Whether it’s the middle of summer or the dead of winter, maintaining your home’s interior temperature is essential. Florida, Texas, and much of the south spend a lot on AC, with the southern region allotting 27 percent of their energy to air conditioning.
Your thermostat is the key to controlling your air conditioning, but there are some questions you should be asking yourself.
For example, “When do I get a new thermostat?” Or if your current one is giving you issues, you might ask, “Do I need to replace my thermostat?”
Here are five signs you need an upgrade.
Cooling or Heating Won’t Switch On or Off
Your thermostat communicates with your HVAC to let it know when to turn on or off. If it’s not switching on its own, the problem is most likely with your thermostat.
If your air conditioning unit is short cycling, then it could actually cause damage to it long before it needs to be replaced.
In some cases, the batteries in your thermostat might have to be changed. But if you’ve tried that and your air conditioning is still acting up, it’s probably time to replace your thermostat.
Temperature Reading is Wrong
You’re sitting in your living room, sweating and hoping the air conditioner turns on, but it just won’t kick on. Even though you feel warm, if the thermostat is reading a much lower temperature, then it won’t cycle properly.
A thermostat that’s reading the wrong temperature won’t heat or cool a house appropriately.
One reason this happens is if the thermostat is placed somewhere with fluctuating temperatures, such as near an open window or in an active kitchen. In those cases, you should switch its location to somewhere more stable.
If not, it probably needs to be replaced.
Higher Energy Bill
A hidden signal to replace a thermostat is if your monthly energy bill is higher than usual. This is likely due to the AC running when you’re not home, even if you’ve turned it off via the thermostat.
Just in case, though, be sure to get routine HVAC maintenance so you don’t run into the issue again even with a new thermostat.
Thermostat Screen is Off
A blank thermostat screen could be due to a tripped circuit breaker, a blown fuse, or even dead batteries. If you’ve done everything you can to give it energy and it still isn’t working, you should replace it.
The Thermostat is Old
The easiest way to know when to upgrade a thermostat is if it’s simply old or outdated. Modern home thermostats tend to have about a 10-year lifespan, but there’s never a bad time to get something better.
Newer models can be programmed, learn your habits, and connect to your smartphone.
Keep It Cool With a New Thermostat
Your home should be the place you’re most comfortable in. If your AC is acting up, a new thermostat might be just the thing you need.
If not, reach out to us and we’ll service your home as soon as possible.
