When you’re having trouble with the heating and cooling your home, it can be difficult to know what part of the system to blame. We tend to jump right to the worst conclusions, like that perhaps you need a new furnace or air conditioner. However, the problem might simply be that your thermostat has stopped working. While that isn’t ideal, it’s certainly better than having to replace more expensive parts of your HVAC system. Here’s how to tell if your home thermostat is bad.
Your Home Doesn’t Feel Comfortable
If your home was previously a consistent temperature throughout but now seems to oscillate in temperature, going from too hot to too cold, then it could be your thermostat at fault. It could be that your thermostat is no longer reading your home’s temperature properly, and so the furnace or air conditioner are not being turned on when they should be. This results in inconsistent temperatures throughout your home.
It Won’t Respond When Temperatures Change
When your home’s temperature drops below your settings in winter, the thermostat should turn the furnace on. Similarly, if it rises in the summer, then your thermostat should turn the air conditioner on. If it doesn’t respond to changes in temperature, then the problem is likely with the thermostat and not those units.
Although, the issue could be with either of the units, especially if you hear that characteristic click that indicates the thermostat is trying to turn the air conditioner on. You may need a professional to sort this issue out.
The Furnace or AC Run Constantly
The opposite problem can happen, where your air conditioner is constantly sending a signal to your air conditioner or furnace that it should be running, even though the temperature that you set the thermostat to has already been achieved. This problem can make your home quite uncomfortable and stress the air conditioner or furnace, which is not meant to run constantly. The air conditioner may break down, and the furnace may overheat. It’s important to get this one fixed as soon as possible.
The Display is Wrong, Or Won’t Turn On
Flashing displays, blank displays, and incorrect information are all a sign of trouble for the thermostat. Too often, these symbols do mean something, but the thermostat is so old that you don’t even have the owner’s manual to figure out what is going on. A professional can help you interpret weird signals and flashing information from your thermostat.
Although, we should suggest that if the thermostat’s display simply doesn’t turn on, check the batteries first. If your thermostat isn’t hardwired into the home, it may simply be a case that the batteries are dead.
It’s Old
While an old thermostat may not need to be replaced, you may want to replace it. Older thermostats are less efficient than newer smart thermostats. New models have useful features and can help you save energy or tell you when your equipment needs to be maintained or repaired.
