem with the wires, you need to contact a professional electrician. It can be dangerous to handle main wires, and you need to put safety first.

4. Reset Your Thermostat To Factory Settings

Another option you may want to try to get your Honeywell thermostat to turn on is to reset it to factory settings. The exact steps you need to follow to reset your thermostat to factory settings will vary depending on the thermostat you have. 

We need to give a disclaimer here. Resetting to factory settings not only will make the thermostat forget all your personal info and schedules, but it may also lose it’s correct setup to let it know what equipment you are operating with. This is typically only set by an HVAC Pro when the thermostat is first installed.

The goal is to completely flush any bad information out of your Honeywell thermostat by resetting it to factory settings. That way, it should run like it has been freshly removed from the package. 

female checking her thermostat
Resetting your thermostat might also resolve your problem.

First, you should take a look at the type of Honeywell thermostat you have. Then, take a look at the steps below to reset your thermostat to the default settings. The steps include:

  • Honeywell 4000 Series: If your thermostat falls under the Honeywell 4000 Series, make sure the device is on. Then, locate the button titled “Program.” Press and hold the button down for several seconds. You may need to use a paperclip, a nail, or another object that has a sharp point. Make sure you do not go all the way through the thermostat. After you hold the button down for several seconds, release it. The thermostat should reset to factory settings.
  • Honeywell 6000 Series: If your thermostat falls under the Honeywell 6000 Series category, make sure the thermostat is turned on. Then, press and hold the “Fan” button as well as the “Up” arrow. Hold these for about five seconds, then release them. Press the button on the bottom left until you see “39” on the display. Press the down arrow keys until the number changes to “0” Finally, press the “done” key, and the thermostat should be reset.
  • Honeywell 7000 Series: If you have a Honeywell 7000 Series thermostat, you need to turn the thermostat off. Then, cut the power to the device. Remove the thermostat from the wall plate, and you should see two separate batteries. Remove them and insert them in the opposite direction for approximately 5 seconds. Now, put the batteries back in the right way once again. The display should turn on. Restore the power to the thermostat, and it should be completely reset. 
  • Honeywell 8000 Series: If your Honeywell thermostat falls under this category, press the “system” button on the screen. Then, press and hold the blank button in the center of the screen. Hold it down for approximately five seconds. There should be an option that says “reset to factory settings.” Select this option, and the thermostat should reset to factory settings. 

If you follow these steps, you should reset your thermostat to factory settings. This could be enough to flush any malicious code out of the system, allowing it to run appropriately once again. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Honeywell Thermostats

There are several common questions people ask about Honeywell thermostats. These include: 

How do I choose the right thermostat for my home? 

There are a number of factors you need to consider when you are trying to choose the right Honeywell thermostat for your home. You need to think about the degree of control you want over your thermostat, the size of your home, and the price of a thermostat. A professional may be able to help you find the best thermostat for your house.

How does the thermostat know when to turn on the heating or air conditioning? 

You should be in control of the thermostat, which will control when your heating system and air conditioning systems are turned on. Usually, you will set a temperature above which the air conditioner should turn on. Then, you will set a temperature below which the heating system should turn on. If the thermostat is working properly, it should turn on the heating and air conditioning appropriately. 

Why is my Honeywell thermostat not turning on? 

There are a number of reasons why your Honeywell thermostat may not be turning on. For example, your thermostat may need new batteries. Or, there could be an issue with the wires inside the thermostat. The thermostat may also be confused, in which case it may require a factory reset. 

Get Your Honeywell Thermostat To Turn On Again

Thank you for checking out this article, and we hope it helps you get your Honeywell thermostat working again. When your thermostat is working properly, it can help you save a significant amount of money on your utility bills. On the other hand, it can also be frustrating when the thermostat is not doing what it should. 

If your thermostat is not working properly, you may want to consider replacing the batteries. You should also take a look at the wires to make sure there is not a loose connection. If all else fails, you can reset your thermostat to factory settings. Take a closer look at the related articles below, and learn more about how you can get the most out of your thermostat! That way, you can make sure your thermostat is working properly!

I've been helping homeowners with appliance repair since 2016. Starting out as an enthusiastic amateur, I've since worked with many Appliance, HVAC, and DIY experts over the last 7+ years. My mission is to help fix your appliances and prevent future issues - saving you stress, time, and money. Visit my author page to learn more! Read more
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