Helpful Advice on How to Solve 3 Common Thermostat Problems

Your first instinct when your home’s cooling or heating systems aren’t working properly is to blame the equipment. However, the problem might be in your thermostat. Hold off on calling a professional and first check to see whether you have thermostat problems. Following are some common thermostat problems.

Your HVAC System Is Dead in the Water

• First, make sure the thermostat and HVAC system are receiving power. A circuit breaker may have tripped or a fuse might have blown. If resetting the breaker or replacing the fuse doesn’t work, you should contact a licensed electrician or HVAC technician. Try fresh batteries if your thermostat runs on batteries (most are connected to household power).
• The inside of the thermostat may have accumulated dust and debris. Even bugs or spiders may be nesting in the device. Shut off the power to the thermostat, then open the casing and make sure it’s not dirty. Dust and grime can interfere with electrical and mechanical components. Use a soft brush and compressed air to clean it.
• The wiring may be disconnected or loose. Try reconnecting it yourself or call a professional.

Thermostat Setting and Room Temperature Are Different

• This also might be caused by a dirty thermostat. Clean it using the above steps.
• The thermostat may not be level. Improper installation can throw off the calibration.
• The thermostat may be located in the wrong place. If it has been installed on a wall that’s exposed to direct sunshine streaming through windows or in a spot where cool drafts are coming inside, it will react to those conditions rather than more normal conditions elsewhere in the house.

The Thermostat Won’t Turn Off or Shuts Down When It Shouldn’t

• Once again, try cleaning the thermostat, and check to see if it’s level.
• In a mechanical thermostat, the “anticipator” may be malfunctioning. This can cause system shutdown for no apparent reason, or keep the system running after it hits the set temperature.

If you check these things and still have thermostat problems, contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We provide quality services to communities in Northwest Arkansas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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