How to Adjust a Central Heating Thermostat

You should check and adjust your central heating thermostat throughout the months that you are using the system and at least once year. It is important that you adjust your central heating system thermostat, so you can monitor your heating bill as well as for your home safety. Here is how to adjust a central heating thermostat.

Things You'll Need

• Small brush
• Small screw driver

Instructions

1. Take off your thermostat cover by gently pulling on it. Remove the front assembly and check to make sure the wall plate is level.

2. Loosen the mounting screws on the wall plate, if it is not level, and level it. Then reattach the front assembly and clean the parts with a small soft brush.

3. Clean all the switch contacts with a soft brush to make sure it is operating effectively and cleanly.

4. Adjust your thermometer reading to match your accurate room thermometer by using a small screwdriver. The thermometer is usually a bi-metal coil in the thermostat cover.

5. Adjust your anticipator if your furnace is turning on and off too often or too rarely. If it is turning on and off too often, move the pointer a bit toward the longer setting. If it is turning on and off too rarely, move your pointer the opposite direction.

6. Test the thermostat by removing the thermostat body and clip and insulated jumper wire to the W and R terminals on the baseplate. If the furnace goes on, your thermostat is bad and needs to be replaced. If your furnace doesn't go on, your problem likely is with your furnace itself, the furnace relay, or your transformer.