We’re all guilty of jumping to conclusions from time to time, and that’s no different for homeowners in Glenwood Springs, Aspen, or Vail, CO who have trouble with their HVAC systems. Most are quick to blame the furnace, boiler, or heat pump, conveniently forgetting about the boss of the system. Climate Control Company wants to remind you it’s your thermostat that tells your HVAC equipment what to do and when to do it.
DIAGNOSING THERMOSTAT ISSUES
Typically, thermostats are not going to give you any warning signs, but they can stop working for a variety of reasons. It can be difficult to determine if the thermostat is at fault, but here are a few things to check out before calling in professional help or deciding on a thermostat replacement.
- For the sake of this article, let’s assume you have a digital thermostat with a display screen and not an older mechanical thermostat.
- If the screen is blank, determine if your particular model uses batteries. If it does, replace them and see if that fixes the problem.
- If it’s a smart thermostat, losing the Wi-Fi connection can cause problems. Using your owner’s manual, try reconnecting to your home network.
- Your thermostat is likely connected to the home’s electrical system, so make sure there are no tripped circuit breakers.
- If the thermostat appears normal (display screen visible) change the temperature setting by at least five degrees and see if your heating or cooling system turns on. If not, it’s likely the thermostat is no longer “talking” to your HVAC system.
- Batteries have a limited lifespan. Climate Control recommends changing your thermostat’s batteries at the same time as your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors.
ANOTHER SYMPTOM TO WATCH FOR
A malfunctioning thermostat can also cause something called short cycling. This means your systems are repeatedly turning on and off but never complete the heating or cooling cycle. Not only is this hard on your equipment, but it’s also likely your home never reaches the desired temperature.
MAINTENANCE WILL HELP
Other than things we’ve already mentioned, there isn’t much the typical homeowner can do to repair a faulty thermostat. One way to hopefully prevent these sorts of problems is with regular seasonal maintenance from Climate Control Company. During those visits our technicians will always check the thermostat to make sure it’s properly calibrated and is communicating with the heating and cooling equipment. Just one more reason to pick up the phone and make your maintenance appointment today. Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more great HVAC information.
