View Specials
The thermostat in your Garland, TX, home is designed to help you regulate the temperature in your home’s interior. Some thermostats control whole-house humidification and dehumidification as well as air purification and ventilation. By way of a small sensor, your thermostat will communicate with your heating and cooling system as needed, indicating when it should turn on and off.
As with any piece of equipment in your home, thermostats will need to be replaced periodically. They may need to be recalibrated or repaired throughout their lifetime as well. Let’s discuss the frequency of thermostat replacement, the benefits of replacement, and how to spot thermostat problems that indicate you need a new device.
The Life Expectancy of Thermostats
Most thermostats are designed to last for about 10 years. After this point, they can start to malfunction. Some of the most common issues with an old thermostat are faulty sensors, screen issues, and incorrect readings. While your furnace or air conditioner may be in great shape, they may be forced to run more frequently because of thermostat issues. This leads to an increase in wear and tear for those appliances.
Thermostat Problems
Your HVAC system comprises heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment. Other items, such as a whole-house air purification unit, may be installed into your system. All these things run because of their connection with your thermostat. If your thermostat incorrectly reads the temperature in the room, it can relay incorrect information to the rest of your system. This becomes more common as a thermostat ages. We recommend installing your thermostat on a wall near the center of your home, away from doors, windows, dust, smoke, moisture, and cooking fumes. This will protect its integrity for a longer period. Never situate your thermostat in direct sunlight.
A lot of newer smart thermostats are connected to Wi-Fi. If you lose power to your home or your Wi-Fi connection times out, this can affect the function of your thermostat. In turn, this affects the comfort level of your home. If your thermostat has been exposed to high levels of humidity throughout its lifetime, this can lead to premature corrosion of your thermostat sensor and interior components.
Thermostat Problems to Watch Out For
There are several issues that you should watch out for that indicate a problem with your thermostat.
Not Responding to Controls
If you attempt to adjust your furnace or air conditioner through your thermostat but don’t see any response, there may be a problem with the connection between the thermostat and the other appliance. The problem may be as simple as a dead thermostat battery. You may have more serious issues with the electrical wiring of your system. Or your thermostat may simply be past its life expectancy and need to be replaced.
Tripped Breaker
A malfunction with your thermostat can cause your breaker to trip. Check your breaker to see if that’s why you’re having problems. If you reset the breaker and it trips again, this is a sign that you should have a professional diagnose the issue.
Continuous Running Time
If your heating or cooling equipment is running non-stop or turning on and off very frequently, your thermostat may be to blame. These short cycles can lead to HVAC damage, so it’s best to have the problem diagnosed quickly.
You may notice that your energy bills have increased slightly even though energy costs stayed constant. This can mean your heating and cooling equipment is running more frequently, increasing your energy consumption without you noticing.
Inaccurate Temperature Readings
The temperature in the room where your thermostat is located should match the reading on your thermostat. If there is a discrepancy, this can be because of a dirty or broken temperature sensor. If dusting the surface of the sensor doesn’t fix the problem, it’s likely time to replace your thermostat. To confirm that suspicion, you can purchase a temperature gauge to check accuracy.
If you have a multi-zone system, you’ll need to check each zone individually. You may have one thermostat that malfunctions while others do not. However, if they are all the same type of thermostat, one broken unit often indicates that the others will malfunction soon.
Deciding to Replace Your Thermostat
If your thermostat is over 10 years old and is experiencing ongoing issues, it’s time to replace it. It’s probably more cost-effective to replace your thermostat than to deal with your heating and cooling equipment running more frequently. Short cycling can also lead to an increase in repairs, which can cost a lot of money.
If you upgrade to a smart thermostat, there are several features that can help you save money. They include programming your personal schedule to reduce runtime. Many new models even learn your heating and cooling trends, so you can make money-saving adjustments. Other smart features include voice commands, controlling your system remotely, touchscreen displays, and connecting to other smart devices in your home.
If you’ve recently replaced your furnace or air conditioner, we may recommend replacing your thermostat as well. This ensures that the thermostat you’re using is compatible with your new equipment. It also prevents damage to your new equipment that an aging thermostat could cause.
Replace your thermostat if you don’t think that it’s in the proper location in your home. Even a slight discrepancy in reading accuracy can result in excessive energy consumption and system wear and tear. Improper placement of your thermostat can also shorten its lifespan.
There are rebates and tax incentives that make it worthwhile to invest in a new thermostat. We can let you know which models are currently eligible for savings and help you find something that is compatible with your setup.
Professional Installation
We encourage you to schedule a thermostat replacement with our team at On Time Experts rather than attempting to replace it yourself. While this can be a straightforward process, it’s imperative that it be performed correctly. Faulty wiring can increase the risk of a fire in your home. Electrocution is also a concern. You could also cause damage to your heating and cooling equipment if your thermostat does not properly communicate with them.
We can check your thermostat as part of your annual maintenance appointment. Minor repairs and calibration can extend the lifespan of your thermostat to reduce the need for premature replacement in just a few short years.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of installing a new thermostat in your Garland home, reach out to our team here at On Time Experts. In addition to thermostat repair and installation, we install, repair, and maintain different types of heating and cooling equipment. We also offer plumbing services for your water heater, sewer lines, remodeling project, and more. We address indoor air quality issues by performing an IAQ assessment and installing whole-house purification devices.
Contact On Time Experts today for help with your thermostat in the Garland area.
