Honeywell Thermostat Not Showing Cool Option [Solved]

Last updated May 24, 2023.

If your honeywell thermostat is not showing a cool option , that is because of an internal sensor. To fix the problem you’ll need to reset your thermostat. If the problem doesn’t go away, try resetting it again before going into troubleshooting other possible issues.

There are a few most common reasons for this issue but the most common reasons discussed in this guide also apply to other thermostat models including the following

Honeywell models
Nest thermostat models
Sensi thermostat models
Any other thermostat not mentioned above

Possible reasons for no cool option on Honeywell thermostat

Possible Cause	Main Fix
A thermostat that needs a reset or reboot	Reset your thermostat
You have a conventional heating	Check type of system you have
Master unit not set to cool	Set master unit to cool
Incorrect thermostat wiring	Make sure there is a wire in the y terminal
Thermostat not compatible with the cooling system	Get a thermostat which is compatible with your existing system

Possible reasons for no cool option on thermostat

Reas also: Honeywell Thermostat Not Blowing Cold Air

1) A thermostat that needs reset

A lot of times honeywell thermostat issues can be cleared by just resetting the unit. It is important to note that rebooting and resetting are two different things and by rebooting your system, you will most likely not fix the problem. So resetting your thermostat is the way to go.

Here is how you are going to reset your Honeywell thermostat.

How to properly reset a honeywell thermostat

This method below also applies to honeywell thermostats without a reset button

To reset a Honeywell thermostat, follow these steps:

Turn off the power to the thermostat by switching off the appropriate circuit breaker

Remove the battery and re-insert them in the opposite direction.

Wait for five minutes and then reinsert the batteries in the correct direction.

See more ways you can reset your Honeywell thermostat in this video below

It’s important to note that the steps for resetting a Honeywell thermostat may vary depending on the model you have. If you’re not sure how to reset your specific thermostat, consult the user manual.

2) You have a conventional heating system

Another reason a honeywell thermostat will not display the cool option is that you don’t have a cooling system such as an air conditioner or a heat pump. Be sure that you have an air conditioner.

You can try setting your thermostat to defrost and check if the condenser unit will engage. If the condenser unit outside doesn’t turn, you probably don’t have an air conditioner or if you have one, it is not connected to your HVAC system.

Read: Honeywell Thermostat Says Waiting For Equipment [Fixed]

3) Master unit set to heat

This problem could also be caused if you are causing multiple indoor units that are connected to one condenser unit. If settings on the master unit are set to heat, then the cool option on all other thermostat will automatically be disabled.

To fix the problem, set the master thermostat to cool. If set to cool, other thermostats under the master unit will also display the cool option.

4) Thermostat wiring

If you have a single honeywell thermostat or are still not showing the cool option, you could have an incorrect thermostat wiring for your system.

For example if you have a heat pump system but using a wiring that is for conventional heating, then you won’t see the cool option on your thermostat.

To fix the problem, remove your thermostat from the wall base and inspect the wiring that is there. Do you have any wires in the Y1 or Y2 terminal?

If there are no wires in any of the two terminals, then the wiring that you have is probably for a furnace( conventional heat). An air conditioner or heat pump system should have wires connected to the Y1 ( Compressor Stage 1 Cooling) and (or) Y2 (Compressor Stage 1) Cooling terminal.

PS: Make sure before you start touching anything, turn off power at the circuit breaker for your safety.

5) Thermostat not compatible with the cooling system

If a thermostat is not compatible with a cooling system, if it is not designed to work with the type of cooling system that is installed in your home.

This can happen if your cooling system is relatively older. Most newer programmable thermostats are not designed to work with the older equipment.

The wiring of the newer models may not support those on the older systems In either case, the thermostat may not be able to control the cooling system properly, which can lead to issues such as the “cool” option not being displayed on the thermostat’s interface.

FAQ

How do I turn on the AC on my Honeywell Thermostat?

To turn on the AC on a Honeywell Thermostat, first make sure that your thermostat is in cooling mode. You can do this by pressing the “Cool” button on the thermostat.

Then, set the thermostat to the desired temperature by using the up and down arrows on the thermostat. The AC will turn on automatically when the thermostat senses that the room temperature is higher than the temperature you have set.

Final Thoughts

To close up, we hope that at the end of this guide, you have found a solution to a thermostat that is not showing the cool option. If not, perhaps a call to a local HVAC pro will do. Good Luck!