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Carolina Climate Control Blog

Here’s How To Tell When You Might Need To Replace Your Thermostat

Did you transition to a work-from-home setup because of the health crisis?

Keeping yourself as comfortable as possible is essential to your productivity. When it comes to comfort, a reliable thermostat is important. Like any other device, a thermostat will eventually fail and malfunction.

Thus, learning how to tell if your thermostat is going bad is crucial. Continue reading below for a guide to detecting a bad thermostat and when to call an HVAC company. If you’re already prepared to upgrade your thermostat, contact us today!

Your AC Doesn’t Work Properly

One of the first signs of a possible faulty thermostat is a malfunctioning air conditioner. A thermostat works by communicating with your HVAC. It sends signals to the latter and tells it to increase or decrease temperature.

Hence, a problematic thermostat can send wrong signals to your AC. In turn, it can cause your AC to randomly turn on and off. It happens when the thermostat’s wiring sustains damage.

The same goes if your AC won’t turn off. Frayed wiring can keep the thermostat from sending signals to the HVAC. It causes your heating or cooling unit to continue running even when it’s unnecessary.

Thermostat Is Unresponsive

Another sign of a faulty thermostat is when it becomes unresponsive. It happens when the thermostat doesn’t have power. The display doesn’t light up, and it doesn’t show anything.

Your heating and cooling units will become unresponsive. A common culprit is an old battery.

Consider replacing the battery and see whether the thermostat works again. If not, the solution is more serious than a simple battery change.

You Notice Faulty Readings

A malfunctioning thermostat can also give inaccurate readings. A thermostat with incorrect temperature registers may have a sensor problem. Invest in another way to check your indoor temperature, like a regular thermometer to determine the accuracy of the readings.

Use it to get your home’s temperature. Compare its readings with your thermostat’s readings. If the difference is way off, your thermostat is starting to fail.

Temperature Shifts Often Happen

A faulty thermostat may also result in temperature shifts. Temperature changes may happen too often and without warning. It means your thermostat is already struggling to maintain your desired settings.

When the temperature shifts occur too often, lower your thermostat settings. If it persists, it’s time to call your trusted HVAC expert.

Unexplained Spike in Electric Bills

Another important indicator of a faulty thermostat is your recent electrical bills. Higher energy bills with no apparent reason can be a sign of a malfunctioning thermostat.

When the thermostat doesn’t give accurate temperature readings, it prompts your HVAC to work double-time. It will do so even if it’s not the optimal indoor temperature for your home.

The Thermostat Is Too Old

An old thermostat is always a candidate for replacement. Generally, thermostats provide decent performance for up to a decade. Around that 10-year range, problems will start appearing.

Older thermostats don’t have the key features that the latest models offer. If you’re still using a non-programmable thermostat, we recommend you switch to a programmable variant soon.

These thermostats offer more flexibility in managing indoor temperature. Invest in a smart thermostat to maximize your HVAC system. It comes with key features to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

It sends timely alerts when there’s a sudden change in temperature in your home. The geofencing feature allows you to control your thermostat even if you’re driving back home.

You can connect it to your smartphone and control it from there. Additionally, a smart thermostat can track your energy consumption.

Troubleshooting Your Thermostat

Before calling an HVAC repair company, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot your thermostat. For example, set your thermostat to five degrees higher or lower than normal and see if your AC turns on.

If it doesn’t, something’s wrong with your thermostat. Check if the thermostat is active. Sometimes, homeowners push the wrong buttons. Make sure to select the “heat” or “cool” (or equivalent) setting.

Check the battery of your thermostat. Test whether it has power. A simple battery change sometimes does the trick. When it doesn’t work, turn off the thermostat and check the wiring. Turn off the breaker and open the cover. Examine the wires for attachment problems.

Do the same with the screws. Ensure every screw is tight and secure. Turn the breaker back on and check whether the thermostat functions normally.

Turn off the breaker and turn it back on after a few seconds. If nothing changes, turn the breaker off and open the thermostat cover anew. Look for the red and green wires (AC) and the red and white wires (furnace).

Take note, the color of the wires may depend on the model. Check with your manual to make sure.

Remove the wires from their port and wrap them around using electric tape. Turn the breaker back on and check if your AC or heater turns on. If it does, your thermostat is the source of the problem.

Additionally, test the voltage of your fuses. A blown fuse can cause your thermostat to malfunction.

When to Call an HVAC Expert

Learning how to tell if your thermostat is going bad will help you draw the line between troubleshooting and seeking an HVAC expert. If the troubleshooting steps don’t work or you aren’t comfortable troubleshooting yourself, call an HVAC company as soon as possible.

Find an HVAC services provider offering repairs and replacing thermostats. These professionals have the right tools and knowledge to address your thermostat-related problems.

How to Tell If Your Thermostat is Going Bad Now

Now that you know how to tell if your thermostat is going bad, you can save more time and resources. You can prevent a spike in your energy consumption and restore the proper indoor temperature.

If you’re searching for reliable, professional HVAC services, look no further.

We offer top-notch HVAC repairs and installations. Connect with us and request an estimate today.

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