You may never need to adjust your heat anticipator controls.
Still, if you find your thermostat isn’t functioning correctly, this could be the issue.
Adjusting the controls takes just a few minutes (outlined in our steps below).
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
What Is a Heat Anticipator?
The heat anticipator essentially consists of a small disc attached to the bimetallic coil of the thermostat.
The disc has a thin wire on its surface and an adjustable arm that touches the wire.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
The function of the heat anticipator is to fine-tune the point at which thethermostatturns off the furnace burners.
Ideally, it turns the furnace’s burners off a short time before the room reaches the desired temperature.
Fortunately, this problem is often easy to correct by adjusting the heat anticipator.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Using a torpedo level, check that the thermostat body is level on the wall.
If not, the thermostat’s mercury switch will not work properly.
It will probably have the word “LONGER” or “LONGER CYCLES” printed on it.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
It will also have a lever arm and indicator relating to the calibration marks.
This is the heat anticipator adjustment lever arm.
(With some thermostats, the printing is found on a bracket adjacent to the adjustment arm.)
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
If necessary, repeat the above procedure until the thermostat works properly.
Electronic thermostats are so precise that there is no need for a heat anticipator.
Best of all, mostprogrammable thermostatshave controls that allow you to preset room temperatures for convenient, energy-saving operation.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
A heat anticipator should typically last the life of athermostat, which is usually about ten years.
Once the anticipator fails, it’s time to replace your thermostat altogether.
It does so by creating false heat, which increases the thermostat’s rate of response.
