Most homeowners don’t think about how their heating and cooling units operate until it stops maintaining a space’s desired temperature. Many factors can contribute to this scenario, but many reasons can be related to your thermostat.
Seven Reasons Your Thermostat May Not Be Reaching Your Desired Temperature:
- If you’ve just installed a new thermostat or have recently experienced a power outage, your thermostat could require calibration. And sometimes, older thermostats will require recalibration over time. For older thermostats, it might be best to call in an HVAC pro to discuss the possibility of installing a new thermostat.
Hold a thermometer close to your thermostat to check your thermostat’s calibration and see if the temperatures match. Even if the temperatures differ only a degree or two, you’ll want to get a trained HVAC pro to assess and fix the problem.
- In a world where wireless technology dominates our days, it’s easy to forget that many everyday appliances still use wires “behind the scenes.” If any of the wires in your unit become loose, it could explain any temperature problems.
Sometimes dust can impact wires, causing system operating problems. An HVAC technician is specially trained to be able to assess the problem and rectify it.
- Most people think of a thermostat as just a part required to adjust the temperature in a space. But they may not know that a thermostat is very sensitive and requires precision in its installation and care.
A thermostat needs to be level to operate correctly. Instead of breaking out your toolbox, it’s best to bring in an HVAC pro. They can ensure that the thermostat is flush with the wall and level. HVAC pros do this work every day and can complete the job efficiently.
Dust can also cause a thermostat to have problems. If you see dust on your thermostat, gently removing it with a soft cloth might resolve functionality issues. But because thermostats tend to be sensitive, it might be a situation where an HVAC technician should be called in to get the job done right.
If nothing above works and you’re still having problems with the thermostat, you may need to replace it. Identifying a broken thermostat is best left to HVAC professionals, but you play an important role in deciding what thermostat replacement would be best for you. The right HVAC tech can help you understand your options and what is required to meet your heating and cooling needs.
- When your thermostat doesn’t seem to function as you need it to, the problem could be that your space is too large. Your HVAC unit could be too small to operate correctly in your home or office.
It is natural to assume that the wrong-sized unit was installed in the first place. But the most common situation where people find their unit too small is typically after new space has been added to the home. The old unit may have done its job just fine, but the additional square footage may be too much for the unit to handle.
There are two ways to tackle this situation. You could add a unit to handle the new space or replace your old system with a new one. This is a situation where you will want input from an HVAC professional. They will be able to help you make the best choice for your space and budget.
- Sometimes, when things change in a home, the thermostat’s location can make it ineffective. For example, if you have a wood stove installed near your thermostat, the thermostat will sense very warm temperatures when you run the stove. If the thermostat senses the heat in that room, other rooms will become colder because of this inaccurate reading for the entire home.
Any professional HVAC service person should know that thermostats shouldn’t stay near a fireplace, window, kitchen, exterior door, or any other place where temperature can fluctuate.
- Size matters when it comes to a thermostat in your space. If a thermostat is designed to cover a small area, it will never be able to keep a constant, comfortable temperature in larger rooms. A qualified technician will be able to help you get the right thermostat installed to meet the size and needs of your space.
- Many homeowners have “smart” thermostats and can encounter problems due to static electricity. The screen on your thermostat can become unresponsive, preventing it from sending the correct information for consistent heating and cooling. You can try to reboot your thermostat or call an HVAC technician. The thermostat is too essential to the comfort level of your home or office. They can help assess the problem and provide solutions.
It can be very stressful if you are struggling with a thermostat that doesn’t seem to be able to maintain consistent heat or cool air. While there are simple solutions to some of these problems, the smartest move would be to bring in an HVAC pro to get it fixed correctly.
