Vivint Thermostat Not Reading Temperature Correctly: How to Fix

If you’re looking for tips to fix incorrect temperature readings in your Vivint thermostat, this post is your go-to resource.

In the next paragraphs, we’ll explain the reasons behind this issue and what you can do to fix your thermostat. Let’s get right into it.

If your Vivint thermostat is not reading temperature correctly, here are some reasons this might happen:

The batteries in the thermostat are low.
Your air filter is clogged.
Your temperature settings are incorrect.
You install your Vivint thermostat in an inappropriate location.

With that in mind, here’s how to troubleshoot this issue.

Table of Contents

How to Troubleshoot Incorrect Temperature Readings in Your Vivint Thermostat

1. Replace the Batteries

While there may be other reasons behind this issue, you should start your troubleshooting with the batteries.

Your Vivint thermostat requires a specific amount of power to function effectively. Usually, it gets most of the power from its battery. So, if the battery power is low, it may reduce its performance, which may result in some malfunctions.

When your thermostat isn’t regulating the temperature in your home, check the status of your batteries. If your batteries are low, you need to replace them. Follow these steps to change your Vivint thermostat’s batteries:

Detach your Vivint thermostat from its mounting plate on the wall.
Turn the thermostat to its other side to reveal the battery compartment.
Remove all old batteries from the compartment.
Wait for about 30 seconds.
Now, insert the new batteries. Your Vivint thermostat requires 4 AA batteries to function properly. While inserting the batteries, ensure to place them in their correct position.
Remount the thermostat to the wall.

If the problem persists after replacing the batteries, continue to the next step.

2. Clean Your Air Filter

Sometimes, your Vivint thermostat may be working perfectly. But it might not be able to achieve your desired temperature because the air filters in your HVAC are clogged.

Before air leaves your furnace or AC, it passes through their air filters. If these air filters are clogged, it might reduce the amount of hot or cool air that leaves your HVAC.

For instance, if your room temperature is lower than your chosen temperature, your thermostat will induce the furnace to pump more hot air. But if the air filter in the furnace is clogged, the device might not release adequate hot air, leaving the room temperature slightly cooler than you want.

If you aren’t getting sufficient cool or hot air in your room, clean the air filters in your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning). You should also clean your air filters regularly to prevent them from getting clogged in the future.

Not sure how to clean the air filters in your AC and your furnace? Here is how to do that:

Switch off your air conditioner.
Locate your AC’s air filter and remove it. If you use a central air conditioner, you’ll find the air filter in your basement. The air filters of ducted air conditioners are located within the main return air duct. In window air conditioners, the air filter is located in the front panel.
Vacuum your air filter. If the air filter is water-proof, you can also soak it in water and vinegar for about 1 hour before cleaning it off.
Wait for the air filter to dry.
Once you’re sure that the air filter is dry, replace it in its original position.
Close the AC and turn it on.

Cleaning the Air Filter in Your Furnace:

Turn off your furnace.
Search for the air filter inside the furnace. Most furnace air filters display an arrow, indicating airflow.
Before you remove the air filter from your furnace, use a sharpie to mark the right direction of the air filter. This will prevent you from inserting the air filter wrongly when you want to replace it.
Now, remove the air filter.
Use a hose to rinse off the dust on the filter with water. You can also place the air filter under running water.
After cleaning the air filter, set it near a wall and wait for it to dry.
Replace the air filter in the furnace. Remember to follow the direction you marked before you removed the air filter.

3. Adjust Your Vivint Thermostat Temperature Settings

While installing your Vivint thermostat, you have to select your desired temperature. Perhaps you set the temperature when the outdoor weather was hot.

Now, the weather is cool, and you think your room temperature is too low. Unfortunately, your thermostat won’t let your room temperature go higher or lower than your set temperature. If you aren’t satisfied with your current room temperature, you have to adjust your temperature settings.

Here’s how to change your Vivint thermostat’s temperature settings:

Open the Vivint app on your phone.
Click on the temperature icon at the bottom of the screen. The temperature icon is the one that states the current temperature of your thermostat.
Increase or decrease the temperature at the center of the screen by clicking the plus or minus symbols.
Exit the Vivint app once you are satisfied with the new temperature settings.

Your Vivint thermostat will now keep the temperature in your room at your desired set point.

4. Reinstall Your Vivint Thermostat in an Appropriate Place

If you install your Vivint thermostat near a window or air vent, it may not be able to read the temperature in your room correctly. This is because the outdoor airflow may interfere with the room temperature.

For instance, if your room is hot, but it’s freezing cold outside, your Vivint thermostat may mistake your room temperature for ‘Slightly cool’. As a result, the thermostat may cause your furnace to pump more hot air into the room.

If you’ve installed your Vivint thermostat near a window, remove it and remount it in an area without airflow. The ideal place for your Vivint thermostat is the center of a room.

5. Perform a Factory Reset

If your Vivint thermostat is still reading incorrect temperature after trying all the fixes above, try performing a factory reset. Resetting the thermostat usually helps to fix incorrect settings/glitches, causing some malfunctions.

Here’s how to reset your Vivint thermostat:

On the thermostat’s home screen, long press the SIDE button for a few seconds (about 3 seconds).
Press the DOWN button to highlight “Installer”. Next, press the SIDE button.
Now press DOWN to highlight “Reset” and then press the SIDE button.
Press DOWN again to highlight “Reset”, then press the SIDE button.
Now confirm that you want to restore default settings by pressing DOWN again to highlight the Reset button, then pressing the SIDE button. The thermostat will reset and then reboot and this should fix the temperature issues.

You can also reset your Vivint thermostat by switching your circuit breaker off and back on. Make sure to locate the switch that controls your thermostat—turn it off, then wait 30 seconds and turn it back on.

Note that you have to start all over again to set up the thermostat after performing a factory reset.

Wrapping Up

So that’s how to troubleshoot incorrect temperature readings in your Vivint thermostat—one of the fixes should do the trick.

However, if the issue persists, contact Vivint customer support for help.

You may also like to see how to troubleshoot battery and connectivity issues in a Vivint thermostat.