Have the temperatures in your home seemed more uneven lately? If so, there’s a good chance that your thermostat is to blame.
Sometimes, thermostat issues are easy to solve. It’s simply a matter of replacing the batteries or turning the breaker on and off. The older your thermostat is, though, the more serious its malfunctions become.
Not sure if your thermostat is in good shape? Here are five telltale signs of a bad thermostat and how to deal with them.
Mismatched Temperatures
Is your thermostat showing an accurate temperature of your home? If not, this is usually a sign its internal sensor (or some part of it) is damaged. This is often the main reason for any home heating problems.
To find out if this is an issue, ensure that the thermostat is properly set to “cool” or “heat.” Then, use a phone app to measure the home’s temperature. If the readings don’t match, your thermostat is likely broken.
AC Not Turning On
If your AC won’t turn on, your thermostat could be the culprit. This happens if the wires connecting the thermostat to the AC become loose over time. At some point, the “communication” between the two will stop altogether.
Want to check your thermostat’s wiring connections? Turn off its power, then take the cover off and look for loose or frayed wires. If you don’t see any, clean the wiring with a soft brush and see if that fixes the issue.
Erased Settings
Most thermostats allow you to program when the heat should come on. In general, those settings should be stored until you change them again. If you keep having to reenter them, the thermostat may have gone bad.
The first thing you should try here is to change the batteries. If that doesn’t help, your thermostat is likely nearing the end of its life. Consider investing in a new, energy-efficient digital thermostat.
Unresponsive Inputs
As far as thermostat issues and fixes go, unresponsiveness is fairly common. When you adjust your thermostat’s settings, you should hear a whir and a click. If you don’t, you may be dealing with an internal wiring issue.
You can try solving this problem by turning the breaker on and off and checking for loose wires. Then, turn the thermostat down or up by five degrees. If it still doesn’t click, consider calling in the pros.
High Energy Bills
High energy bills are among the most common thermostat replacement signs. If the thermostat is faulty, it will often make your HVAC work harder than it has to. In doing so, the HVAC will use up more energy.
There’s also a chance your thermostat settings are a bit extreme. For example, are you turning back your thermostat 7°-10°F while you’re asleep? If you are and your bills are still high, contact an HVAC technician.
These Are the Signs of a Bad Thermostat
As you can see, some signs of a bad thermostat are less obvious than others. This thermostat troubleshooting guide will help you identify them all!
Need help with fixing a bad thermostat? At MetFab Heating, we can repair your old thermostat or guide you through all your upgrade options! Contact us here to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation!