Your thermostat controls your home’s HVAC system. In the 21st century, digital thermostats are the norm, and most of those wind up being smart thermostats. Gone are the days of inaccurate coils and the higher heating bills that came along with them.
Smart thermostats last about 10 years, although they could last longer. There are signs, too, that something is wrong and that you need a new thermostat.
It Isn’t Digital
If you have a thermostat that has physical controls, then it’s quite likely already past its regular lifespan. Replacing it will give you a “fresh 10 years” with your new thermostat. In cases where you choose a smart thermostat, the programmable nature of it will let you have pinpoint control over your HVAC system no matter if it’s a heat pump, combination of furnace and air conditioner, geothermal system, or something else. That kind of control and accuracy means that you’ll use less energy than you would with an analog thermostat.
Short Cycling
Short cycling is when your HVAC turns on and off in quick succession. Many times, that’ll be in fewer than a couple of minutes. Although that could happen for other reasons, such as having a faulty blower motor or a refrigerant leak, it is possible that it short cycles because of a faulty thermostat.
Generally, when the thermostat is bad, it either won’t send signals to the HVAC system, or it will do so at the wrong times. For example, if you set your thermostat to 74 F on a hot day, it could send a shutoff signal when the temperature is only at 78 F. Then, the sensor in the thermostat reads the temperature as too high and restarts the HVAC system. The incorrect signal will then repeat, starting the short cycle over again.
Displaying and/or Registering Incorrect Temperatures
Sometimes, a thermostat that sends signals at the right times will display the wrong temperature and/or detect it wrongly. Let’s say that it’s really 80 F outside, and you want it to be 74 F in the house. If the thermostat reads the temperature as 72 F, then it won’t start the cooling cycle. Similarly, if it detects the right temperature but displays a temperature that is 2 degrees cooler, then it won’t start the system either.
Higher Energy Bills
Any time your HVAC system runs too long for any one of a number of reasons, you will wind up with higher energy bills. In some cases, the “creeping energy costs” will be so slow that you might not notice them. That’s why you have to check your bill thoroughly. For example, your bill might be higher because of temperatures that aren’t normal for the time of year. Or, your utility company could have raised the rate per kilowatt-hour. However, in a case where the temperatures are normal, and the rate has stayed the same, a higher energy bill could be down to a thermostat that needs replacement.
Rooms With Different Temperatures
Your HVAC system should heat your home evenly. Rooms that are far from the thermostat should be at the same temperature as the room where you have the controls. If the system heats unevenly, then it could be the thermostat. It could also be something much more serious than that, however, so if you experience this phenomenon, then it would be a good idea to have a professional HVAC technician take a look at your system.
Blank Screen
This usually means one of two things:
- The thermostat has no power.
- It’s given up the ghost.
If the thermostat draws power from your home, then check the connection. If it’s battery-powered, then change the batteries. In a case where these remedies don’t work, then it’s time to replace the thermostat. Keep in mind that it’s normal for the screen to go blank occasionally, particularly if it then displays “recovery mode.” It’ll show that when the system is switching on after a period in energy-saving mode. This situation is not the same thing as the screen going off and staying off.
Conclusion
We can help you determine if you truly need to replace your thermostat or not. We have the knowledge and requisite experience. Remember, “We’re on time, or you don’t pay a dime.” So, whenever you think that you might need to replace your thermostat, give us a call at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating right away to book an appointment.