Not Sure How to Replace Thermostat Batteries? We Can Help

Many homeowners don’t realize their thermostat has batteries until it goes dead and the heating and cooling system won’t work. Assuming there is some other problem, they contact an HVAC technician to diagnose the system, only to discover that it was just the thermostat batteries that needed changing. To avoid a costly service call, it’s recommended you check and replace thermostat batteries once per year. 

Not all thermostats operate on batteries. If your thermostat has been working correctly for years without a need for a battery change, you probably don’t need to be concerned about it. If you have a wall thermostat, it likely runs on either AA or AAA batteries, or 3V lithium batteries. For battery-operated thermostat, there are a few common warning signs that they need to be replaced. The first and obvious sign is a low battery signal. Digital wall models will give this signal as early as one or two months before the batteries die. This can be accompanied with improper functioning of your heating and cooling system, a blank screen, or no response from your equipment. Below is a list of steps to take to quickly and easily replace thermostat batteries:

1. Remove the thermostat housing from the wall mount plate. If it doesn’t come off easily, slide the housing up and pull it off.

2. Turn the housing over and look for the battery removal slots. Pry the batteries out by inserting a small, flat-head screwdriver into the slots and pushing up.

3. Insert the new batteries into the battery slots.

4. Place the thermostat housing back onto the wall mount plate, making sure to align the pins on the back with the terminal screw block. Slide the housing down and lock it in place.

If after changing your thermostat batteries your heating and cooling system still isn’t functioning properly, it may be time to call your HVAC specialist. There may be an underlying issue that your technician can properly diagnose and repair. Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions Team provides expert HVAC service in Orlando and surrounding counties. For all your home comfort inquiries, contact us.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about thermostat batteries and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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