The Ecobee3 is a smart thermostat that looks like a regular digital thermostat but offers much more. The thermostat can be controlled by your smartphone or tablet and has a built-in room sensor that detects occupancy in the room so that it can adjust the temperature accordingly.
Ecobee3 also comes with IFTTT integration, making it even better than before. You can connect it with other smart devices and services you use daily and create handy automation to make your life easier.
These thermostats typically work amazingly, however ever now and then you might get a message reading “Heat/Cool Disabled”. This can be frustrating especially if you are hot or cold!
We are going to dive into the question of “Why does my Ecobee say heat/cool disabled?” and how to fix it!
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Why Does My Ecobee Say Heat/Cool Disabled?
The Ecobee3 and Ecobee4 thermostats are designed to enable or disable specific features based on temperature sensors in each room. If you’re using a single-stage furnace, there will be only one temperature sensor that controls the entire home. If you have an A/C system with a dedicated heat pump (two-stage), there will be two temperature sensors: one for the cool side and one for the heat side.
Here are 9 of the main reasons why your Ecobee says heat/cool disabled:
9 Main Reasons Why Your Ecobee Says Heat/Cool Disabled
1. The Thermostat Is Not Properly Set
The first thing you want to do is make sure that your thermostat is set up properly. If you’ve recently moved into a new home or apartment, check with the landlord or property manager and see if they have any information on setting up the thermostat. If not, we recommend calling an HVAC professional to get it set up properly for you. z
To do this, you need to follow these steps:
Remove the batteries from your thermostat. There should be four AA batteries placed underneath the battery cover at the back of the unit. Take out all four batteries and wait 30 seconds before replacing them with new ones. Ensure they are positioned correctly in their slots before returning them with your Ecobee smart thermostat.
2. There Is Poor Internet or Wi-Fi Connection
You should also check whether there is a poor internet connection. Without an internet connection, it will not be possible to control your heating system remotely. You will also see a red icon in the upper left corner of your device when there is no internet connection available on your phone or tablet.
If this happens, check to see if there’s any problem with the router or modem or if other devices are connected to the same network as your Ecobee thermostat. If everything looks fine, try resetting it and give it another go after about 30 seconds (press and hold both buttons for 3 seconds).
3. You Are Having a Problem With the Furnace or the Hvac System
If your Ecobee is showing Heat/Cool Disabled, it could be because of a problem with your furnace. The other thing you need to do is check if there are any issues with your furnace. If you don’t have a furnace, then your air conditioner will probably be an issue.
If your furnace isn’t working properly, it will not send heat or cool air from the vents in your house. This means that your Ecobee cannot regulate the temperature in your home and will show Heat Cool Disabled on the thermostat display.
Always ensure that your pilot light is lit before turning on your thermostat. You can call an HVAC technician for help if it isn’t lit. They’ll be able to fix this issue quickly and efficiently so that you can continue using your thermostat without any problems.
4. The Filter Is Empty
If you have an Ecobee, you probably know that it can automatically turn on the air conditioning when it senses that the temperature is too hot for comfort. However, if your Ecobee says Heat Cool Disabled, the most likely reason is that one of your filters is empty.
If this happens, you will want to replace the filter as soon as possible so your Ecobee can start working again. This is especially important if you use a smart thermostat because it can tell when your HVAC system needs servicing and alert you when there is an issue.
5. The Sensor Needs Replacing
Another possible reason your Ecobee says Heat/Cool Disabled is that one of its sensors may need replacing. This could happen if they get damaged or broken by accident. In this case, you will probably see a message on your screen about this problem. If this happens, you need to contact an HVAC service provider to have them replaced ASAP.
6. The Thermostat Is Not Properly Mounted on the Wall
The other thing you need to ensure is that you have installed your thermostat on the wall properly. Usually, people fail to mount it properly and get stuck with a message saying, “Heat/Cool Disabled: The Thermostat Is Not Properly Mounted on the Wall.”
The problem can be solved by ensuring you are mounting it correctly. There are two screws at the back of your Ecobee3 lite or ecobee4 thermostat. You need to make sure that these screws are tightened properly so that your thermostat remains stable in its position.
7. The Wrong Schedule Has Been Selected
Common issue users may encounter with the Ecobee is the “Heat/Cool Disabled” message. This can happen when they have the wrong schedule selected on their thermostat.
There are two main schedules that you can use with an Ecobee: “Home” and “Away.” The default schedule on your thermostat should be the one used for your primary program, but if it isn’t, you can change it in the settings menu.
If you have a secondary schedule, such as vacation mode, then that’s what you need to select instead of home or away. The problem is that many people don’t realize they need to change this setting when using their Ecobee as a vacation rental property.
8. The Furnace Fan Wires Are Not Connected Correctly to the Ecobee Board
Suppose you are having trouble with your Ecobee thermostat, saying, “Heat/Cool Disabled: The Furnace Fan Wires Are Not Connected Correctly to the Ecobee Board” or something similar. In that case, you may want to ensure that the furnace fan wires are connected correctly to the board. The other thing you need to do is ensure that all of your wires are connected properly.
Unplug the unit from the power source and remove any screws from the back of the thermostat. Once all of these have been removed, lift off the cover of your thermostat and look at where all of your wires are connected.
Make sure they are all connected securely and not loose before putting everything back together again. If there is a flexible wire or you see something out of place, fix it immediately so that it doesn’t cause any more problems later on down the road.
9. The Temperature Scale Is Not Set Right
The other thing to check is the temperature scale. This can be set in the app or on the thermostat itself.
In the app, go to Settings > Thermostat > Temp Scale, then select Celsius or Fahrenheit. If you have changed the temperature scale on your thermostat and it still says Heat/Cool Disabled, then it may be an issue with your wiring or hardware if this is the case.
Wrapping Up
If your ecobee3’s thermostat displays’ Heat/Cool Disabled,’ one of the following has happened. You’ve used the app to disable your heating and cooling system for a specific number of days or until a particular date. This is done by going to the settings section, then settings > comfort > scheduling > advanced preferences, and setting heat cool disabled for the number of days or until the date you want.
You’ve turned on ‘cooling only’ mode via the app or mobile device. To turn off cooling only, go into settings > comfort > scheduling and uncheck ‘cooling only.’ This article will discuss informative reasons why my Ecobee says heat cool disabled.
If you enjoyed this article, Check out our “Why Does My Ecobee Keep Going Offline?” article here!