The thermostat is an integral and vital component of your heating and cooling system. It is needed to determine when and for how long the furnace or air conditioning unit needs to run. This instruction is managed by the use of a temperature sensor. When the sensor determines that the temperature inside the home has dipped below the level set on your thermostat for your comfort level, it sends a message to the furnace to fire up. Most thermostats are very reliable components, but this does not mean that they are immune to faults and problems. So, how do you know if you have a bad thermostat? Here are a few methods of testing your thermostat to ensure that it is operating correctly.
Check the Wiring:
Most models of thermostat have a removable face cover, which easily pops off with no need for tools. Once the face cover is removed, you should be able to see immediately if there are any loose wires. When a wire becomes disconnected, it will be a significant factor in any malfunction.
If you are experiencing air conditioning issues, be sure to check both the green and red wires. If your furnace is playing up, check the white and red wires. However, before investigating the wiring, be sure to turn the circuit off at the power panel.
Check the Fuses:
A blown fuse is often the underlying cause in many cases of a malfunctioning thermostat. Check all the fuses, wiring and accumulation of dirt to ensure that everything will run smoothly. Blown fuses will often have scorch marks to indicate a problem, but this is not always the case. A fuse can be bad without any obvious visible signs, so you may need to look a little closer. Often a bad fuse will have a melted metal strip or discoloration at the top of the fuse.
Check the Batteries:
Many homeowners don’t actually realize that their digital thermostat has batteries. Since the battery compartment is hidden away behind the face panel, it is easy to forget that these batteries can drain, which will prevent your thermostat from operating correctly. It is a good idea to get into the habit of checking the batteries and replacing them to ensure that your thermostat does not suffer a dip in performance. Some models of thermostats do have an icon on the panel to show a low battery warning, but this is not always the case. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with how to access the battery compartment on your thermostat in case of any problems.
Try Troubleshooting:
Finally, you can perform a little troubleshooting to test if you have a bad thermostat. During winter, set the temperature on your thermostat to five degrees more than your usual preferences. In summer, set the cooling temperature to five degrees less. Once you have changed the temperature settings, check if the supply vents are blowing air out and the return vents are drawing air in. This will provide insight into whether your thermostat is faulty.