How to Tell If Thermostat Is Bad: Signs You Need a Replacement

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March 1, 2022

When your house can’t seem to cool down on a hot day or heat up on a cold day, it’s easy to suspect your HVAC unit as the problem. However, your thermostat could be the problem. These small units control your home’s heating and cooling, and if they break down, the system won’t work.

Thermostat repair is one of the HVAC services in Orlando by TemperaturePro. However, our customers can do a bit of troubleshooting before calling HVAC technicians. A thermostat with dead batteries may not need replacement just yet. Here’s a look at how to tell if your thermostat is bad and in need of replacing.

The Thermostat Is Unresponsive

If your thermostat’s screen is blank and unresponsive, you won’t be able to adjust your home’s temperature. In many cases, changing the batteries will bring it back to life. However, if the thermostat is relatively new or still fails to respond after a battery change, it may be time for a replacement.

Your HVAC Unit Won’t Come On

A wiring defect in the thermostat, a broken relay, or a control board problem can keep your thermostat from sending signals to your HVAC systems. You can see and change the readings on the thermostat, but it can’t relay any commands to the system. In this situation, replacing the thermostat is the best choice.

Poor Regulation of the HVAC System

A working thermostat will turn off your air conditioning or heater when your home reaches the right temperature. If your thermostat is bad, the units will run consistently. Wrongly calibrated thermostat settings and wiring problems are some of the chief causes of this thermostat problem.

Wrong Thermostat Readings

The correct thermostat reading keeps your home from getting too hot or too cold. If your thermostat continues to register incorrect temperatures, it may be time for you to consider a replacement. One of the main tips we give people looking for how to tell if their thermostat is bad is to run a quick test.

Put a portable thermometer in the same room and compare the readings you get. If you notice any significant differences in the recorded room temperature, your original thermostat’s sensor may be malfunctioning due to old age or a manufacturer defect.

Inexplicably High Energy Bills

Most people want to heat and cool their homes in the most energy-efficient way possible. However, a thermostat misreading the temperature will do the opposite.

It will cause the HVAC system to overwork, leading to a spike in your energy bills. Unnecessary cycling will increase the amount of power the system consumes. Your HVAC technician will look at all the possible causes of inefficiency, including your thermostat, and recommend a solution.

Regular Temperature Shifts

A bad thermostat won’t retain settings, so the temperature will fluctuate without warning. Turn the thermostat up or down and watch to see if the thermostat will maintain the new range or not.

Thermostat Repairs in Orlando, FL

We hope you’ve learned how to tell if your thermostat is bad. If your troubleshooting shows that your thermostat needs replacing, you can contact us at TemperaturePro to provide you with the best option.

We also provide comprehensive HVAC maintenance and service in the Orlando, FL, area. Learn the signs of when your ac needs to be serviced or call us at (407) 225-8903 to book an appointment.