My quick fix routine: check the breaker, swap thermostat batteries, then—if all else fails—pop the old analog back on.
That’s pretty much my playbook too. I swear those old Honeywells are like cockroaches—just can’t kill ‘em. Had a Nest freeze up last winter and ended up digging out my ancient dial. Not pretty, but at least I didn’t have to sleep in a parka.
I get the appeal of those old Honeywells—
—but honestly, I worry about relying on stuff that’s decades old. Sure, it’s a lifesaver in a pinch, but I had one short out and trip the breaker last year. Not fun when you’re trying to save money and avoid calling an electrician. Personally, I’d rather spend a bit on a reliable backup than risk a fire hazard or fried wiring. Sometimes “old faithful” isn’t worth the gamble.“just can’t kill ‘em”
Had a similar situation with an old Honeywell last winter—thing had been running since before I was born, but one night it started making this weird buzzing noise and then poof, breaker tripped. I get the nostalgia, but honestly, I’d rather not gamble with my wiring. Ended up swapping it for a newer model and haven’t looked back. Sometimes “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” is a good thing, you know?
Had a 1970s unit in one of my rentals that hummed like a fridge full of bees every winter. Tenants swore it had “character,” but after the third midnight call about tripped breakers, I caved and upgraded. Funny how “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” sometimes just means “now you can actually sleep.”
Funny how “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” sometimes just means “now you can actually sleep.”
Honestly, I get nervous about anything that hums or trips breakers. Old units might have charm, but I’d rather have peace of mind and a safe electrical panel. Upgrading was probably the right call, even if it lost a bit of “character.”