Honeywell Thermostat Not Reading Correct Temperature? (Solved!)

It can be frustrating when your thermostat is giving incorrect readings, as it makes it difficult to control the temperature in your home.

Worse still, this problem cannot be traced to a single cause. Faulty sensors, blocked vents, bad filters, and even wrong positioning could cause incorrect thermostat reading.

However, the good news is you can try a few fixes here and there, which could get the problem solved without calling an HVAC expert. If that sounds like what you’re looking to do, you want to keep reading.

Honeywell Thermostat Not Reading Correct Temperature

The next few paragraphs contain a few troubleshooting tips that could help you fix a Honeywell thermostat that isn’t reading the correct temperature.

How to Fix a Honeywell Thermostat Reading Incorrect Temperature

1. Change the Position of your Thermostat

Installing your thermostat in the wrong location or position can make it read higher or lower than the actual room temperature. You should never install your Honeywell thermostat in a location subject to temperature swings as this may prevent the device from correctly reading the overall temperature of your room.

Also, installing it near cold or heat-generating appliances like sunlamps, microwave ovens, stoves, and hair dryers can change how it reads the room temperature. You should also not install it where it will be exposed to direct sunlight.

Do you think the incorrect temperature reading you get on your Honeywell thermostat is due to wrong positioning? You will need to move it to a better position to rectify the problem.

2. Clean your Thermostat

Your thermostat may read incorrect temperature if the vents are blocked by dust or debris. These can make the inside of the device extra warm—that is where the temperature sensor is located. When the vent is blocked, it can cause your thermostat to read the higher-than-normal temperature.

It is recommended that you open and vacuum-clean your thermostat once in a while. And if the thermostat is located in a “linty,” dusty location, you will need to clean more often.

Now, to fix the issue of your thermostat giving incorrect temperature reading, vacuum it or open it up and gently blow out the inside with canned air. You can also gently brush out the dirt inside the thermostat to bring it back to its normal functioning.

3. Check that the Sensor is Not Faulty

If your thermostat sensor is broken, it can cause your thermostat to give off the wrong temperature reading. The sensor helps the thermostat to detect temperature near it.

So if your Honeywell thermostat is not giving the right temperature reading, check to see if the sensor is faulty. If that is the case, there is no other way to fix it than to get a new sensor to replace the faulty one.

4. Change Air Filters

This is another reason a thermostat may develop wrong temperature reading issues. If your air filter is old or poor, it will tell on the performance of the thermostats. In that case, you will need to replace the air filter to get your thermostat working at its best again.

5. Keep your Thermostat Level or Calibrated

Especially if you are using an old mercury-based thermostat, your thermostat must remain level. This may not be a big deal for newer digital thermostats; it may cause a wrong temperature reading issue in older model thermostats.

If your thermostat is not properly installed or knocked out of position, it will not work correctly and will need you to reposition it, so it is level.

Also, check if your thermostat is well calibrated to read the right room temperature. A temperature offset can make your device read a few degrees lower or higher than the actual room’s temperature. So, check your user manual to see how you can properly calibrate your thermostat.

Related Problems and Troubleshooting Tips

How do I Know if My Honeywell Thermostat is Calibrated?

An improperly calibrated thermostat will not only affect the comfort level of your home but can also place an impact on your energy bill. To know if your thermostat is well-calibrated, get a glass thermometer and tape it to the wall a few inches away from your thermostat. After 15-20 minutes, check the temperature reading on both devices. If it reads the same, it means your thermostat is well calibrated.

Why Does My Honeywell Thermostat Setting Not Match My Home’s Temperature?

This could happen if the temperature sensor inside your thermostat is broken. It can also be that the inside of the device is heating because of blocked vent by dirt and debris. To fix this, clean the inside of the thermostat to remove dust and dirt or replace the sensor if it is bad.

How Do You Reset a Honeywell Thermostat?

The steps may vary as Honeywell Thermostats are of different models. However, this method works for most Honeywell thermostat models:

  1. Switch your thermostat to the off position to switch off the device
  2. Locate and turn off the breaker that powers your HVAC system
  3. Turn the breaker on again after 30 seconds
  4. Then turn your thermostat back on.

That’s it. You have just reset your thermostat.

You may also read our article about pairing your thermostat with Vivint and other smart home systems.

Final Words: Why is My Honeywell Thermometer Reading the Wrong Temperature?

As mentioned, there is not one direct cause of this problem. A Honeywell thermostat may read the wrong temperature when the vents are blocked, faulty filters, wrong positioning, etc.

To fix this, you want to check all the possible causes and fix any of the faulty parts. Of course, this article has enough details to help you get your thermostat to function correctly.

Finally, contact an HVAC expert if all the DIY troubleshooting tips fail.

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