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How to Tell If Your Thermostat Is Out of Order

Mark J. Biel • May 3, 2019

Being good at thermostat diagnostics is critical to proper HVAC maintenance. If you can tell whether your thermostat is bad, you can schedule an urgent repair and get your heating and cooling system fixed more quickly. Also, if you can identify what’s wrong with what should be a perfectly functional thermostat, you can avoid false alarms and save everyone’s time.

When your HVAC system is acting up, troubleshooting your thermostat is the logical first step to adress the problem. R.A. Biel Plumbing and Heating, the local HVAC and plumbing repair authority, shares below some of the things you can do to diagnose a failing thermostat.

Change the Mode

If your HVAC system should be cooling your house, but your thermostat is set to Heat (or vice versa), then that’s the problem. In an integrated heating and cooling system, the thermostat orchestrates how the equipment functions. Putting your device in the correct mode often solves many thermostat issues.

Adjust It Too High or Too Low

When testing a thermostat, R.A. Biel Plumbing and Heating recommends going to the extremes. In the cooling season, set it 5°F lower than what you consider a comfortable temperature. In the heating season, set it 5°F higher.

If your device is in good shape, it should prompt the appropriate HVAC unit to kick on. If it doesn’t, you may have to tackle a new heating system installation  or an AC replacement.

Identify Heat Sources in the Room

A thermostat may think the space is warmer than it really is when it’s receiving heat. The sun is the usual culprit in such a misreading, which happens when the device is located across from a glass door or a window. Installing a lighting fixture or an appliance near a thermostat can make the adjacent air hotter as well.

If you don’t think your thermostat is the problem, let R.A. Biel Plumbing and Heating further investigate the real cause of the issue. Our qualified technicians can perform tune-ups to save an HVAC unit, but will recommend a new air conditioning system upgrade if necessary. Call us at (505) 672-7888 or (970) 884-3358 now to get a free installation estimate.

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