4 Signs You May Need to Repair or Replace Your Thermostat

November 30, 2023

Your thermostat is a crucial device that helps maintain a comfortable, controlled climate within your living environment. This unsung hero of home comfort is a crucial component, dictating the operations of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to ensure your space is neither an icebox nor a sauna.

But like all devices, there may come a time when your thermostat shows signs of wear and tear. Here are four common signs that indicate you might need to repair or replace your thermostat. Read on to get equipped with the knowledge to safeguard your comfort all year round.

1. Short Cycling

Short cycling happens when the thermostat incorrectly detects the temperature inside the house. As a result, the air conditioning or heating keeps cycling on and off without ever reaching the set point. It makes the system work harder than it has to and wastes energy since it is not as efficient as it could be.

A more serious issue with your HVAC system may be causing the short cycling. It may be a system-wide problem if your thermostat is working fine. Having an expert look into the situation and provide a diagnosis could be essential.

Finding the source of short cycling at the thermostat is essential for fixing the problem. Possible causes include a broken thermostat, erroneous settings, or a problem with the thermostat's connection to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Possible solutions include recalibration or replacing the thermostat if the problem exists.

2. Unresponsive Thermostat

Dead batteries are a common culprit in an unresponsive thermostat. If the screen is blank and does not exhibit the current temperature or follow your schedule, the batteries may be dead. Therefore, a quick fix would be getting new batteries and resetting the device. However, if new batteries do not remedy the situation, the problem may lie in the wiring.

A lack of electrical supply is another potential reason for a non-reactive thermostat. A broken thermostat or poor wiring could be at blame. Before declaring the thermostat damaged, make sure it has working batteries. If replacing the batteries in your thermostat does not solve the problem, you should contact a professional in your area for assistance.

3. Inaccurate Temperature Reading

Your thermostat's ability to provide precise temperature readings is essential for your HVAC's operation. However, if the actual temperature in the room is noticeably different from what is shown on the screen, it may be time to conduct additional investigations.

Use a separate, portable ambient air thermometer to verify the accuracy of your thermostat's temperature readings. Any noticeable difference could indicate the item's manufacturing defect or wear and tear.

However, before calling a repairman, you should ensure your HVAC system has no other problems. Verify that the thermostat is either in the "auto" or "on" position. If you have it on auto and are still uncomfortable, the thermostat might read the room temperature incorrectly. See if your home's temperature and comfort level improve when you turn it to the "on" position.

4. Uneven Temperatures

You should not have to constantly reset your programmable thermostat because it should remember your preferences. A malfunctioning thermostat could be to blame for the inability to keep your home at a reasonable temperature.

You should always ensure that your programmable thermostat is set to the desired temperature, whether you are there or not. But if the thermostat keeps forgetting what you have set it to, the actual temperature can be far different from what you expected. For example, if your thermostat has been programmed to 67 degrees Fahrenheit but shows 60 degrees Fahrenheit, this might indicate that you need to get a new thermostat.

< Older Post Newer Post >