I've just started to have a problem with my thermostat losing battery power. This is actually shutting down my heat. I have put fresh batteries in twice over the last two weeks, reprogrammed the thermostat - only to have it happen again today. Is this the thermostat going bad?

One thing you might check, is some thermostats have a blue wire connected to a B or C terminal. If yours does, make sure it has 24 volts between it and the red wire to R or RH, often jumpered to RC. If that wire came loose, there could be additional drain on the batteries.

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. The part about the dogs is hilarious... I have a jack russell - I understand.

I went out an bought a new thermostat and managed to hook it up all by myself. Anything electric scare the %*(& out of me. :) Thank you again.