Mike Lamb Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 It was too hot for me to run the furnace the other day. The thermostat would only go up to 90F. Someone on TIJ had mentioned putting ice on a thermostat works. I had my client hold the ice pack. It took about 15 minutes for the thermostat to drop to 89F. I don't know why it took so long but the furnace fired. Click to Enlarge 21.7 KB Click to Enlarge 31.54 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Simon Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 It was too hot for me to run the furnace the other day. The thermostat would only go up to 90F. Someone on TIJ had mentioned putting ice on a thermostat works. I had my client hold the ice pack. It took about 15 minutes for the thermostat to drop to 89F. I don't know why it took so long but the furnace fired. Click to Enlarge 21.7?KB Click to Enlarge 31.54?KB Woulda been quicker and easier just to hot-wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BADAIR Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 It was too hot for me to run the furnace the other day. The thermostat would only go up to 90F. Someone on TIJ had mentioned putting ice on a thermostat works. I had my client hold the ice pack. It took about 15 minutes for the thermostat to drop to 89F. I don't know why it took so long but the furnace fired. Click to Enlarge 21.7?KB Click to Enlarge 31.54?KB plastic and air space around/between sensor are poor conductors, thus 15 min delay example: this is my stat, left outside for a few minutes and i know i don't have it set in heat mode, won't happen for 4 more months WARNING!!! not for the faint of heart pull stat and put inside a baggie set atop icepack for 2~3 minutes and good to go Click to Enlarge 21.74?KB Click to Enlarge 31.99?KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 I do not suggest doing it with any one present - but you could have removed the stat and joined the red & white wires together this should start the furnace. I have jumped a system like this to check its operation in foreclosures when there was no stat installed. To check the cooling you connect the red/green and yellow or blue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Maxwell Posted July 7, 2012 Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 I've hot wired a few when the thermostat was missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lamb Posted July 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2012 I've never hot wired a furnace before so I thought this would be safer. My client was more than happy to stand there with the ice bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted July 8, 2012 Report Share Posted July 8, 2012 It's a good tip. I find messing with the programmable thermostats to be like hacking into someone's computer sometimes. I am publicly apologizing for screwing up your programs, folks. Cooling it with ice seems harmless enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert E Lee Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I had three vacant houses this past week where the indoor temperature was too hot (88-92 degrees) for the furnace to kick on. I've used the bag of frozen peas a number of times in the past so will try to remember the red/white wire trick the next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I would not force the heater into operation under conditions outside the design specs but if you're inclined to do so, pack a small jumper lead in your tool pouch and just jumper the red/white. Red is the 24 volt supply and white is the conductor used by the thermostat to call for first stage heat. The bounds of shabby DIY workmanship does not stop at wiring thermostats. I've seen it many times. So there's a risk involved in attempting to hot wire one. Again, I don't recommend it for HI's Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 or we could just run the a/c until the house was cooled down enough to run the furnace. also that red wire will shock you just enough to make you say ouhh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Why dink around with the thermostat? I know, standard operating controls, yada yada yada. Hooey! If it's too hot for the stat to call for heat it's working, and if you have to chill the stat it ain't normal operation anyhow. When I have had occasion to jump start one I've done it right at the control board, usually with all the covers off so I can see what's going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lamb Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 If it's too hot for the stat to call for heat it's working, How would you know that? and if you have to chill the stat it ain't normal operation anyhow. No, but how would the thermostat know that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.