Home Ownership If the anticipator is set too low, it won't generate sufficient heat for correct cycling. As a result, the furnace is signalled later than it should. The residual heat in the system will raise the temperature of the house higher than desired. The reverse will happen if the anticipator is set too high — it will signal the thermostat prematurely and the furnace will cut out before the room reaches the desired temperature.

Setting the anticipator is easy once you know where to set it. The anticipator on your old thermostat (if the thermostat was adjustable and the anticipator visible) will give you the correct setting. If your old thermostat can't oblige, check the control panel on your furnace for circuit control information, expressed in amperes (A). If there is no information on the furnace you'll have to work it out by trial and error.

With the power turned off, set the anticipator at mid-range. Turn the power on again and leave the system to stabilize (4 to 48 hours depending on the type of heating system — less for hot air, more for hot water). Using a separate thermometer (a minimum/maximum thermometer is good for this purpose) measure the temperature extremes in the room. If the room temperature gets too high, move the anticipator to a higher number setting, but only half a scale division at a time. If it doesn't get warm enough, adjust the anticipator down half a scale division.




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Home > Home Ownership > Energy Economics > Setting The Anticipator

December 4, 2008