Thermostat Reading the Wrong Temperature?

Your home’s thermostat says 70 degrees on a sweltering San Antonio afternoon, but you know that cannot be right. You lower your AC temp, but your system is not kicking in. Or, even worse, your system just continues to run. Chances are that your thermostat is not working properly or reading the wrong temperature. Consider the following common causes of thermostat issues.

Check the Settings on Your Thermostat

If you have a programmable thermostat, it is easy to forget that you may have temporarily changed the settings. The first step is to make sure that the thermostat is set to the correct mode.

Check the Batteries

If the thermostat’s batteries are dead, it will not work properly. Batteries that are low on power could also cause the thermostat to not work as intended.

Thermostat May Need to Be Recalibrated

Your thermostat could be reporting an incorrect temperature because it needs to be recalibrated. The process for recalibration will vary depending on the type of thermostat you own. This could be a job for your heating and cooling professional to handle.

Temperature Sensor May Have Gone Bad

The temperature sensor inside the thermostat may be malfunctioning. Sometimes, it is as simple as blowing away any dust that may have accumulated inside the thermostat housing with canned air. If that does not work, you may need to have your thermostat replaced.

Your Thermostat May Not Be Level

If you have an older thermostat that works with mercury or a magnetic switch, it could be possible that it is no longer level. When this happens, the thermostat will not work properly. Upgrading to a new programmable thermostat eliminates this problem.

Thermostat Needs to be Moved

It matters where your thermostat is placed in your home. If you have one of the newer thermostats that do not need to be wired to your HVAC system, it could be in a bad area. It needs to be placed in an area that is free of drafts and direct sunlight.

If you cannot resolve your thermostat issue, it is time to call a professional. Contact Rosenberg Plumbing & Air in San Antonio today for all your home’s heating and cooling needs. In addition to replacing thermostats, we repair, maintain, and install air conditioning or heating systems.

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