central air ???

[jboatman333]

Does anyone know central air systems. My central heat and air is having problems.
I can't get it to turn on. Nothing works, can't even get the fan to kick on. I checked all the breakers, including the subpanel and everything is on. Neither of the 2 lights come on to indicate emergency heat or aux. heat. I know how to operate my thermostat,so thats is not the problem.

About all I would know how to do, is replace the thermostat. Does this possibly sound like it could be defective.

It's an older themostat, with the little up, down lever on the side.

Just wanted some input before i call in the pros, cause that will cost big $$$.r

[Greymatter Glass]

deff replace an old mercury tilt-switch thermostat with a newer digital controller. Even if nothing is broken a digital temp controller can save you $100 a year.

If it a gas or electric heater?

Other things to check:

inside the heater itself is usually a thermostat override of some sort., a button or switch, See if yours has one... push it and see if the unit kicks on. If so, it's just the thermostat.

Pilot light/ceramic ignition unit, the BASO valve, and it's thermocouple (gas only up to this point) internal breakers or fuses on the motors, a loose wire inside the unit, a bad fan, a bad relay...With a gas furnace chances are good the thermocouple on the baso valve is shot, and that kills the whole system. the Baso valve is that squarish block that sits on the gas line near the furnace.

if it's electric... could be dead elements, but I doubt it if the fans don't come on.

Most modern furnaces, gas or electric, have multiple failsafe mechanisms that can totally disable the system, any one of the subsystems could be suspect.

If you don't feel comfortable doing anything with it then just call a pro, but replace the thermostat if you're able to first - service guys will always try to sell you one for 500% markup. get an energyStar comliant device and you might qualify for a tax rebate or utility co refund, or both!

-Doug

[CliffsideGlassworks]

if its gas there are various pressure sensors for draft, ignition etc.. esp if its a newer high efficiency furnace...

check to make sure the various sensor tubes are not blocked

[jboatman333]

went and bought a thermostat, and got the wrong one.

turns out i have a multistage heat pump.

everything is electric.

I'll go exchange it tommorow.

after reading the direction on the one i bought, i think i can swap it out myself.
hopefully that will fix it.

Thanks for the pointers!

Jboatman

[jplovell]

The thermostat is wired to the air handler with probably 6 to 10 variously colored wires in a brown or white insulation sheath right? There should also be a similar cable running from the air handler to your outside machine. As it is early spring, you might check to make sure that squirrels or other rodents haven't gnawed on the portion of the control wire that goes to your outdoor machine. We have seen that here in the Dallas area before.

Definitely check the switch that the air handler access door is supposed to engage.

I have access to Carrier and American Standard/Trane dealer websites because of my work. If you have a model number, I could locate the manufacturer troubleshooting guides for you in pdf format. I usually sell new systems, but I have done some minor repairs on my own system at home.

Let us know what happens

Joe