Thermostat Troubleshooting: Solutions for Common Issues - Trane® (2024)

HVAC Troubleshooting

Follow our interactive troubleshooting guide to find answers to your system’s problems.
Choose from a selection ofcommon HVAC issues or pick your product for help with fixes you can tryyourself.

Without your thermostat, your HVAC system wouldn’t be able to function. Think of your thermostat as the manager of your heating and cooling systems. When you decide you want to change the temperature in your home, the thermostat is responsible for telling the other components of your HVAC system what to do.

If your thermostat isn’t cooperating, don’t worry. We have gathered support material to help you with the most common thermostat issues so you can easily get your thermostat back on track.

Smart Thermostat Troubleshooting

Models: XR724, XL824, XL850, XL1050, Link UX360

If power or WiFi goes out at your home, your thermostat will automatically reconnect when the power or WiFi comes back up. If the thermostat does not automatically reconnect to WiFi, it can be manually reconnected by following these simple steps:

  1. Turn Wireless ‘Off’ and ‘On’ again: On the thermostat main screen, go to Menu→Settings→Network→Wireless, then “ON/OFF”
  2. Reboot Thermostat: If the thermostat does not connect after turning the wireless off and on, try rebooting the thermostat.

For additional help, visit these smart thermostat resources for your specific product:

If your thermostat is connected to WiFi (displays green bars), but is disconnected from the Trane Home account, please follow the instructions.

  1. Ensure thermostat is on a secure WiFi network
  2. Turn WiFi off by pressing Menu→Settings→Network→Wireless, then “ON/OFF”
  3. Leave WiFi off for at least 30 seconds
  4. Select Wireless “ON/OFF” to turn the wireless network back on
  5. If the thermostat does not reconnect to the Trane Home network, power cycle your modem and router. Retry once they have rebooted and service has been restored.

If your thermostat is blank, has a white screen, or a black screen take the following actions:

  1. Power cycle your thermostat:
    • Ensure your HVAC system is not running. A good way to tell if it is running is to listen. If you hear the system running, then wait until the heating/cooling cycle completes before proceeding to next step.
    • Locate the switch for your thermostat in the breaker box.
    • Flip the switch to the “OFF” position for 20-30 seconds.
    • Return the switch to the “ON” position.
  2. If the thermostat screen is still blank/white/black contact your HVAC dealer to have them inspect your thermostat and wiring.

A Trane Home account provides you with the flexibility to adjust your temperature from virtually anywhere. It is recommended that you create your account using the Trane Home web portal, but it is also possible to create an account using the Trane Home mobile app.

When you enroll your Trane wireless smart thermostat in Trane Home, you can view and control your home's heating and cooling system from virtually any smartphone or internet connection.

  • In the Trane Home mobile app, select “Connect New Device”
  • Select “Thermostat”
  • Select “Continue” (a 5-digit activation code will appear)
  • Return to the Thermostat screen, tap Menu→Settings→Smart Home
  • Tap “Next”
  • Press “Accept”
  • On the thermostat screen, enter the 5-digit code that was given in the mobile app and press “Next”
  • Follow the on-screen prompts on the thermostat to complete the setup process

For additional help, visit these smart thermostat resources for your specific product:

Thermostat How-To Videos

For basic operation, please consult your thermostat’s owner’s manual.

Here are other helpful thermostat operation guides for the XL series thermostats:

You can find more guides to help you set up and use your smart thermostat in our online support portal.

  1. Ensure your HVAC system is not running. If it is, please turn it off.
  2. Locate the switch for your thermostat in the breaker box. The thermostat is typically on the same circuit as your HVAC system.
  3. Flip the switch to the OFF position for 20-30 seconds.
  4. Return the switch to the ON position.

Certain models have the option to reboot from the thermostat menu. See specific instructions for the XL824, XL850, XL1050, and Link UX360 thermostats below.

The temperature displayed on a Trane® XL824, XL850, or XL1050 thermostat can be adjusted if it displays the incorrect temperature. The displayed humidity can also be recalibrated if needed. You will need to use a separate temperature or humidity sensor that is known to be accurate in order to verify that the thermostat is reading correctly.

  1. On the thermostat main screen, go to Menu→Settings→Thermostat→Indoor Calibrations.
  2. Use the up/down arrows to adjust the Indoor Temp and Humidity correction and select Apply.

When enrolling your thermostat to your Trane Home account, if you see a message that says the thermostat is currently registered to a Trane Home account, it is because the previous homeowner did not unregister the thermostat from their account when they moved. This can only be corrected by calling Trane Home Customer Support at 1-877-288-7707.

Traditional Thermostat Troubleshooting

Models: XR202, XR203, XR3023, XR303

Traditional Thermostat not working? Here’s what you can do

While there are a number of common problems yourthermostat and temperature controlscould have, there’s also typically a wide range of thermostat troubleshooting solutions you can try yourself. So, if you find your thermostat is facing one of these common issues, here’s what you can do to safely try to combat the problem. If these solutions don’t work — or you don’t feel comfortable trying them yourself —contact an HVAC professionalfor assistance.

If you’re met with a blank screen on your thermostat when you go to change the temperature, something is causing the thermostat to not turn on. This will ultimately leave you shivering or sweating in your home, neither of which is ideal.

Troubleshooting tips

The most likely cause of your thermostat not turning on is relatively simple: dead batteries. The solution is equally simple: try replacing the batteries to see if your thermostat powers back on. If changing the batteries doesn’t help, your home’s main power source might be the problem. If you can safely reach your circuit breaker, try flipping it on and off to get your thermostat up and running again. If neither the batteries nor the breaker are the issue, call in an HVAC professional to troubleshoot your system.

Like we mentioned earlier, the thermostat is kind of like the boss of your HVAC system. Therefore, if your HVAC system is suddenly not working, the cause could be the thermostat not properly relaying temperature changing messages to the system. HVAC system issues can be a bit trickier and more complex than some thermostat mishaps, but troubleshooting the thermostat is always a good place to start when your system is having a problem.

Troubleshooting tips

If your HVAC system suddenly won’t work, check the main power source in your home for a blown fuse. Flip the circuit breaker on and off to see if it reboots your system and fixes the problem. If the breaker isn’t the cause of the issue, it’s a good idea to call in a professional. Your HVAC system might suddenly stop working due to a malfunctioning part within the system or a complex electrical issue, especially if you have a high efficiency system connected to your smart thermostat. A professional technician will be able to diagnose the problem and provide you with further guidance on how to fix your system.

Programmable thermostatsare a great advancement in HVAC technology because they allow you to set your device to your own unique temperature needs, then let the thermostat do the true heavy lifting while you just adjust as needed. This technology could experience an issue where the room temperature doesn’t match the thermostat settings you programmed.

Troubleshooting tips

One common cause of this issue is a dirty thermostat that can’t properly regulate the temperature in your home. Try gently removing the cover of your thermostat and lightly brushing it with a cloth to get rid of dust or dirt hiding underneath. Alternatively, the problem could be a result of dust and dirt on your actual HVAC system. In this case, tryreplacing the air filtersin your HVAC systems. After performing both these cleaning functions, adjust the thermostat and see if the problem persists.

Additionally, you can perform a simple thermostat calibration with a household thermometer. Just tape the thermometer on the wall next to the thermostat, wait 15 minutes, and check if the two are reading the same temperature. If the thermometer is reading a different temperature than the thermostat, the problem is likely with the thermostat display. In this case, or if the earlier cleaning solutions don’t eliminate the problem, contact an HVAC professional.

Investing in asmart thermostat can save you moneyin many ways. For example, smart thermostats monitor and control your HVAC system usage and program the system to run only when you need it. This ultimately stops your HVAC system from running too frequently, which in turn can help lower your utility bills. But, an issue could occur where your HVAC system is short cycling or continuously running. Similar to situations in which your HVAC system may suddenly stop working, a thermostat or bigger HVAC system issue might be causing your system to run continuously.

Troubleshooting tips

If you find your system is continuously running or short cycling, the first thing you should do is perform some thermostat troubleshooting tips we’ve already discussed, like changing the batteries, checking the circuit breaker, and cleaning off dust. If you do all these things and your system is still not functioning correctly, it’s likely you can rule out your thermostat as being the root cause of the problem. Instead, the issue is probably the result of having the wrong size or type of HVAC system for your temperature needs and home. In this case, call in an HVAC professional to help determine if you need a system repair or replacement.

After making the tough choice ofwhat temperature to set on your thermostat, you may grow irritated if your thermostat won’t actually let you program the temperature of your choice. If every time you press the controls on your thermostat you’re met with an unchanging screen, try these troubleshooting tips to fix the problem.

Troubleshooting tips

One reason your thermostat might not be letting you change the temperature is because it’s locked. To unlock a Trane thermostat, press the plus (“+”) and minus (“-”) keys at the same time for three to four seconds, then try adjusting the temperature again. If this doesn’t work, try resetting your thermostat with the reset button, changing the batteries, or cleaning off any dust and dirt inside. If the temperature is still stuck, an electrical or display issue might be to blame. Contact an HVAC professional for further help.

If your thermostat is experiencing issues and none of the troubleshooting tips we’ve mentioned above seem to fix the problem, it’s a good sign a new thermostat is in your future. Here are a few other signs to look out for that indicate you might need a thermostat replacement:

  • Your thermostat is more than 15 years old.
  • Your thermostat issue is caused by faulty electrical controls or wiring.
  • Your thermostat frequently displays the incorrect room temperature.
  • Your thermostat frequently gets stuck on one temperature.
  • Your energy bills are inexplicably high.
  • Your thermostat is making strange noises.
  • Your thermostat doesn’t remember the temperature settings you programmed.

If you’ve tried all our troubleshooting tips to no avail, don’t run to the store to buy a replacement thermostat quite yet. Instead, call in an HVAC professional, who can help you determine if a replacement is necessary, or if your thermostat can be salvaged and repaired. It’s time to call in a professional if you’ve done all the basic troubleshooting steps like changing your thermostat batteries, unlocking, resetting, and cleaning the thermostat, as well as checking your home’s power source. Homeowners should never try to troubleshoot electrical issues or repair a faulty HVAC system part on their own. Leave that to the professionals. They’ll get your thermostat back up and running!

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Thermostat Troubleshooting: Solutions for Common Issues - Trane® (2024)
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