Do Honeywell thermostats make noise? What do those sounds mean? The guide below will let you know.
Why Is My Honeywell Thermostat Making Noise?
1). Electronic Devices In The Vicinity
Some people blame thermostats for the sounds that other electronic devices make. Do you have a smoke detector near the Honeywell thermostat? What about speakers, refrigerators, and microwaves?
Don’t take any action until you confirm that the thermostat is responsible for the sounds you hear. Put your ear next to the thermostat. Better yet, silence all the other devices and appliances for a few minutes. If the buzzing, clicking and beeping from the thermostat stops, you can confidently assume that the other instruments and appliances were responsible for the noise.
This Honeywell platform has confirmed this theory by clarifying that their thermostats don’t make audible sounds. They want you to inspect the doorbell and security system before you blame their thermostats.
2). Electrical Noise
Even though Honeywell is convinced that its thermostat cannot generate an audible sound, electricity makes noise. You can’t hear these sounds at a distance, but they are present. You can only notice them if you pay close attention.
For instance, relays click while opening and closing to permit the current to flow. Again, you won’t hear these sounds in an ideal situation. However, various factors can amplify them, including insufficient insulation.
I want you to tighten the screws on the electrical box and thermostat. That won’t necessarily eliminate the clicking. However, it should reduce the noise to a level you can’t hear.
Technicians don’t expect loose mounting screws to make enough noise to bother you. Instead, they will amplify the noise that already exists. Homeowners create this problem when they remove the thermostat’s cover while painting the wall.
They don’t tighten the screws properly when they put the cover back. If the noise continues even though you tightened the screws, continue troubleshooting the issue.
3). Dirty Switch Contacts
Dirty switch contacts produce arcing, and arcing is loud. You can’t silence it with insulation. It is also dangerous because it can damage the thermostat’s internal components. Arcing will make the contacts dirtier, exacerbating the situation.
4). Loose Connections
Dirty switch contacts are not the only source of arcing. Loose connections are a common problem in electronic devices.
5). Worn out Bimetallic Strip
The bimetallic strip will generate a noise when it wears out. The same thing will happen when it becomes dirty.
6). Batteries Depleted
When was the last time you checked the batteries? Thermostats do not typically generate beeping sounds. However, some of them are programmed to produce a soft beeping when the batteries are depleted.
The goal is to alert you about the issue without annoying you. The thermostat’s display will flash a ‘Low Battery’ icon to confirm that the batteries are depleted. This issue should dissipate once you replace the batteries.
If you rule out all the factors above, you may have a faulty thermostat on your hands. Thermostats rarely start fires. However, it can happen. According to WVLT TV, problems arise when the thermostat’s wires come into contact with your home’s line voltage.
In other words, you can’t afford to dismiss noisy thermostats as a mere inconvenience. Don’t forget that thermostats are not supposed to generate audible noises.
Honeywell Thermostat Noise And Troubleshooting Tips
The key to solving your thermostat’s problems is identifying the type of sound it makes and finding out what it means. For instance:
Honeywell Thermostat Making Clicking Noise
- The thermostat has relays that click whenever they send power to your system’s components. That includes the air conditioner and furnace. Clicking, in this instance, is not a problem. It should only concern you if the clicking is louder than usual.
- The thermostat has a bimetallic strip that makes a clicking noise when it snaps. This sound is only problematic in cases where the insulation is insufficient. As a result, it is louder than people expect.
- The thermostat has loose screws and mountings that enhance the clicking of the relay and bimetallic strip.
- The batteries are dying or already dead.
- The temperature is changing rapidly.
- The thermostat is on death’s door.
How To Fix It?
1). The clicking from the relay is not a problem. This component makes a sound whenever it opens and closes. It shows that the HVAC unit is working. But if the clicking is continuous, something has gone wrong with the system.
It is calling for hot or cold air and failing. Find the source of this problem to eliminate the clicking. That includes resetting tripped breakers, turning the gas supply on, making sure the furnace is connected to power, cleaning the filters, removing debris from clogged condenser coils and pilot ignitors, etc. Fixing the HVAC unit will resolve the loud clicking.
Sometimes, replacing the air filter and clearing blocked vents is enough to solve the problem. You may also find that the HVAC keeps short-cycling because you did not size it correctly.
2). If the batteries are dead, get a replacement.
3). If the thermostat is old, worn out, or damaged, get a replacement.
4). Remove the thermostat from locations that cause rapid temperature changes. I want you to keep it away from ovens, freezers, and direct sunlight.
5). Tighten the mounting screws.
Clicking is less of a challenge than buzzing and humming because thermostats can click for innocuous reasons. Although, I don’t expect smart thermostats to click because they don’t rely on the mechanical relays you find in their traditional counterparts.
Honeywell Thermostat Making Buzzing Noise
- You have loose connections. They are causing arcing.
- A dirty or worn-out bimetallic strip can also lead to arcing.
- The switch contacts are dirty, leading to arcing. You see this in inductive and capacitive loads. The arcing will make the contacts dirtier, leading to more buzzing and arcing.
How To Fix It?
1). Buy a new thermostat. Arcing can cause permanent damage to this device. If the technician thinks the thermostat is irreparable, listen to him and get a new one.
2). Add a suppressor to the circuit to combat the arcing.
3). Make sure the noise is coming from the thermostat. Buzzing can originate from other devices in the vicinity or from the HVAC unit. Ask an electrician to troubleshoot your heating system. They will identify the source of the buzzing once they rule out the thermostat.
4). Tighten the mounting screws. They will make the buzzing sound louder.
Honeywell Thermostat Making Humming Noise
- Something else in the vicinity is making the noise because thermostats don’t hum.
- Dirty switch contacts produce arcing, which generates buzzing. But it sounds like humming to some people. People use those two terms interchangeably.
- You have loose wiring.
- The thermostat is old and worn out.
How To Fix It?
- Secure loose connections
- Replace damaged wires. Use a voltmeter to test the wires before you replace them. Some wires can be salvaged.
- Get a new thermostat.
- Ask an electrician to add a suppressor to the circuit. They can also install a suitably-sized fuse. Task them with determining whether or not the wrong voltage is being applied. The wrong voltage can make the contacts sticky.
- Tighten the mounting screws. Otherwise, they will make the humming noise worse.
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