The Robertshaw Thermostat - Instruction Manuals, Troubleshooting, And More!

The Robertshaw Thermostat – Instruction Manuals, Troubleshooting, And More!

Having a good thermostat that works properly can make your life a lot easier, as it will regulate the temperature and keep your home warm or cool enough, exactly when needed.

After all, there’s nothing worse than dying of heat or shivering with cold when in the comfort of your own home! 

The thing is, there are many different types of thermostats, and it can be tricky to understand them if these sorts of gadgets aren’t your thing. How do you install and have the thermostat work?

How can you know what the model is? What if there’s an issue, what should you do to try and fix it yourself before calling a professional?  

No need to worry, we can tell you about all the basics you need to know so that you’re somewhat in control and know what you’re doing. Let’s get started with it! 

What is a Robertshaw Thermostat?

Let’s start by clarifying and explaining what a Robertshaw Thermostat is so that we know exactly what we are dealing with! 

A Robertshaw Thermostat is a type of thermostat, from the Robertshaw brand. They are incredibly popular, and very well-regarded, and for good reason. 

The Robertshaw brand has been around since as early as the 19th century. And Frederick W.Robertshaw, founder of this brand, actually invented the modern thermostat as we know it nowadays, so you could say that this brand is the father of all modern thermostats! 

So not only did this brand kickstart thermostats, but it has also been around for a very long time, amassing experience and reputation.

They have kept improving their thermostats, and they currently have 12 different manufacturing plants wholly dedicated to producing the brand’s thermostats. 

The Robertshaw brand also manufactures controls and bits and pieces for other home appliances, offering washers, dryers, refrigerators, ice makers, and a lot more! 

So basically, a Robertshaw Thermostat is a very high-quality brand of thermostat that has been around for quite some time, and that has an excellent reputation. That’s what we’re dealing with! 

Different types of Robertshaw Thermostats:

The Robertshaw, as we’ve mentioned, deals not only in thermostats but also in other many appliances. But thermostats are always going to be the main focus, especially with the whole having invented the modern type of thermostat used worldwide, it’s kind of their specialty! 

Within the thermostats that Ronbertshaw manufactures and sells, there are many different types, catering to different needs, preferences, and designs. 

For the programmable thermostats, Robertshaw has different types divided into three different categories or series: 

The Economy Series Thermostat:

The Economy Series is dedicated to low-cost thermostats that are within the economy budget so that they are more affordable and accessible.

They’re simple and cheaper than the other thermostats, but they still contain all of the important features that make Robertshaw thermostats so well-known and high-quality. 

These thermostats are ideal for people that need to save some money, and for residential or commercial properties. Basically, it’s perfect for places that are straightforward and that don’t need an overly complicated system for regulating the temperature. 

The Value Series Thermostat:

The Value Series is somewhat in the middle range of the thermostats that Robertshaw offers. They are thermostats that are considered to be very good value, with a high-quality design paired with accessible pricing.

They are not out of this world, but they’re slightly better than the Economy Series. 

They are all compatible with gas and electric furnaces, as well as with heat pumps. Plus, they are easy to use and simple while having some of the more advanced features. 

The Premier Series Thermostat:

The Premier Series includes all the top thermostats that Robertshaw has to offer, the best of the best. They are essentially the luxury thermostats within the brand, so they are slightly more expensive but well worth it for all the extra amazing features that they come with. 

They have higher capabilities, with an extra display for the remote sensor, and the buttons can be locked when needed. Plus, a few other features that are well worth the extra money! 

Finding the model number for your Robertshaw Thermostat:

Finding the model number for your Robertshaw Thermostat

Before we get into the basic instructions and troubleshooting steps when dealing with your Robertshaw Thermostat, it’s important to remind you that there are many different Robertshaw thermostats, with different models that fall into different categories.

And although all of the thermostats will be pretty similar, as they come from the same brand, there will be enough differences amongst them to make the troubleshooting differ. So different issues will have to be fixed in slightly different ways. 

So the first step, before you try anything with your thermostat, is to get up the right manual of instructions that will have all of the relevant information to help you with your troubles.

And in order to find the right manual for your thermostat, you need to know the model number of your thermostat. That’s the number used to identify the thermostat, and if you contact customer service or a professional, they will also need to know this. 

So, how do you find the model number for your particular Robertshaw Thermostat?

It sort of depends on the type of thermostat. But as a general rule, the model number will be printed on the back of the faceplate, or will be able to be found by accessing the user interface through the main menu, where you will then select “tech support”. 

Basic instructions for your Robertshaw Thermostat:

Installing your Robertshaw Thermostat should be fairly easy and straightforward, so you can probably do it yourself without needing to get a professional in.

The exact steps and instructions for installing the thermostat will depend on the model of the thermostat that you have, and you should then check the appropriate manual. 

However, as most Robertshaw thermostats are pretty similar, here are the basic rules that can be applied to most. (Again, double-check with the manual if these steps don’t work for your thermostat.) 

  1.  Start by turning the power off.
  2. Make sure the HEAT-OFF-COOL is on OFF! 
  3. Double-check that AUTO-ON is on AUTO.
  4. Next, remove the protective cover on your thermostat, and figure out where you’re going to place the thermostat within your house. 
  5. Drill the thermostat in place, using the mounting holes that it comes with, and make sure the thermostat is secure on the wall, and that it won’t fall off. 
  6. Follow the manual instructions to set up the wire connections. 
  7. On the ELEC-GAS switch, select the type of furnace. 
  8. Place the switch into HP or into NON_HP, depending on if you are using a heat pump or not.
  9. Place a battery into the battery compartment.
  10. Place the thermostat cover back on and turn on the power. 
  11. Make sure everything is working correctly, and then you’re all done! 

Once you have made sure that the thermostat is properly installed and working, you will have to program it so that it begins to regulate the temperature of your home in the way you want it to.

This can take some fiddling until you find the settings that you are happy with, but to speed up the process here are some tips:

  • Hold down on SELECT until SET CLOCK is displayed on the screen
  • Use the arrows to select the right time and date
  • Move the switch into HEAT and program that setting
  • You can use the arrows to select the time and the temperature
  • Repeat the process for COOL, so that both are programmed and ready to be used when needed 

Troubleshooting for your Robert Thermostat:

Most of the time, when your thermostat is having an issue, it can be easily solved by doing some troubleshooting. Most of the time it’s something out of sync, or your thermostat just needing a bit of a reset

So before you panic and call a professional, it is worth checking your manual of instructions and going through the different steps that offer different possible solutions, depending on the possible problem.

Of course, if you try a few different things and nothing seems to be working, then it’s time to call a professional so that they can fix it properly. Best not to risk fiddling about with it too much, or you might cause accidental damage! 

As we keep saying, it’s important to check the right manual for your thermostat, as different types of thermostats differ slightly. But as most Robertshaw thermostats are fairly similar, here are some of the main troubleshoot issues, and how to fix them! 

The wrong temperature reading:

One of the most common issues that your thermostat might have is displaying the wrong temperature.

It might be hard to realize at first, especially if it’s not too far off from the right temperature, but if you suspect this issue and it doesn’t seem to get better by itself then it’s time to fix it! 

This issue might be caused by air that is filtering in through a cavity, and which is affecting the temperature reading. But you should also make sure your thermostat is positioned in the right place, and that it isn’t near a window or door where there might be a draft. 

To solve this problem, you need to seal the wall cavities through which air is coming through, and you need to make sure there is nothing near the thermostat affecting the temperature reading.

So any hot lamps should be positioned away from the thermostat, and there should also not be any sources of wind or cold nearby. 

The AC turns on and off:

This usually happens when the temperature differential is set to be too low. This means that with any slight change of temperature, the thermostat will pick up on and react, which will cause it to turn on and off more often than necessary. 

To solve this problem, increase the temperature differential setting. 

The LCD screen isn’t displaying:

Most of the time, if your LCD screen isn’t displaying properly it is due to a problem with the battery. Check the battery levels, and check whether the connections are all in the right place so that the power can flow through. 

To solve this problem you will either have to replace the battery or re-position the wire connections so that the power can flow through into the battery properly.

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