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When people think of the maintenance needs for their heating and cooling systems, the thermostat likely doesn’t come to mind. However, this piece of equipment is essential since it serves as the control center for the entire system. It doesn’t require much maintenance outside of fresh batteries once a year, but knowing when to replace it will keep your home comfortable and efficient.

Heating & Cooling System Guide to a Bad Thermostat

Signs It’s Time for Replacement

The most obvious sign of a dead thermostat is when the system won’t turn on and the thermostat is unresponsive even after troubleshooting. At this point, you’ll need to immediately have it replaced since you can’t use your heating and cooling system on until you’ve had it done.

heating and cooling systemThere are other less obvious signs that your thermostat is failing. It may not respond when you change the settings, such as the air conditioning not immediately turning on when you lower the temperature or the system refusing to switch over from heating to cooling. The thermostat may lose its programmed settings, and you find that you have to keep resetting it to keep your system on schedule. A failing thermostat can also cause your HVAC to short-cycle, which happens when the system shuts off before it finishes its job. The result is a system that is constantly turning on and off, leaving you with an uncomfortable home and driving up energy bills.

What to Do

If you think your thermostat is failing, you can confirm it by checking a few things. First, check to see whether the screen is responsive. It should be already lit or turn on when you press a button. Next, try replacing the battery; these usually need to be replaced once a year, and a low battery will cause all the same problems that a bad thermostat would. Check your circuit breakers for the HVAC system to ensure that they haven’t been tripped. If they have, there’s no power to the system, and it won’t turn on even if your thermostat is responsive. Finally, check the settings on your thermostat. The system may be behaving strangely if you have the settings on for the wrong season or if the time isn’t set to your time zone.

 

If you’ve gone through the checklist above and your thermostat still doesn’t work properly, it’s time for a replacement. Signature Heating, Cooling and Construction has been working on the heating and cooling systems of Trinity, NC, for more than 20 years. Their full-service team handles everything from HVAC installation to routine maintenance with a reputation throughout Randolph County for efficient and long-lasting solutions. Learn more about their services online or call (336) 431-0380 to schedule an HVAC contractor for a new thermostat.

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