How to Change a Thermostat Battery

Hot summer days and cold winter nights are the norm in Las Cruces, NM, and the surrounding areas. The variable weather means that you may frequently change the settings on your smart or programmable thermostat. The thermostat’s touchscreen uses a battery to power its backlight and operations. This battery also allows the thermostat to connect to your Wi-Fi. Here are tips on how to change the battery of your smart or programmable thermostat.

Determine Which Batteries You Need

Each make and model of programmable or smart thermostats have their own battery requirements. Refer to your owner’s manual on which type and how many batteries your thermostat needs. Some thermostats accept both rechargeable and disposable batteries. If the manufacturer recommends a particular brand of battery, be sure to use it. Using some other brand could result in a voided warranty on your thermostat.

Change the Batteries

Changing the thermostat’s batteries is a simple process, and it should only take a few minutes. Follow these steps:

• Turn off the HVAC system
• Lift up or remove the thermostat’s housing
• Locate the batteries
• Remove the batteries
• Insert the new batteries
• Close the thermostat’s housing
• Reprogram the thermostat

Avoid using any tools to pry the old batteries out of the thermostat. Doing so could damage the contact plates. If you have a smart thermostat, you may also need to reset its connection to your Wi-Fi.

How Often to Change Thermostat Batteries

It is a good idea to change the batteries in your thermostat every six months. You could change them at the same time as you change your smoke detector’s battery or back-up battery. A low thermostat battery is a common reason why heating and cooling systems do not turn on or off as desired. You may also need to replace the thermostat’s batteries after a power outage. A brown-out, power surge or power outage could quickly deplete the life of the batteries.

At Aircon Heating & Cooling Inc., our technicians are qualified to install and upgrade your home’s thermostat. We also handle heating and cooling maintenance, installations and repairs. Contact Aircon Heating & Cooling Inc. today for more information about programmable and smart thermostats.