Moving Thermostat

9 years ago

Hi.

We had a new central ac installed a little while back. We have been in the home for 25+ years and this is the 3rd system (second replacement) and the first time we've had a system that cools the home properly and actually cycles on and off on hot summer days. They fixed and upgraded some duct work this time around which probably made all the difference. They did a good job. But, they threw us a curve with the new thermostat. It's a Honeywell wifi Lyric. We were used to the old style that cycles on and off based on temperature swing. This one is fixed at whatever temperature you set it at and works on cycles per hour rather than allowing you to change the swing or differential.

So, it took a little while to wrap my head around the concept. At any rate, they installed the new thermostat where the old one has always been located. It's located near the return vent and right outside the master bedroom which is the coolest room in the house. The problem is that the unit short cycles, shortest being the late night and early morning hours where it will run for less than 10 minutes at a time. But in the hot afternoons, while it runs for a few minutes longer per cycle, it cycles on and off a good deal. I have spoken to the contractor, who doesn't seem too concerned but we both suspect that, with the location of the thermostat outside that cool bedroom, that the thermostat is catching a draft from that room and cycling off sooner than it should. It was suggested that we try moving the thermostat to the inside wall of the hallway off the living room. They installed a second return there during the installation and there is no supply vent there that would blow air on the thermostat. Of course, at this point I would have to pay for them to move the T-stat but this is something that I can do myself.

Sorry for the book, but what I'm basically asking for are opinions on whether moving the thermostat to the new location is worth a try. The best solution may end up being going back to a thermostat that allows setting a wider differential/swing. Next project is adding insulation to the attic but cannot afford it at present. That should increase off time in the summer afternoons. But in the meantime, again, I'm wondering what your thoughts are on trying the thermostat in that different location.

Thanks

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Comments (4)

Elmer J Fudd
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Two responses -

I recently had two new Honeywell thermostats installed (of my own choosing) when replacing my two heat/AC systems. The cycles per hour vs temp drop notion is different but it really works to the same end. But, the setting chosen is important. The way mine seems to work is that if you divide the cycles per hour into 60 minutes, the important parameter set is how long it will stay off before coming on again. In my case, I chose the 2 cycles per hours setting because at that rate, it will stay off no less than 15 minutes before coming back on. If you choose 1 cycle per hour, it would stay off 30 minutes before coming back on, 3 cycles per hour would be 10 minutes, etc. Once your set temperature is reached, your unit shouldn't need (and you shouldn't expect) it to come on quickly after ending an on cycle. Maybe you should try experimenting with this setting to see if you can get the cycling to operate more to your liking.

Secondly, I intentionally chose the older, Redlink technology because the thermostats can be installed in a mode that's completely wireless. They can be relocated from one place to another if the mounting location is deemed undesirable. There's also a unit called a Wireless Indoor Air Sensor that can be mounted in a different position to control and override what the main thermostat senses. Maybe these are available for the model line you have?

Note the Redlink products are controllable over the internet from PCs and have easy to use tablet and smartphone apps, both of the Apple and Android varieties.

Good luck.
mike_home
9 years ago
As an experiment, can you close the vent in the room that currently has the thermostat? See if that makes a difference.

Do you know how many cycles per hour the thermostat is set at? If so, are you able to change it?
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Artie G
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I haven't tried closing the vent but did try closing that bedroom door. However, I need to try it during the day. I wake up very early and it didn't seem to make a difference at 4:00 AM. Good idea and I will try it again when it's warm outside.

The thermostat was originally set for 3 cycles per hour. I changed it to 2 per hour. Does seem to make a difference in the early morning but not so much in a warm afternoon where it may run for a little longer but wont stay off for long. Again, I think adding insulation will help with the off time. But funds are low at present.

My understanding is that temperature overrides cycles per hour. For example, you can set it to 3 cycles per hour but it will run less cycles per hour if it takes more run time to maintain the temperature. On the opposite end, if the temperature in the house is below the thermostat set point, it wont run at all as it wouldn't need to.

I do have an app installed that allows me to control the thermostat from my android phone. I don't know how it's connected but it's a Lyric T6 pro series installed by the contractor when they installed the system. But it has to be hardwired at new location. So no, not redlink.
Elmer J Fudd
9 years ago
By all means, add insulation and look at interior/exterior air sealing issues, the pay back period is usually very quick.