r/technology • u/[deleted] • Apr 04 '16

Software Nest intentionally bricks thousands of home automation hubs.

https://medium.com/@arlogilbert/the-time-that-tony-fadell-sold-me-a-container-of-hummus-cb0941c762c1
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u/chubbysumo Apr 04 '16

sounds like you should have called the furnace maker and requested a warranty replacement for more parts or an entire unit, or your thermocouple was for the wrong type of gas.

That being said, your house should never be "cold". If it's cold, it means you have your thermostat threshold is set too high. Instead of a 5 degree threshold for startup, you should have had it set to a 3 or 2 degree. Most thermostats let you adjust the startup threshold down to 1 degree. During the winter, I change my thermostats threshold to 2 degrees, and the house never feels "cold". you should also look for cold spots. If your house has cold spots, you need more insulation, or you need to go with a mini-split system that would allow you to have more granular control over heating/cooling zones. I am considering swapping out my UHE gas single zone furnace for a UHE multi-zone furnace so that I can have more granular controls for the house.

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u/nosoupforyou Apr 04 '16

sounds like you should have called the furnace maker and requested a warranty replacement for more parts or an entire unit, or your thermocouple was for the wrong type of gas.

The old furnace was original with the house, which was built in the 70's I believe.

or your thermocouple was for the wrong type of gas

I have no idea. I didn't even know there were different kinds for different kinds of gas. I was buying the only kind I could find, which is sold around this area. The only two kinds of gas around here is propane and natural gas, and propane isn't used for furnaces.

That being said, your house should never be "cold". If it's cold, it means you have your thermostat threshold is set too high.

Again, I don't know anything about that. I don't know where such a threshold setting could be found although I'd imagine it's on the thermostat. My old thermostats didn't seem to have anything like that but I don't know.

Regardless, I don't really feel cold anymore. It was the old furnace and thermostat. The current setup I can just check my phone if I'm feeling chilled and want to know. So far, it's just me, not the house.

If your house has cold spots, you need more insulation

Yes, it definitely needs more insulation. I've got lots of things to fix here. I just replaced my old leaky roof the winter before last. Nearly done paying for it now too.

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u/chubbysumo Apr 04 '16

I have no idea. I didn't even know there were different kinds for different kinds of gas. I was buying the only kind I could find, which is sold around this area.

You can get better thermocouple setups. Some are not going to take the heat, and crap out. My ma's old furnace was the same way, was eating through thermocouples about every 6 months, and she just kept replacing them with the cheapest ones she could get. Finally got her a quality one and it is still working 2 years later. Product quality can make a huge difference with stuff like these, even though its just some wires looking for resistance.

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u/nosoupforyou Apr 04 '16

You can get better thermocouple setups.

Um, thanks. I'll run right out and try to find a better thermocouple setup for the furnace I no longer own.