Your thermostat is the main controller of your entire home air conditioning system. It tells your system when it needs to turn on and when it needs to shut off. Unfortunately, sometimes your thermostat may go bad, and understanding the common signs can help you to understand the problem quickly. Please read this simple guide to thermostat issues, provided by Holbrook Heating & Air Conditioning located conveniently in Jamesville.
1. It Won’t Turn on at All
One of the most obvious signs that your thermostat is broken is that it simply won’t turn on. When the digital display is blank, it’s time to evaluate your thermostat. Take a moment and replace the batteries in your thermostat to see if that fixes the problem.
If you’re still struggling with getting your thermostat to turn on, you may want to open up the cover and clean out the inside of it. By simply unscrewing the faceplate, you can pull out a bunch of dust and any sort of grime build-up that could be preventing your system from working. If neither of these methods works, it’s likely that you need to replace your thermostat.
2. Buttons Don’t Work
Another indication that your thermostat may be bad is that it won’t allow you to adjust the temperatures on the display. You’ll likely notice this whenever you go to alter your desired temperature on your thermostat. To remedy this situation, you should start by checking the circuit breaker for your home heating and air conditioning system. Go ahead and flip the breaker off and turn it back on to see if it changes any bit of your thermostat.
Again, you may need to take the thermostat apart and clean it as some of the connections may have too much dirt build-up on them to work. You can also try putting in a new set of batteries as a low battery may be preventing you from altering the display on your thermostat. In the event that none of these options work, it’s a good idea to call in a professional to determine if your thermostat is at fault for the issue.
3. Your System Is Constantly Running
If you notice that your air conditioning system or your heating system is continually running, it could be a sign that your thermostat is malfunctioning. Go ahead and try to turn the thermostat off and see if that keeps the system from running. If it does, go ahead and turn the thermostat back on and see if it kicks back on. If your system kicks back on, then it’s likely an issue with a frayed wire or a calibration problem on your thermostat. This issue is best addressed by an air conditioning professional who can determine the exact cause of the problem and fix it for you.
4. Incorrect Temperature Reading
If you notice that your actual temperature reading on your thermostat seems to be nowhere near what it feels like your room temperature is, you could have a malfunctioning thermostat. The best way to address this issue is to grab a thermometer and assess what your actual indoor temperature is. Go ahead and compare that to what your thermostat is reading to verify if it’s malfunctioning. If it is malfunctioning, it’s likely time to replace your thermostat with a new one.
It’s crucial to note that the placement of your thermostat makes a large difference in how it reads the temperature in your home. For example, if your thermostat is on a wall that receives direct sunlight, it’s going to read your actual room temperature as much higher than it feels inside. It’s highly advisable to have your thermostat placed in an area of your home that is free from any major temperature fluctuations and direct sunlight.
5. Your AC Won’t Turn On
Another key indicator that you have a problem with your home thermostat is that your air conditioning unit won’t kick on when it’s supposed to. Most often, you’ll notice this issue when you have your thermostat set in auto mode. You’ll notice that the actual indoor temperature is above what your desired temperature setting is, and your air conditioning system won’t turn on. To verify that your thermostat is the actual issue, is it a good idea to go ahead and check the circuit breaker to make sure that it did not trip and turn off your air conditioning system.
6. Higher Than Normal Energy Bills
As the summers go by, it’s likely that you have a good idea of what your energy bills are going to look like throughout the summertime months. If you notice a higher than normal energy bill, it may be a sign that you have a malfunctioning thermostat. In this event, your thermostat may not be reading the temperature correctly. This can cause it to constantly turn on your air conditioning system when it doesn’t need to be on.
7. Lost Settings
If you have the convenience of a programmable thermostat, you have many different temperatures set for various hours throughout the week. If your thermostat is starting to lose some of those settings, it could be an indication that your thermostat needs replacement. It’s best to go back in and check what your programmed settings are to determine if they’re actually getting lost or you just had the wrong settings in place.
8. Your Thermostat is 10 Years Old
Another sign that you’re in need of a thermostat replacement is that your home thermostat is 10 years old or older. Most home thermostats are designed to last between 7 and 10 years. With each passing year, thermostat technology continues to increase to make it more energy-efficient for homeowners. For this reason, it’s a good idea to upgrade to a new smart thermostat to take advantage of all the energy savings that they can offer. In addition, by upgrading your thermostat before you have a malfunctioning problem, you can save yourself the hassle of experiencing the issue and the unexpected expense of replacing a thermostat when you do.
Why a Smart Thermostat?
When you experience any of the issues above and verify that your thermostat is the root cause of them, you will need to replace it. Most air conditioning professionals will recommend replacing your old thermostat with a new smart thermostat. These newer thermostats come with an abundance of features that help to make your system easier to use and more energy-efficient.
Smart thermostats can be easily controlled via the digital display in your home or via your smartphone. This means that you don’t actually have to be at home to adjust your thermostat settings when you want to. In addition, smart thermostats come with eco-friendly modes that allow you to optimize energy efficiency to keep your power bills low. Smart thermostats even allow you to go back and look at your past running history to understand various trends that you may want to change to be more energy efficient.
Fast, Reliable, Top-Rated AC Repair
Holbrook Heating & Air Conditioning provides fast air conditioner repair in Jamesville. We also provide heating, indoor air quality, and maintenance services. Just give us a call today, and our experienced technicians will fix your problem quickly.