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Carrier Thermostat Troubleshooting - I have a Carrier thermostat with an intermittent problem that recently has started to oscillate between off, cool, and heat, seemingly randomly. We set the temps for cooling and heating, time, day, and all of those programmed pieces of data remain, but the t-stat just randomly switches between heat, cool, and off (doesn’t ever go blank, it only displays “off”).
The switching between each setting might happen every second. Or there might be a minute or so between the setting changes.
I am wondering where I should begin looking to diagnose the thermostat problem.
Thanks in advance! Jeff
Carrier Thermostat Troubleshooting
The wires here were stripped to far up the insulation jacket. There should be little to no exposure to copper.
Troubleshooting Carrier Thermostat Guide - My gut reaction is to say it’s the thermostat, but I could be wrong. What would I do? I would carefully go over the control wiring running from the thermostat to the air handler. How would I do this? I would disconnect it from the air handler and the thermostat (turn off the power first). Then, with the help of a friend or helper, I would ring out the wires.
When I say that, I mean to say I would Ohm them out to make sure they all have continuity. If the wires have continuity while they are separated, then you have a problem with the wiring. Since your problem is intermittent, this method is not foolproof. Has there been any work done in the house where something has penetrated the walls where the wire runs?
Solving the Problem Through the Process of Elimination | Carrier Thermostat Troubleshooting
The reason I say this is because the wiring could be the problem. Since the thermostat problem is intermittent, then this will be a complicated issue to solve unless it does it while you are testing the wiring. Therefore, the wires would all ring out good, and you put everything back together, and it will work fine for a week and then do it again. However, if some work was done that damaged the wire inside the walls, it could cause this problem.
Steps for Troubleshooting the Intermittent Problem
- Check the Wiring
- Ring it Out (Ohm it)
- Temporary Replacement of Thermostat
- Check the control board and control the power for problems.
Details for Carrier Thermostat Troubleshooting
Check the Wiring
1Check the wiring. A careful, methodical inspection of the wiring and connections. Something could have pinched the wire bundle or fell on it from inside the wall and damaged it. The thermostat wire is not protected inside the wall (not ran in conduit). Furthermore, it’s also possible it is old, and insulation on the wire has decayed, allowing the wires inside the bundle to touch.
Additionally, thermostat wires improperly prepared can touch just behind the thermostat. The spliced bared copper should only have approximately 1/4 inch for the termination. The rest should be insulation. If the insulation is nicked and touching, it could cause the problem you are having. Furthermore, this is at both ends.
Ring Out the Wires
2Since you can’t see the wiring behind the walls to check for damage, ring it out. Use an Ohmmeter and a friend. An excellent form of communication will help also. That is because where the thermostat is located and where the air handler/furnace is located is usually remote. You’ll need to communicate with the friend such as: Okay, touch the red and yellow wires together. And touch the red and green wires together. So on and so forth until you’ve tested all possible combinations.
If you find a problem with the thermostat wiring, it’s time to run a new wire. Running a new thermostat wire can be a challenge even for experts, so be prepared. Call an HVAC professional if you are uncomfortable doing it.
Temporary Thermostat | Carrier Thermostat Troubleshooting
3Replace the thermostat with a temporary thermostat and see if the problem continues. I know you likely don’t have a spare thermostat laying around as I do, but this is troubleshooting, and the spare would help me eliminate one component, the bad component that could be creating the problem.
Keep the old Carrier thermostat since, at this point, you are unsure this is the simple problem. Of course, not everyone has a spare thermostat laying around as I do. Therefore, you have a choice to make. Buy a new thermostat that you want or buy the cheapest thermostat you can find. There is a risk of buying a thermostat with all the bells and whistles. Because, at this point, the cause is undetermined. I have an Ecobee 4 Smart Thermostat and love it.
Air Handler or Furnace Control Board and Control Power
Ecobee Smart WiFi Thermostat
4After eliminating everything else and you continue to have the problem, then the problem is in the air handler. That is an area where it is probably a good idea to call an HVAC professional. Most likely, a contractor that specializes in whatever equipment you have installed. I am assuming it is Carrier equipment, but it could be another brand name. You could check the electrical connections on the control board and at the transformer. Make sure they are tight. Additionally, check where the wire was spliced (as you did above near the thermostat).
If you did the above steps and procedures, explain to them what you did. The transformer should read at least 24 volts. I often see them reading higher up to 30 volts. Anything over that, and I would be wary. A proper visual inspection of the control board is also necessary if everything else has been eliminated through troubleshooting. We are talking about electronics here, and there are basic rules to follow when dealing with those types of components.
Conclusion | Troubleshooting Carrier Thermostat Guide
That is a lot for a novice. If you are not comfortable doing it, then call in an HVAC professional. Some of the things are basic, and you could do them yourself. However, some people don’t like dealing with anything electrical, even low voltage. That is a detail of everything that could be causing the problem. It is one or the other. Troubleshooting issues like this is a process of elimination.
The Carrier thermostat is no different than many other thermostats. While some manufacturers do make their thermostats, some get Honeywell to put their brand name on a Honeywell thermostat. A thermostat is simply an automatic switch that turns things on and off by temperature or manual input. Some thermostats are more complex than others, but they all serve the same function. Therefore, troubleshooting a Carrier thermostat should be no different. Good luck, Jeff!!
Carrier Thermostat Troubleshooting
Thermostat Troubleshooting Video
