Experiencing Thermostat Problems? Read This First
In terms of home comfort, your thermostat is the real MVP of the household. Not only does it regulate your home’s temperature, it acts as a beacon to tell your HVAC system when to turn on and off. It essentially acts as the remote for your entire system. Far too often, homeowners take their thermostat for granted, they forget about it until something breaks or goes wrong. When things do go wrong, it can be frustrating, and if you’re sensitive to hot and cold, it could be detrimental to your health. Also, if your thermostat is acting up, it could lead to hefty utility bills. If you’re experiencing any thermostat problems, read this first before trying to fix it yourself.
You HVAC System Won’t Turn On
The first, and most obvious sign, of a thermostat problem is if your HVAC system won’t turn on. If you keep pushing buttons and changing settings, yet nothing starts up, it’s easy to think that could be a problem with the whole system. However, this could indicate a problem with the thermostat and not the HVAC system itself. If your thermostat is suddenly not starting your system, your first course of action should be to do the simplest thing; turn the thermostat off and then on again. You may even need to remove and replace thermostat batteries. As with most technology, sometimes a simple restart is all it needs. If the reboot doesn’t snap the thermostat into action, a larger issue might be at hand. It could likely be attributed to faulty of frayed wiring. If a thermostat’s wiring is off, it can’t properly communicate with the HVAC system. If this is the case, don’t hesitate to call an HVAC technician.
Your Furnace or AC Won’t Turn Off
On the flipside, if your AC or furnace won’t turn off, that’s also an indication of a thermostat problem. As we mentioned above, try turning off the thermostat and turning it on again. If this does not help, you could be looking at wiring or problems.
The Thermostat is Unresponsive
Do you find yourself pushing buttons or touching a screen over and over again hoping for your thermostat to do something? This is a common problem for many of our Sacramento homeowners. As we talked about above, a simple reboot—by shutting down the thermostat or replacing the batteries—could help. Also, giving your thermostat a good cleaning would help too. If none of this works, it’s time to call an HVAC professional. An unresponsive thermostat could indicate wiring or electric issues, or even a full system failure. This is not something you can diagnose on your own.
Treated Air is Unevenly Disbursed
A subtle, albeit disruptive, thermostat problem is uneven air distribution. Smart thermostats can regulate the temperature of every room, providing each space with a certain amount of air or temperature. If you notice a sudden change from one room to another, or no air at all in a different room, this could be a sign of a problematic thermostat. Another sure sign of a thermostat issue is if your entire system turns on and off at random intervals.
Your Thermostat Was Installed in a Bad Location
Believe it or not, the location of your thermostat matters. Your thermostat could have been installed too close to the kitchen—where heat can come off your stove and oven—or in a place where it gets direct sunlight, that could throw off your entire HVAC system. If the thermostat gets too hot or too cold, it gives a false reading to your HVAC system. If you believe your thermostat was not installed in a proper place, let your HVAC technician know and they can help relocate it.
Call the Home Comfort Experts at Bell Brothers
Are you dealing with any of these thermostat problems? If so, it’s time to call the HVAC experts at Bell Brothers! Our expertly trained technicians can diagnose and fix any faulty thermostats you’re dealing with. Don’t forget, we do more than HVAC; Bell Brothers also provides our Sacramento, Stockton, and Vacaville communities with plumbing and window services. Dial the number at the top of the page to schedule an appointment with our friendly call center representatives. Also, you can click here to schedule an appointment online.