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Forum Thread

Replacing the thermostat?

2,624 1,562 November 29, 2016 at 05:44 AM in Chat
Hi Guys,
I have the Honeywell Beutler 800 thermostat. Recently the screen said LO BAT. I have replaced the batteries w/ different ones. I read the notice inside the cover. The fuse is still intact. No matter what batteries I put in, nothing shows up on the screen. But the heater still seems to be able to be turned on (and off) manually. So I'm assuming the screen display has failed. So much for automated environmental controls.

So in researching online, I understand the thermostat can be replaced by one w/ "compatible wiring". Is this true or can it be replaced by anything? I'm wondering if anyone has ever replaced their thermostat themselves and which brand/models were used?
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Joined Sep 2006
IVIodel citizen
> bubble2 19,428 Posts
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Fallacy
12-05-2016 at 09:19 AM.
12-05-2016 at 09:19 AM.
Quote from Zoe Moon :
IIRC, you have the option of setting up the frequency of filter change notifications, we had to adjust it when we bought the nest as the reminder was too far out.
Actually you don't.

It's one of their "learned" features - https://nest.com/support/article/...air-filter

"Other thermostats have filter alerts that go off at set times: once a month, every six months or every year.
The Nest Thermostat uses system runtime to estimate when you need a Filter Reminder. So if you don't turn cooling on much during the summer, you may go months without a Filter Reminder. If it's a very cold winter and the heating runs a lot, you'll get Filter Reminders more often."
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Joined Jun 2006
Jambi-rific in Seattle!
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Zoe Moon
12-05-2016 at 09:24 AM.
12-05-2016 at 09:24 AM.
Quote from DC :
DW is a SAHM and the MIL lives with us as well...so the learning when we leave (never) feature that some of the T-Stats have would be fairly useless as well.
From a Tech standpoint, I think it's a cool feature, but if you take 5 minutes, you can read and program your T-Stat and save the cost of the feature.
Yes, you could program your T-Stat but 1) it's a bit of a PITA and 2) Most people with kids have a school routine and a 'schools out' routine and you have to factor in Winter and Summer too, so to really save money you would have to change it four times a year, perhaps more if someone's work schedule changes. People are too lazy to do that.
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Joined Jun 2006
Jambi-rific in Seattle!
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Zoe Moon
12-05-2016 at 09:27 AM.
12-05-2016 at 09:27 AM.
Quote from Fallacy :
Actually you don't.

It's one of their "learned" features - https://nest.com/support/article/...air-filter

"Other thermostats have filter alerts that go off at set times: once a month, every six months or every year.
The Nest Thermostat uses system runtime to estimate when you need a Filter Reminder. So if you don't turn cooling on much during the summer, you may go months without a Filter Reminder. If it's a very cold winter and the heating runs a lot, you'll get Filter Reminders more often."
That's why I put the IIRC on there, DH does the filters. I think though it gives you the option of doing it either way.
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Joined Sep 2009
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> bubble2 6,966 Posts
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zzyzzx
12-06-2016 at 11:16 AM.
12-06-2016 at 11:16 AM.
Quote from Fallacy :
"Other thermostats have filter alerts that go off at set times: once a month, every six months or every year.
The Nest Thermostat uses system runtime to estimate when you need a Filter Reminder. So if you don't turn cooling on much during the summer, you may go months without a Filter Reminder. If it's a very cold winter and the heating runs a lot, you'll get Filter Reminders more often."
When did it become too hard to check and change your filter manually???
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Joined Mar 2009
Schrödinger's Frog
> bubble2 19,384 Posts
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Frogstar
12-06-2016 at 11:44 AM.
12-06-2016 at 11:44 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
When did it become too hard to check and change your filter manually???
I know it's a pain in the ass for me where my furnace is located.

Regardless, are you denying that it would be more convenient to just look at your thermostat than it would be to pull out a filter and visually inspect it?
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Joined Sep 2006
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Fallacy
12-06-2016 at 12:52 PM.
12-06-2016 at 12:52 PM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
When did it become too hard to check and change your filter manually???
Step 1. Have Nest automatically change filter
Step 2. Make billions of dollars.

In all seriousness, I gotta walk all the way to the basement to check the filter? do you realize how lazy I am? I'd much rather have the thermostat tell me when it's time to do so.

The Nest isn't very good at it though, and I'm fairly certain ZM is wrong, there is no set manual time option (not on the Gen II Nest, not sure about the latest and greatest Gen III).
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Joined Jun 2006
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Zoe Moon
12-06-2016 at 02:17 PM.
12-06-2016 at 02:17 PM.
Quote from Fallacy :
Step 1. Have Nest automatically change filter
Step 2. Make billions of dollars.

In all seriousness, I gotta walk all the way to the basement to check the filter? do you realize how lazy I am? I'd much rather have the thermostat tell me when it's time to do so.

The Nest isn't very good at it though, and I'm fairly certain ZM is wrong, there is no set manual time option (not on the Gen II Nest, not sure about the latest and greatest Gen III).
I was wrong. It doesn't give you the option for a set reminder but you do have to turn the reminder feature on and input data (when the filter was changed last) before it will notify you when it thinks the filter needs changing. It does this based on your heating and cooling data.

The stupid part is it only brings up the notice on the Nest, not on the web page or your mobile devices. I rarely look at the Nest, just adjust it from my desk, might turn it on in the mornings sometime before going to my desk but DH never actually looks at the Nest anymore, no need to do so.

It also says:

Quote :
Note: Filter Reminders are only available for homes that have forced air heating and/or cooling systems.
https://nest.com/support/article/...air-filter
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Last edited by Zoe Moon December 6, 2016 at 02:20 PM.

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Joined Sep 2009
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zzyzzx
12-06-2016 at 07:21 PM.
12-06-2016 at 07:21 PM.
Quote from Frogstar :
Regardless, are you denying that it would be more convenient to just look at your thermostat than it would be to pull out a filter and visually inspect it?
It is easy to remove a filter for inspection. The thermostat really does not know how dirty the filter is.
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12-07-2016 at 06:41 AM.
12-07-2016 at 06:41 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
It is easy to remove a filter for inspection. The thermostat really does not know how dirty the filter is.
No it isn't. I have to go into the tiny cramped room where the furnace is, take off a cover, take off another cover, then get down on my hands and knees in a very cramped space, unlatch the filter holder, and then finagle it out.
The thermostat can make a guess that's good enough for me (well, if I had one of these fancy ones--instead I just guess myself based on how often I think the system has been running).
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DC
12-07-2016 at 07:41 AM.
12-07-2016 at 07:41 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
It is easy to remove a filter for inspection. The thermostat really does not know how dirty the filter is.
It all depends on where it's located.

Mine is at the 2nd floor ceiling as the AC/Heater is housed in the attic. I just need a stool to stand on and lower the cover on the Cold Air Return and drop the filter out...

But if you have a furnace closet it can be a PITA...

Quote from Frogstar :
No it isn't. I have to go into the tiny cramped room where the furnace is, take off a cover, take off another cover, then get down on my hands and knees in a very cramped space, unlatch the filter holder, and then finagle it out.
The thermostat can make a guess that's good enough for me (well, if I had one of these fancy ones--instead I just guess myself based on how often I think the system has been running).
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