How Will You Know if Your Thermostat is Bad?

If you have been experiencing issues with your HVAC system, you may be wondering if perhaps your thermostat could be to blame. Of course, you would prefer the problem to be with your thermostat, as it is much cheaper to replace than your heater or air conditioner; but how can you know for sure which one is the problem? Here are just a few of the signs that can indicate problems with your home's thermostat.

First Things First, Your Thermostat Won't Work

One of the clearest signs that something is wrong with your thermostat is if you cannot get it to work properly. If it takes several tries to adjust your settings, then your thermostat may be beginning to fail. However, if your thermostat is completely unresponsive, or the screen is blank, then it has likely stopped working altogether.

Your Heater or Air Conditioner Won't Turn Off

A symptom that often baffles homeowners is when their heater or air conditioner runs constantly and refuses to turn off no matter what they do. This is generally a sign that your thermostat needs to be repaired or replaced, as either the wiring is broken, or the thermostat is miscalibrated, and your HVAC system isn’t receiving the signal to shut off.

Room Temperature and Setting Don't Match

A more subtle sign of problems with your thermostat is if the displayed room temperature, and the temperature you have set, do not match. For instance, if you have your thermostat set to turn your AC on at 78 degrees, but you hear your system turn on when it is only displaying 75 degrees inside your home, then something is clearly wrong with your thermostat. You will want to have this problem addressed as soon as possible, as it can become costly if your system runs more than it should.

Contact us to learn more about the signs which can indicate problems with your home's thermostat. Our team of professionals is here to help!

Signs That You Need an Air Conditioning Tune Up

When was the last time you got an air conditioning tune up? Was it within the last three months? Then you're all good. If it was longer than three months ago, you might need to give your air conditioning contractor a call. And if you can't remember the last time you got a tune up, then you can be sure that your air conditioner really needs it!

Going without an air conditioning tune up for a long time can harm your air conditioning system and shorten its life, thus costing you money in the long run. Here are five signs that your air conditioner needs a tune up:

1. You need to turn the thermostat lower to get the same degree of cooling. Don't keep turning the thermostat lower and lower to adjust to the way your air conditioning system is working. Give your air conditioning contractor a call instead.
2. Your air conditioner has not been used for a long time. Maybe your air conditioning system was completely switched off in the winter months and you're only just thinking about using it again. Instead of just switching it on, it might be a good idea to give it a tune up first.
3. You've made some structural changes to your house. People are always renovating their homes, knocking down walls, building new walls, etc. If you've been doing this, contact your air conditioning contractor to see if any changes are needed in your air conditioning system. At the very least, it will help to get a tune up.
4. You've made some changes to your electrical system. If you've installed new appliances and your electrical system is taking on a greater load, then you might want to call your air conditioning contractor and get a tune up. If your air conditioning system is functioning efficiently, this will save electricity and, hence, money.
5. Your electricity bill has been going up. If you are using your air conditioning system the same amount as you used to but your electricity bill has been going up, then you might want to call your air conditioning contractor and get a tune up, just to be sure that the problem doesn't lie there.

Have questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact Kent Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.

How a Thermostat Affects your HVAC System

Think of the thermostat as the brain of your system. It’s rather cool as you’re given the power to connect and monitor the exact temperature of your home throughout the day, right? It’s great to have this control at your fingertips; which is why when your thermostat is having issues, it not only affects your comfort level, it also affects the whole system in a big way.

One of the most common issues that a malfunctioning thermostat can manifest is short cycling. This means that the system doesn't run the full cycle, it instead just kicks on and then shortly turns off. This can be caused by a system too big for your house where it pushes out air too quickly rather than the standard gradual cooling.

Sometimes short cycling is caused by miscalibration. This means that the thermostat thinks it is warmer or cooler inside your home than it actually is. Luckily, if it is a calibration issue, this is a rather quick and painless fix for your HVAC technician. If short cycling is caused by an actual malfunction, then unfortunately your thermostat may need to be replaced.

Yet, many homeowners should think of a thermostat replacement as an exciting opportunity! Thermostat technology has progressed so much further than just a tiny dial on the wall. If you have gotten into creating an energy efficient home, a thermostat can play a huge part. Consider investing in a smart thermostat that will adjust the temperature for you based on your own unique living habits.

Do you have questions on thermostats? Please feel free to contact our team here at Kent Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. – we'd love to hear from you!