Signs your thermostat needs repair
Well, we got through a winter like many Texans have never experienced! Whew, there are part of this Lone Star State that have never seen snow and don’t care to ever see it again thank you. Now, our kind of weather is around the corner, summer. Now is the time to make sure your air conditioning and thermostat are in working order.
If you already went through your furnace or thermostat not working earlier this year, then you’re probably all set for summer. For central cooling and heating, generally the thermostat for HVAC all work within the same setup with the hvac thermostat controlling both the air conditioning and the thermostat.
But then, what if your cooling and heating aren’t like that? How do you know if your thermostat is bad? What are the symptoms of a bad home thermostat? A wall thermostat can last 30 years before they need to be replaced, but they can also quit working as well as they should during that time. How do you know your thermostat needs replacing? Here are 4 indications you need to replace your thermostat:
1. System Runs Constantly
If the air conditioning is running all the time, even after you adjust the thermostat up or turned off the unit, you probably have a malfunctioning thermostat. It may be the wiring or some other malfunction with the signal relaying between the thermostat and the HVAC system. Sometimes the thermostat simply needs to be recalibrated or reset. How do I reset my thermostat?
Most thermostats can be reset by holding the reset button down for five seconds. If your thermostat is battery powered, flip the batteries direction for five seconds, then flip back. One last option is to turn the breaker off for 2-3 minutes then back on. If none of these work , you need to replace your thermostat.
2. The Air Conditioner Or Heater Won’t Turn On
If your HVAC system isn’t turning on at all, there is likely a wiring issue with the thermostat to the HVAC system. The internal part of the thermostat is malfunctioning, or it could be something with your HVAC system. Replacing the thermostat would be the least expensive thing to try and if that doesn’t get the HVAC system turned on, call your repairman.
Of course, if you have a maintenance agreement, call them first before replacing the thermostat because it may be covered. Same if you have a home warranty policy, call them first before replacing the thermostat.
3. Room Temperatures Vary
If one room is ice cold and another room isn’t getting any cooler, this could be the thermostat malfunctioning. Your HVAC system depends on the thermostat to tell when the house is cool or warm, and if the room furthest away isn’t getting cooled or warmed as needed, replace the thermostat. If that doesn’t help, call your HVAC repair company.
4. Thermostat Has No Power
A battery powered thermostat that has no power, simply replace the batteries. A wired thermostat that won’t turn on after pressing all the buttons needs to be replaced.
Can low batteries affect thermostat?
Batteries in your thermostat have a primary function of saving any programmed information should there be a temporary power outage. This allows the cooling and heating system to continue operating uninterrupted. So, now, low batteries won’t affect the operation of the thermostat or HVAC system.
However, when the batteries dies, the screen will go black, the thermostat will quit working, and your HVAC system won’t cool or heat because the thermostat isn’t telling it what to do. Here are three tips that your thermostat batteries should be changed:
- The low battery indicator light comes on, some will have a beep too.
- The air conditioning or heat won’t turn on.
- The thermostat screen is blank, and you can’t set the thermostat or turn the HVAC system on.
Many homeowners have set up a system where they replace the batteries in the smoke detectors and the thermostat at the same time, then buy replacement batteries to have on hand.
How do I fix my thermostat?
With the following tips, you may be able to get your thermostat working again:
- Circuit breaker panel: Even if there is a display on your thermostat, it doesn’t mean the HVAC system is working. Check the breaker, if it is off, flip it on. If resetting it doesn’t work or it trips again, call a HVAC repair service.
- Thermostat Setting: Set the thermostat to the opposite setting you want. If the system doesn’t turn on, then replace the batteries in the thermostat. If this doesn’t work, then call a HVAC repair service.
Can you replace your own thermostat?
Yes, you can but it is recommended to try this only if you have some basic electrical knowledge and basic, general knowledge of the tools you’ll need to use changing your thermostat. If you’re going with hardwired, it would be best to have a professional electrician or HVAC tech do the switch for you.
If you’re upgrading to a battery operated, programmable thermostat, consider getting an hvac thermostat with humidity control. By controlling the humidity, it will ease the strain on your HVAC system which will save you money too. Need help with your therm