Signs of a Bad Thermostat

Your home’s thermostat serves a critical function in keeping your interiors warm in the winter and cool in the summer, making it essential to know when something is wrong. We’ll review the top symptoms accompanying thermostat problems and offer suggestions to solve your thermostat issues.

Signs Your Thermostat Might Be Broken

Thermostat failures can quickly spark confusion and discomfort as your HVAC systems fail to work properly. The following six signs are cause for concern.

Systems Not Turning On

When you turn down the temperature to get your AC going or raise it to turn on the furnace for heat, there should be an audible click, and you should hear the cooler or heater turn on shortly after. If not, your thermostat has an issue.

Systems Not Turning Off

If your heating or cooling system doesn’t cycle off properly and instead continues to run, there may be problems with your thermostat’s wiring, or it may be a simple miscalibration.

Thermostat Not Responding

A thermostat with a blank display or that doesn’t show changes when you press the buttons is likely broken if the issue is not resolved with a new set of batteries.

Short-Cycling

If your furnace or AC runs frequently but briefly, they’re short-cycling and unable to perform properly. A bad thermostat is one of the common causes of this behavior.

Mismatched Temperatures

You may not always be able to tell by feeling alone, but one indicator of a bad thermostat is a gap between the number on the thermostat and the room’s actual temperature.

Resetting

A thermostat replacement may be in order if you have a programmable thermostat and find it’s “forgetting” or resetting the programmed defaults.

Can You Fix It Yourself?

You can take several steps to try and remedy the issues your thermostat is having before calling the professionals.

Try New Batteries

This possible solution for electronic thermostats involves taking off the face plate and swapping out the batteries.

Reset the Breaker

Find the breaker switch for your air conditioner or heater, flip it fully to the “off” setting, and then flip it back on again. If you have to repeat this to get the thermostat back on, it’s likely a problem related to your electrical panel rather than the thermostat itself.

Clean the Unit

Older thermostats that use a lever to adjust interior temperature can develop a buildup of dust that creates a mechanical malfunction. Sometimes, taking off the faceplate and lightly dusting the interior will resolve the issue.

Check Connections

All wires should have a secure connection to their screws. Inspect the wiring to look for loose wiring that may be hindering operation.

Who To Call if Your Thermostat Isn’t Working

If you’ve tried unsuccessfully to get your broken thermostat working again, don’t panic. Bud’s Heating & Cooling is here to provide trustworthy thermostat repair for homeowners in Akron and Northeast Ohio. With unwavering service since 1989, you can depend on our solutions for a broken thermostat, no matter the brand.

Call us today at 330-784-8373 to schedule an appointment for reliable thermostat repair.