| ||
| InspectAPedia® |
| |
Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair | Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia |
Mobile ViewHEATING SYSTEMS AFUE DEFINITION, RATINGS AGE of CHIMNEYS & FIREPLACES AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS AGE of FOUNDATION MATERIALS AGE of FRAMING MATERIALS AGE of FLOORING MATERIALS AGE of ELECTRICAL WIRING AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS AIRBOUND HEAT SYSTEM REPAIRS ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS ANTI SCALD VALVES APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTERS BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS BANGING HEATING PIPE NOISES BAROMETRIC DAMPERS BASEBOARD HEAT BIOGAS PRODUCTION & USE BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BLUERAY Recall BOILERS, HEATING BOILER OPERATION DETAILS BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BOILER COMPONENTS & PARTS BOILER CONTROLS & SWITCHES BOILER LEAKS CORROSION STAINS BOILER LEAKS, HOW TO LOCATE BOILER OPERATING PROBLEMS CARBON MONOXIDE - CO CARBON MONOXIDE WARNING CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe COMBUSTION AIR DEFECTS COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ COMPLETE COMBUSTION, Stoichiometric CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES DAMAGE CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Pipe CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CIRCULATOR PUMPS & RELAYS COOL OFF HEAT, Thermostat Switch COMBUSTION AIR COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT buildings COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ COMPLETE COMBUSTION, Stoichiometric CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES CONDENSING BOILERS/FURNACES DAMAGE CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-BOILER DIAGNOSE & FIX HEATING PROBLEMS-FURNACE DRAFT HOODS - gas fired DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUCT INSULATION - Asbestos Paper DUCTS - Asbestos Transite Pipe DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? ELECTRIC HEAT ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS FAN LIMIT SWITCH FAN NOISES FILTERS, AIR for HVAC SYSTEMS FILTERS, OIL on HEATING EQUIPMENT FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS FIREPLACE Damage & Unsafe Hearths - Settlement FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR FLUE VENT CONNECTORS FREEZE-PROOF A BUILDING FUEL OIL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS FUEL UNIT, HEAING OIL PUMPS FURNACES, HEATING DUCT SYSTEM DEFECTS ALLOY SYSTEMS FLEXDUCT DUCT & AIR HANDLER ODORS DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper FURNACE CONTROLS & SWITCHES FURNACE OPERATION DETAILS FURNACE OPERATING TEMPERATURES HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION GAS BURNER Flame & Noise Defects GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS HEAT LOSS INDICATORS HEAT LOSS PREVENTION PRIORITIES HEATING COST FUEL & BTU Cost Table HEATING COST SAVINGS HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-BOILERS HEATING LOSS DIAGNOSIS-FURNACES HEATING OIL CLOUD WAX GEL POINT HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS HEATING OIL - OLD, USEABLE? HEATING OIL PIPING TROUBLES HEATING OIL SHELF LIFE HEATING OIL SLUDGE HEATING OIL USAGE RATE HEATING SYSTEM INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR HOT WATER HEATERS HOT WATER IMPROVEMENT INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT LP & Natural Gas Safety Hazards MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC NO HEAT - BOILER / FURNACE DIAGNOSIS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE NOISE AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP NOISE, DUCT VIBRATION DAMPENERS NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING NOISES COMING FROM WATER HEATER ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS FROM HEATING SYSTEMS OIL BURNERS OIL BURNER INSPECTION GUIDE OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS OIL BURNER NOZZLE & ELECTRODES OIL BURNERS, RETENTION HEAD OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT OIL FILTER MISSING OIL FUEL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS OIL & GAS PIPING GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS OIL LINE CLOGGING FIX OIL LINE SAFETY VALVES OIL ODORS, LEAKY OIL TANK PIPING OIL PUMP FUEL UNIT OIL SPILL CLEANUP / PREVENTION OIL TANKS OIL TANK SAFETY OIL TANK SLUDGE OIL TANK TESTING OIL TANKS, BURIED OIL TANK WATER REMOVAL PLASTIC HEATER VENT PULSE COMBUSTION HEATERS PASCAL CALCULATIONS RADIANT BARRIERS RADIANT HEAT RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES RADIATORS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks Reset Switch - Heater Primary Control Reset Switch - Electric Motors Reset Switch - Stack Relays SAFETY HAZARDS & INSPECTIONS SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE SAFETY, HEATING INSPECTION SAFETY,HOME HEATING TIPS Safety Recalls, Chimneys, Vents, Heaters BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BLUERAY Recall CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Goodman HTPV RECALL Heat Recovery Ventilator RECALL Lennox Furnace Manuals Lennox SAFETY WARNING PLASTIC Plexvent / Ultravent RECALL Weil McLain RECALL SAFETY, HEATING INSPECTION SAFETY,HOME HEATING TIPS STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BANGING HEATING PIPE NOISES CAD CELL RELAY SWITCH Check Valves Flow Control Valves Flo Control Chemical treatments, Boiler Circulator Pumps & Relays COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS CONDENSATE RETURN PIPES, PUMPS, STEAM DIAGNOSE & FIX BOILER DRAFT HOODS - gas fired DRAFT MEASUREMENT, CHIMNEYS & FLUES DRAFT REGULATORS, DAMPERS, BOOSTERS ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT Expansion Tanks FIRE SAFETY CONTROLS Gauges on Heating Equipment Limit Switches, Boilers Low Water Cutoff Valves, Boilers MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES Pressure & Temperature Settings, Controls Pressure Switch, Steam Boiler RELIEF VALVES - TP VALVES Sight Glass, Steam Boiler Spill Switches Stack Relay Switch Steam Pressure Gauge Steam Vents THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING LOW WATER CUTOFF CONTROLS Water Feeder Valves, Steam TANKLESS COILS THERMAL TRACKING & HEAT LOSS THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING Types of Building & Room Thermostats How Thermostats Work Detailed Guide to Room Thermostats How to Set the Thermostat COOL OFF HEAT, Thermostat Switch FAN ON AUTO Thermostat Switch HEAT ANTICIPATOR Adjustment HEAT ANTICIPATOR Mini Ammeter to Check HEAT PUMP Thermostats - Outdoors INSTALL & WIRE Thermostats TEMPERATURE RESPONSE of Room Thermostats SWITCH FUNCTIONS on a Room Thermostat THERMOSTATS, WATER HEATER AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions Electric Water Heater Thermostats THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES Transite Pipe Chimneys & Flues More Information |
This article explains what a heat anticipator is on a wall thermostat, where to find it, what it looks like, why we adjust the heat anticipator, how we do so. We list the recommended heat anticipator settings. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.This article series on room thermostats and heat anticipators continues discussion of the basics of heating or cooling system thermostats, their use, setting, and adjustment. Here we provide A Guide to Finding, Using, and Adjusting Thermostats for Heating & Air Conditioning Furnaces & Boilers, Heat Pumps or Electric Furnaces or Boilers. This website answers most questions about central heating system troubleshooting, inspection, diagnosis, and repairs. We describe how to inspect residential heating systems to inform home owners, buyers, and home inspectors of common heating system defects. The articles at this website describe the basic components of a home heating system, how to find the rated heating capacity of an heating system by examining various data tags and components, how to recognize common heating system operating or safety defects, and how to save money on home heating costs. We include product safety recall and other heating system hazards. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. How & Why to Adjust the Heat Anticipator on a Room Thermostat
What is a thermostat heat anticipator? The purpose of a thermostat heat anticipator is to "de-sensitize" the thermostat so that when actual room temperature is hovering close to the set temperature on the thermostat, the thermostat switch won't keep switching the air conditioner or heating system on and off too often - which can damage the equipment. In our photo you can see our pointer hovering over fine wires wound around a triangular piece of plastic (forming a variable resistor) and you can see at center of the photo a flat copper arm which can be moved to slide a contact to different positions along the wound variable resistor. The triangular pointer at the top of the copper arm has an opening which helps read the exact position to which the heat anticipator has been set. Behind the pointer you can see a silver scale with different amp readings which are detailed in the table below. On this heat anticipator setting scale settings range from 0.10 to about 2 Amps. The heat anticipator scale: If you click to enlarge this photo you can see the amperage level to which this heat anticipator had been set when we took this picture. It is below the lowest setting recommended by Honeywell. How Does the Thermostat Heat Anticipator Actually Work?The heat anticipator in an electromechanical thermostat includes a tiny heating coil which warms the thermostat's room temperature sensing bimetallic spring. Warming up the thermostat's sensor causes it to "open" its contacts (stop calling for heat) a little before the room temperature actually reaches the thermostat's "set" temperature. Stopping the call for heat a little early allows for the delivery of residual heat that is already in the boiler or furnace but that has not yet reached the living space. By turning off the call for heat a little early we avoid "overshooting" or making the room warmer than the thermostat's set temperature. The heat anticipator is anticipating the additional heat that is going to arrive and regulating the thermostat accordingly. What is the Difference Between the Heat Anticipator and a Heating Control Device Differential?The differential is the temperature (or pressure) change or "differential" between the LOW and HIGH settings of a heating system control. See AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions for an example of control differential settings on heating equipment. A heat anticipator will not work accurately unless the following conditions are met:
What Should Be the Heat Anticipator Settings on a Room Thermostat?Just below we give a table of heat anticipator settings recommended by Honeywell.
Watch out: as Honeywell warns thermostat installers: This thermostat has an adjustable heat anticipator and will operate properly only if this [heat anticipator resistor] heater is adjusted to match the current of the valve or relay. See HEAT ANTICIPATOR Mini Ammeter to Check for details. Set the heat anticipator to the heating boiler or furnace manufacturer's recommendation, or if you don't know that number, you can either leave the heat anticipator at its factory setting (recommended) or you can use a mini-ammeter to actually measure the heating thermostat circuit and to fine tune the heat anticipator setting, as we discuss further at HEAT ANTICIPATOR Mini Ammeter to Check Set the heat anticipator to a lower number to let the heat run longer or make the room a bit warmer in relation to the set point on the thermostat. Set the heat anticipator to a higher number to cause the heat anticipator to itself heat up the thermostat, causing the thermostat to be "satisfied" or to turn off the heating system sooner, thus making the room a bit cooler in relation to the set point on the room thermostat. When we adjust the heat anticipator on a thermostat that has one, we are fine-tuning the amount of heat anticipation that the device is allowing. More Information about Heating System ControlsDefinition of Amps, Electrical Current, and Definition of Ohms, Electrical Resistance Because some controls are used in common on hot water heat, hot air heat, and steam boilers, readers should see these other articles: see BOILER CONTROLS & SWITCHES, and also see BOILER COMPONENTS & PARTS for a detailed list of heating boiler controls, other heating system components, parts such as circulator pumps & draft regulators. If your building uses warm air heat, see FURNACE CONTROLS & SWITCHES. If your building uses steam heat see STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS. Also see Heat Won't Turn Off - Stop Unwanted Heat. Readers needing to find and fix un-wanted air leaks, heat losses, or other energy wasters should see HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS. Readers should see ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT CASE STUDY and also see HEAT LOSS DETECTION TOOLS and INSULATION INSPECTION & IMPROVEMENT for energy saving retrofit detailed guides. Also see GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS for more details on how to inspect and test LP and natural gas piping, controls, valves, and tanks. Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
... Technical Reviewers & References
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
| |||||||||||||
| Home | About Us | Accuracy | Contact Us | Content Use Policy | Privacy | Website Description | © 2012 Copyright InspectAPedia.com |