The summer months are always just around the corner. With these months comes the sweltering heat that will keep you tucked away in the cool comfort of the great indoors. Many homeowners try to test out their thermostats in advance of the summer months to make sure that they are prepared when the sun finally rises. It can be alarming to find that your Honeywell thermostat system says wait when you want to experience some cool air flowing through your home right now.
This message is a relatively common one that many homeowners encounter. Fortunately, it usually is nothing to worry yourself over. Many people find that the code disappears within minutes, and their unit goes back to running normally. If you want to know why this happens and what you can do to prevent it, let’s take a closer look at what is really going on behind the scenes.
Why Does the Thermostat Say Wait?
Many homeowners panic when their thermostat sends them a message outside of the norm. However, it is occasionally necessary for your device to communicate a different kind of message to you. The Honeywell thermostat system says wait on cool when it is prolonging an activation of your HVAC system.
Most commonly, this is done to protect the HVAC system compressor. The compressor is responsible for circulating the refrigerant through your unit and helping it to cool down the air that enters your home. If your air conditioner has been off all morning and is just turning on as the afternoon sun rises, your compressor needs a few minutes to get started.
A compressor that must come on immediately after the unit is powered up could begin to short cycle. This means that the air conditioner will turn on and off again rapidly without ever cooling down your home. It reduces the efficiency of your unit, creates more wear and tear on the parts of your air conditioner, and increases your monthly cooling costs. Meanwhile, your home is still likely to feel uncomfortable.
This is the most common reason for the Honeywell thermostat system wait message. When this is the culprit, the message should disappear within approximately five minutes. A message that lasts longer than that indicates a different issue.
While it may feel inconvenient that your HVAC system doesn’t start up immediately upon your command, it is actually for the best. Your unit is likely to last longer, and your wallet is sure to thank you. In this common scenario, the wait message you receive is actually beneficial for both you and your unit.
Longer Wait Status
When your Honeywell thermostat says wait for longer than five minutes, it is likely that you are encountering a voltage issue. You can attempt to reset the thermostat by installing new batteries in it. With fresh batteries at their peak voltage, you have a clearer idea of what may be behind your long wait status.
Sometimes, the Honeywell thermostat says wait after changing the batteries. This is a clear indicator that it is most likely caused by a voltage issue. A professional can come out to your home to test for this potential problem.
It is also quite possible that you have some wires that are a little bit faulty. Perhaps they had come loose over time or were not properly attached when the unit was installed. While the HVAC professional is testing the voltage on your thermostat, they can also inspect the wiring to determine if this is contributing to your overall problem with the wait message on your thermostat.
You may want to consider how old your thermostat is. Many models from Honeywell will have a five-year warranty. If your unit is older than this, it could simply be time for the thermostat to be replaced with a newer model. An experienced technician should be able to help you identify the age of your thermostat and make recommendations for a newer model.
This is an excellent opportunity to upgrade to a smart thermostat that can save you even more money on your monthly heating and cooling costs. Be sure to do a little bit of research on the different makes and models available so you can be prepared if your technician suggests this as a potential solution to your issue.
Waiting it Out
When you want your house to cool down, the last thing you want to do is wait. You expect that your air conditioning unit should automatically kickstart itself once the temperature rises to an unbearable degree. This definitely can happen, but sometimes it takes a few moments for the unit to become fully functional. If your Honeywell thermostat says wait, rest assured that the unit should start itself in due time.
If you find that your thermostat continues to offer this message after ten minutes or longer, you may need to seek professional help. Call in your local HVAC experts to examine your thermostat and your HVAC system to determine where the issue lies. The sooner you call, the sooner you can continue to recline in relative comfort.
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