If your air conditioner is not functioning properly and you’ve ruled out the usual suspects, dirty furnace filters, broken hoses, etc. your thermostat could be to blame.
This is usually a good thing because thermostat problems are usually easier (and cheaper) to correct than problems with the air conditioner itself.
A broken or quickly dying thermostat is one of the things you’d never want to encounter as a homeowner.
Aside from requiring HVAC repair, a malfunctioning thermostat causes discomfort during the summer and winter seasons.
For people in warmer climates, the lack of a functioning thermostat during summer is particularly unbearable.
Thermostat Problems In Your Home
Regardless of the type installed in your home, all thermostats eventually malfunction due to age, normal wear and tear, and even factory defects.
The following are the most common signs of a thermostat that is not working correctly:
Temperatures Fluctuating
One subtle sign of a broken thermostat is when temperatures in different rooms do not match.
Fluctuating temperature between rooms is normal if your home is zoned.
However, if it hasn’t been zoned, differences in temperature could point to a malfunctioning thermostat.
Unresponsive Thermostat
Are you trying to adjust the temperature, but there’s no change at all?
Is the display unit unresponsive?
Then you might need to change the batteries, or your thermostat may be broken. Call for HVAC repair if you encounter this issue.
Air Conditioner Continuously Runs and Won’t Turn Off
Another sign to watch out for is if your air conditioner continuously runs without turning off.
The main cause of this problem might be that the wiring that turns the heating and cooling off is broken.
It’s also possible that the thermostat is not calibrated correctly, and it’s sending incorrect instructions to the entire HVAC system.
Changing The Batteries
If a thermostat is not working as it should, changing the batteries may be all that you need to do. If you’ve done this step, but the thermostat is still not responding, the best thing to do is schedule HVAC repair as soon as possible.
A certified professional will check your unit to find the source of the problem.
Thermostat Starts Having Display Issues
For people using a digital display thermostat, it’s easy to tell if something is wrong.
The information shown on the screen is probably faded, or the display is missing the correct data.
While dying or completely dead batteries can lead to fading, a thermostat can experience missing and fading data for other reasons that are more serious.
Screen Does Not Turn On
If the screen of your thermostat is dead and won’t turn on, it can create more problems with your HVAC system.
The good thing is that this problem can often be fixed by simply doing a factory reset or just turning the unit off and turning it back on.
There are instances, however, when a replacement is needed because the thermostat is broken.
By calling for HVAC repair, a licensed professional will let you know if a new thermostat is causing the problem.
The factory warranty covers most electrical problems that occur with your thermostat.
Just be sure to look out for the above signs when checking your thermostat, and take the necessary steps, so it doesn’t malfunction in the first place.
If you are having thermostat issues you cannot fix on your own, you may need to schedule HVAC repair services and get professional help.
