The thermostat that hangs on the wall of your home is one of the key parts of how you cool down your household during the summer. But it’s also easy to take it for granted and not notice when it starts to malfunction. Problems with your air conditioner may sometimes stem from the thermostat, but you won’t be able to tell unless you have a professional look over the system. (This is one of the reasons that you must always call on trained HVAC technicians when you need air conditioning repairs; 50% of repair work involves diagnosing the source of the problem.)
Below are some of the ways that problems with your thermostat can have a negative effect on your home’s cooling:
- Miscalibrated thermostat: A thermostat can be miscalibrated and begin to read incorrect temperatures in a home. When this happens, it will result in the thermostat turning the AC’s fans and compressor on and off at the wrong times. You will experience less comfort and the AC may begin to short-cycle, a situation that places immense mechanical stress on it that will wear it down rapidly. It will result in higher bills as well.
- Loss of connection to the AC: The standard thermostat setup has five wires connecting to the air conditioner, each one a switch that turns on and off the fans and the compressor. Loss of connection in one of these wires will result in fans that won’t come on, fans that won’t turn off, or a compressor that won’t start. If you air conditioner shows any of the above behavior, call for professionals to find out if the thermostat is at fault.
- Poorly placed thermostat: A thermostat that was originally installed in a less-than-ideal location in a home will create continual problems for an air conditioner. If the thermostat is exposed to drafts or periods of direct sun exposure, it will take “ghost readings” that don’t relate to the actual temperatures in your home—and the AC will act accordingly. The only solution to this problem is to have professionals move the thermostat or install a new one in a better location.
If you need thermostat services or any air conditioning repair in Washington, DC, call on Polar Bear Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.