AC Thermostat Keeps Resetting To 85 — How To Fix?

When you configure the settings of your thermostat you set a temperature value which is desired by you. Once this value is set you roam around carefree because you know that the temperature has been set and it will be the same throughout.

But when this temperature changes then you feel the difference. Same thing happened with me recently. My thermostat keeps going up to 85 and I had no idea what was the reason for this. However, I did some research and at last found some solutions which proved to be very beneficial for me.

Thermostat Keeps Resetting Due To The Following Reasons.

• The Batteries Have Completed Their Life And They Need A Replacement
• The Fuse Which Is Present Has Been Blown
• The Wires Have Become Faulty
• Thermostat Programming Is Done For 85 Degrees Fahrenheit

AC THERMOSTAT KEEPS RESETTING TO 85:

You keep asking this question to yourself that why does my thermostat keep resetting itself. The potential reasons for this issue have been discussed above. Sometimes the solution is very much simple and can be performed within a few minutes. On the other hand, the solution might get complexed and you will need to take help from an expert.

THERMOSTAT RESETTING ITSELF – REASONS EXPLAINED!

We have briefly described the reasons for the occurrence of this problem but now we will dig into the details to know exactly about each problem.

• BATTERIES NEED A REPLACEMENT:

If you own a simple non-programmable thermostat then it is obvious that it operates on batteries. These batteries have a specific time duration which means that after that time limit they will stop working.

You need to replace these batteries with new ones so your thermostat can start working like before. Don’t take too long for the replacement procedure as the batteries can leak acid into the thermostat.

• PRESENCE OF A BLOWN FUSE:

Sometimes the reason which you are trying to find out for the resetting problem is the presence of a blown fuse. If there is a faulty fuse present in your thermostat then it will definitely not work properly.

To be sure that the fuse of your thermostat has become faulty open up your thermostat. The placement of the fuse varies according to the model of your thermostat but you can search for a colored cylinder having a small filament inside of it (this will be your fuse).

Check the filament thoroughly. There shouldn’t be any cracks present on it, if there are any cracks then you will have to replace the fuse as soon as possible. You can replace the fuse on your own but if you want to take professional help then you can even do that.

• FAULTY WIRING:

The wiring plays a really important part in the correct working of your thermostat. If any wire has been damaged then the whole system will have to suffer. The easiest solution would be to look for damaged wires. If you cannot find it then another solution is to contact an HVAC technician to get this problem solved.

• THERMOSTAT IS PROGRAMMED TO 85 DEGREES:

If you are using a second-hand thermostat then chances are that the previous user had it programmed to 85 degrees. If this is the case then you will have to reset the temperature settings and decide the temperature which suits you the best.

If you don’t know how to reset the temperature settings then take help from the manual and you will be good to go.

HOW TO DETERMINE THAT THE THERMOSTAT ISN’T WORKING PROPERLY?

If your thermostat is reading higher than actual temperature or if its setting is not matching the home temperature then you can tell that there is something wrong. However, there are other reasons as well through which you can tell whether your thermostat has been faulty or not.

• RANDOM POWERING OFF AND ON OF YOUR HVAC SYSTEM:

The working of your thermostat involves direct communication with the HVAC system. But if the AC unit is getting powered ON and OFF then the problem lies within your thermostat.

A wild guess is that maybe there has been faulty wiring or the presence of a blown fuse which is causing this trouble. Make sure that you have your thermostat tested before things get out of hands and you are left with nothing.

• CONSTANT TEMPERATURE CHANGE:

The most prominent error to witness is the temperature change. If you have a faulty thermostat then it will try its best to maintain the temperature but will fail terribly. It will keep changing the temperature randomly and you will have to reprogram it so that it can continue its normal working.

• FALSE TEMPERATURE READINGS:

Another important thing to consider is that whether your thermostat is showing false readings or not. If it is then it is an indication that your thermostat is faulty. Try replacing the old batteries with new ones or check for any faulty wiring. If the issue still persists then call a technician for help.

• SHORT CYCLING OF HVAC SYSTEM:

There might come a situation when you don’t know what is wrong with your thermostat. It gets powered ON and operates for 5 minutes and then gets turned OFF for 2 minutes. If you face this issue then the problem is related to short cycling. And short cycling typically occurs due to bad wiring.

THERMOSTAT DROPPING TEMPERATURE – WHAT ARE THE REASONS?

In case of temperature dropping you will have to get your thermostat recalibrated. Your thermostat might be pre-programmed with a specific temperature value and needs a quick readjustment.

Or if your thermostat is way older than expected then you must get it inspected by an expert technician. This inspection will inform you about the real reason.

REASONS:

Following are the reasons why your thermostat is dropping temperature.

• FROZEN OUTDOOR UNIT:

In extreme weather conditions if your Honeywell thermostat keeps resetting to 85 then the most obvious reason is that the outdoor unit has been frozen. Basically the evaporator coil gets blocked by ice and the heat is not transferred. In conclusion, the thermostat will have a hard time maintaining the temperature for your home.

• INAPPROPRIATE FURNACE SIZE:

If your furnace is not of the right size then you will have to get yourself prepared to face some serious issues. If your furnace is extremely small then it will be insufficient to warm the house in the right way. Similarly, if your furnace is big then it will quickly warm your house and can cause overheating as well. So choose your furnace wisely.

RESETTING THERMOSTAT ON AC – HOW DO I DO THIS?

If white Rodgers thermostat keeps resetting to 85 or if Braeburn thermostat keeps resetting to 85 then you need to perform a reset on the AC unit. There are two ways to do this job. The first method is to simply press the reset button and it will automatically be reset. The other method involves manual resetting.

For this you will need to go to the circuit breaker and switch it OFF. Wait for about 30-40 seconds and then switch it back ON. This will do the trick.

IS RESETTING MY THERMOSTAT NECESSARY?

Well it depends. It is obviously not a compulsion but in most of the cases it proves to be super beneficial. For instance if you are trying to troubleshoot an HVAC system issue then you will have to reset your thermostat no matter what.

If your thermostat has been pre-programmed then in this case also you will have to reset your thermostat so that you can re-program it according to your own convenience.

REPLACEMENT COST OF THERMOSTAT:

The replacement cost of your thermostat will be from $20 to $200. So if you are thinking of getting your thermostat replaced then consider this amount carefully.

FINAL TAKE:

All the possible reasons for the occurrence of this problem have been discussed above. So if you are facing any one of the issues then you know what to do. However, you don’t need to be too stressed about this because the fixes are pretty straight-forward.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q – Why Does My AC Keep Going To 85?
A – Your AC keeps going to 85 because it is the standard unoccupied temperature. If it is a programmable thermostat then it needs to be programmed for the specified amount of days.

Q – Is 85 Too High For Thermostat?
A – According to the energy efficiency recommendations it is recommended to set your thermostats at 85 in the day time while in the night time it should be at 82.

Q – Why Does My AC Thermostat Keep Resetting Itself?
A – Your AC thermostat resetting itself might be due to the presence of old batteries. If this is the reason then get your batteries replaced as soon as possible.