Are you having problems with your home thermostat system? It’s alright, many people neglect their thermostat and naturally assume it’s running just fine.
It’s typically at the point you notice a significant temperature difference or a higher energy bill that you start your detective work for finding the problem to your HVAC problems. Most likely, it’s just time for a new thermostat.
The home or apartment’s thermostat is the brain of the HVAC system. If it’s having some technical issues or is just old, you’ll notice some differences in your electric bill and air comfort.
Do yourself a favor and check your thermostat(s) every now and again to make sure it’s functioning properly. There are many signs that your thermostat is failing you and a replacement is necessary. Use this checklist to discover if your thermostat is the problem for your HVAC ailments.
8 Warning Signs of Your Thermostat Failing
- The HVAC system isn’t running: Typically, you’ll notice a temperature difference in the home or apartment if the HVAC system isn’t on. This indicates that something might be wrong with the thermostat itself and requires you to look at your settings to make sure the heating or air conditioning unit is supposed to be running. You can also check the AC unit or furnace to see if the systems are running by intaking or outputting air through the vents.
- The HVAC system won’t stop running: Another indication that your thermostat might be having problems is that the heater or air conditioning won’t turn off after you’ve set it to turn off.
- Your home is too hot or too cold: You set the temperature in your home via the thermostat. If the thermostat is faulty, you’ll notice that the temperature in the living space is moving in the opposite direction of your comfort.
- Inaccurate thermostat display: Every thermostat has a display (excluding non-programmable thermostats). When the display is blank, missing regular information such as the current temperature, or is reading the wrong temperature, this could mean it needs to be replaced.
- Thermostat buttons aren’t working: If your thermostat has buttons for programming (not like one of those fancy Nest thermostats) that aren’t working when you push them, it might be that the buttons have loose wires. Instead of trying to fix these buttons, it might be best to just replace the thermostat.
- Deficient cycling: When your HVAC system is randomly turning on without your request, shuts off early or doesn’t finish its cycle to bring the living space to the right temperature, this could also mean you have a failing thermostat.
- You receive a high energy bill: No one likes it when you have to leave the HVAC system on for longer than normal due to the change in weather, but it can be a necessity. What indicates that the thermostat might be overworking the AC or heater is when you receive a higher energy bill than you’re used to for that season.
- Thermostat is outdated: There are a variety of thermostats on the market nowadays, but anything with a needle is definitely considered old. Typically, thermostats are meant to last 10 years or longer. After the decade passes, your thermostat may start to malfunction. Check the model of the thermostat to see how old it is before you make the diagnosis that it’s just outdated so “it must not be working properly”.
How to Troubleshoot a Bad Thermostat
- Replace the batteries: Sometimes, when a thermostat is acting out, all it might need is new batteries. If the thermostat runs on batteries, replace the batteries it needs to run with new batteries and see if that does the trick.
- Flip the circuit breakers: Every now and again, circuit breakers need to be flipped to restore power to certain parts of the home or apartment. Try flipping the breaker, wait 30 seconds, then turn the power back on.
- Check and adjust the thermostat settings: Your thermostat might revert back to factory settings if there is a power outage or the flip of a circuit breaker. It’s quite obvious, but maybe the thermostat unit just isn’t switched to ‘on’ or ‘hold’? Play around with the settings a bit to make sure the thermostat is on the settings you want, on the time periods you want. You should also adjust the settings to either 5 degrees lower in the summer or 5 degrees higher in the winter to see if it kicks on. You’ll hear a ‘click’ for when the HVAC system is adjusting to the new temperature.
- Check the wiring: Wiring can become loose, old, or dirty from dust. Electronics are notorious for attracting loads of dust. If you plan on touching the wiring, it might be best to turn the circuit breaker off to ensure you don’t get electrocuted.
Hire an HVAC Contractor for Thermostat Replacements
If none of the above troubleshooting options work for you, there could be another issue wrong with the thermostat, AC unit, or furnace. A professional HVAC contractor should be contacted to inspect the issue so you stay safe, the wiring still works, and no other problems arise. Contact us at Good Guys Homes Services in Colorado. We take care of all of your HVAC needs, including inspecting thermostats and replacing them.
Call us today to fix your thermostat!