Thermostats are responsible for monitoring and regulating temperatures. When they break down, indoor air quality can quickly deteriorate. Besides making living environments uncomfortable, a faulty thermostat can even cause your HVAC system to overwork, leading to more expensive repairs down the line. Learning how to tell if your thermostat is bad helps homeowners identify and resolve the problem as fast as possible, before it becomes a bigger issue.
Display Issues
A blank or unresponsive screen is one of the most common signs of a bad thermostat. Power failure is the most likely culprit. If the unit runs on batteries, replacing them may solve the issue. If the unit is hardwired, try resetting the circuit breaker. Finally, if that doesn’t work, call an electrician. There may be a short or the thermostat’s internal circuitry may have burned out.
Thermostat Won’t Change Settings
Once you’ve changed the temperature setting, it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds for your heater or air conditioner to kick in. In other instances, your thermostat will delete your programmed settings rather than storing them. The problem could be memory software, voltage fluctuations, or hardware failure. Restarting the unit might solve the problem. Otherwise, a new thermostat is probably the best solution.
HVAC System Won’t Turn On Or Off
Every central heating and cooling system in your home (furnace, heat pump, air conditioner, etc.) is controlled by your thermostat. Once you’ve entered your settings, it’s supposed to activate the systems automatically whenever it’s not warm or cold enough inside. Then it’s supposed to shut them down after they’ve reached your desired temperature. Sometimes, thermostats don’t respond because they’re set to the wrong mode (heat, cool, fan). However, if it’s set correctly, the thermostat may be faulty.
Short Cycling
A broken temperature gauge often prevents your systems from completing a full heating or cooling cycle. Instead, it operates in short bursts. Turning on and off frequently doesn’t just limit the amount of hot or cold air inside your home. It also wears down vital components, leading to more frequent maintenance and repairs.
The problem sometimes occurs when the thermostat is placed too close to the air register, exposing it to the influx of warm and cool air. If this is the case, relocating will prevent confused readings and allow it to function normally. If replacing the unit doesn’t solve the problem, you’ll need to investigate your condenser. You may be dealing with a coolant leak.
Constant Temperature Fluctuations
Failing thermostats often behave erratically. Poor sensors provide inaccurate readings while bad relays and loose wiring prevent your thermostat from communicating with your HVAC system. When your thermostat is functioning correctly, the rooms of your house should feel more or less the same. Even in a large house, a central heating and air conditioning system should be strong enough to create relatively uniform temperatures room to room.
Broken thermostats often trigger random on-and-off cycles. These sudden bursts of activity create huge temperature swings. Rooms will warm up or cool down unpredictably or at inappropriate times. Repositioning the thermostat might help, if it’s in a particularly hot or cold section of your house. Otherwise, you’ll need to get a replacement.
Rising Energy Bills
Thermostats are designed to avoid unnecessary heating and cooling. Smart thermostats even allow you to adjust temperature settings remotely, ensuring your HVAC system runs only when needed. Faulty thermostats, on the other hand, either run continuously or for prolonged stretches of time. The costs show up in your energy bills. Declining energy efficiency is one of the signs your thermostat is reaching the end of its lifespan.
Incorrect Temperature Readings
One of the symptoms of a bad thermostat is that its display doesn’t match the room temperature. The discrepancy will probably be obvious. Your house will be noticeably uncomfortable. However, before calling an HVAC technician, use an ambient air thermometer to check the temperature for yourself. A software error or run-down temperature gauge is the most likely cause.
Save on HVAC Repairs with Agway EnergyGuard™
Thermostats wear down due to a variety of factors. Age, dust, corrosion, and calibration drift makes it hard for them to maintain your desired settings over time. Home insurance doesn’t cover these types of issues, but Agway does. Our EnergyGuard™ program protects your heating, cooling, and electrical systems from damage caused by wear and tear.
When the need for repair occurs, Agway customers don’t have to waste time searching for a qualified repairman. They contact us instead. Our service team maintains an extensive network of contractors in your area and send the first one straight to your door. There’s no need to worry about service fees or deductibles. We pay for the cost of the visit and all covered parts. Don’t let an unexpected breakdown upset your budget. Sign up and start enjoying the benefits of EnergyGuard™ today!
