Adjusting the sensitivity on your Honeywell thermostat is a simple process that allows you to control how quickly your HVAC system responds to changes in the set temperature. The sensitivity setting determines how far the actual room temperature needs to deviate from the set temperature before the thermostat signals your HVAC system to turn on. A higher sensitivity setting will cause your system to turn on with smaller changes in room temperature, while a lower setting will require a larger change before the system reacts.
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What is Thermostat Sensitivity?
Thermostat sensitivity refers to how closely a thermostat attempts to maintain the desired set temperature. Thermostats work by reading the current room temperature using their built-in sensors and then signaling the HVAC system to turn on if the temperature falls outside a certain range from the setpoint. This range is known as the “swing” or “deadband.” A sensitive thermostat has a narrow swing, meaning it will signal the HVAC to turn on with only a small deviation in room temperature from the setpoint (e.g. +/- 0.25°F). A less sensitive thermostat has a wider swing (e.g. +/- 1°F) and will allow greater fluctuation in room temp before signaling the system to turn on. Adjusting the sensitivity changes the width of this swing.
Why Adjust Thermostat Sensitivity?
There are a few reasons you may want to adjust your thermostat’s sensitivity setting:
– Improve Comfort – If you find the thermostat is allowing too much fluctuation from the set temp before turning on the HVAC, increasing sensitivity will help maintain a more consistent comfort level.
– Reduce Energy Usage – Lowering sensitivity can reduce system run times and save energy since it allows wider temperature swings before turning the HVAC on. However, this may decrease comfort.
– Limit System Cycling – A thermostat that is too sensitive can cause the HVAC system to cycle on and off frequently as it tries to keep up with minor temperature changes. Lowering sensitivity avoids this excessive cycling.
– Accommodate Schedule Changes – Adjusting sensitivity can help when your schedule changes significantly. For example, increasing it when you’re frequently away or decreasing it when you’re home more.
Overall, adjusting the sensitivity allows you to find the right balance for your specific needs and preferences. Most experts recommend keeping it at medium sensitivity for optimal comfort and efficiency.
Locating the Sensitivity Setting
On most Honeywell thermostats, including popular models like the Honeywell Home RTH6580WF, RTH9585WF, and RTH6500WF, you can find the sensitivity setting in the “Settings” or “Advanced Settings” menus.
Here are more specific steps to locate it on various Honeywell thermostats:
Honeywell Home Thermostats (RTH6580WF, RTH9585WF, RTH6500WF, etc):
1. Press the “Menu” button on the thermostat.
2. Use the arrow buttons to go to “Settings” then select “Advanced Settings”
3. Scroll down and select “Sensitivity”
4. The current sensitivity setting will be displayed (e.g. Medium, High, Low)
Honeywell ProSeries Thermostats:
1. Press the “Menu” button.
2. Select “Advanced Setup” then “Thresholds”
3. Select “Temperature Differential”
4. This displays the current sensitivity setting measured in degrees.
So in summary, accessing the sensitivity setting requires navigating into the Settings/Advanced Settings area of the menu. The setting may be named “Sensitivity” or “Temperature Differential” depending on the specific model.
Adjusting the Sensitivity
Once you’ve located the sensitivity setting, adjusting it is straightforward:
1. Use the up/down arrow buttons to change the setting to your desired level.
2. On most models, you can select from Low, Medium, or High sensitivity.
3. For ProSeries models with a numerical temperature differential, lower numbers indicate higher sensitivity. Typical differentials are in the range of 0.25°F (high sensitivity) to 1.5°F (low sensitivity).
4. Press “Done” or “Apply” to save the new setting.
The changed sensitivity level will now take effect. Your thermostat will react faster or slower to temperature changes according to the sensitivity you set.
Here are some general guidelines for setting the sensitivity level:
– Low (1°F differential or higher): Use when you want to limit system cycling. This allows wider temperature swings but can sometimes result in decreased comfort.
– Medium (0.5°F differential): Provides a balance of comfort and efficiency for most users. Prevents excessive cycling while maintaining a stable temperature.
– High (0.25°F differential or lower): Use if maximum comfort is desired. The system will react very quickly to small temperature changes. However, this may cause short cycling.
You may need to monitor your system for a few days and make adjustments to find your optimal sensitivity level based on your preferences.
Alternative Ways to Adjust Sensitivity
In addition to changing the sensitivity setting directly, there are a couple alternative ways to effectively adjust thermostat sensitivity on some Honeywell models:
Changing the System Switchover Deadband
– This setting determines the minimum temperature difference required for the system to switch between heating and cooling modes.
– A wider deadband makes the system less prone to switching on, acting similar to lowering the sensitivity. A narrower deadband makes it more sensitive.
– Typical deadband range is 3°F to 9°F. This setting is located under Advanced Settings.
Using Smart Response Technology
– Some newer Honeywell models have a feature called Smart Response that automatically adjusts sensitivity based on the rate of temperature change.
– This helps prevent the system from overcompensating during periods of rapid temp change.
– Smart Response acts to smooth out temporary spikes in sensitivity. Keep this enabled if your model has it.
Adjusting the Cycle Rate
– This limits how often your HVAC system can turn on over a given time period.
– A lower cycle rate prevents frequent cycling and makes the system less sensitive.
– The setting is under Advanced Settings on most models.
So in summary, the main way to control sensitivity is by changing the Sensitivity or Temperature Differential setting directly, but these other related settings can also help fine tune the thermostat’s response.
Testing and Monitoring the New Sensitivity Setting
After you change your thermostat’s sensitivity, it’s a good idea to monitor system performance for a few days to confirm the new setting is having the desired effect and make any additional adjustments needed.
Here are some things you can look out for while testing:
– Thermostat behavior – Does the thermostat now turn the HVAC on sooner or later than before with changes in room temperature?
– Comfort level – Is the room temperature more stable and comfortable or is it fluctuating more?
– Cycling frequency – Does the HVAC system seem to cycle on and off less or more frequently throughout the day?
– Energy use – Have you noticed any increase or decrease in run times that may impact energy use?
By observing your system on the new sensitivity setting, you can determine if you need to make small tweaks to optimize it. It’s generally a process of finding the right balance for your home’s conditions.
Continued monitoring can also help identify issues like a thermometer that needs calibration or a failing HVAC component causing unexpected temperature swings. Adjusting sensitivity alone won’t fix those type of underlying system problems if they exist.
Conclusion
Adjusting the sensitivity on your Honeywell thermostat provides a simple way to improve comfort, efficiency, and performance. The process involves accessing the sensitivity setting under the Settings or Advanced Settings menus, choosing from presets like Low/Medium/High or entering a specific temperature differential value, and observing your system to confirm the new level acts as desired. With some testing and fine-tuning, you can dial in a sensitivity level that keeps room temperatures consistent without excessive cycling of your HVAC system. Contact a technician if you need help accessing the settings or have underlying system issues causing temperature control problems.
| Sensitivity Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Low | Allows wider temperature swings before turning on HVAC system. Helps minimize short cycling. |
| Medium | Balances comfort and efficiency. Recommended for most users. |
| High | Provides maximum comfort by reacting quickly to temperature changes. Can lead to frequent cycling. |