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When you wake up shivering in the morning, there is only one possible culprit- your thermostat. It can be extremely frustrating when your
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Luckily, there is a solution for every issue that could cause your thermostat to function improperly, and this article will cover them all.
Your Thermostat is Dirty
If your thermostat has never been cleaned, now may be the time to do so. A dusty thermostat is less likely to be able to accurately gauge temperature than a clean one.
This is because, when lint and dust accumulate in a thermostat, they can end up blocking its internal sensors.
This makes the thermostat unable to correctly read the temperature in your home.
How to Fix the Problem
To remedy this problem, you need to clean your thermostat. There are specific steps that you should follow when cleaning your thermostat, and they should be followed closely. You don’t want to damage any of the unit’s delicate parts.
Prepare for Cleaning
Before you begin cleaning the thermostat, you need to gather your materials.
Below are all of the materials that you need:
- Soft tip brush
- Microfiber cloth – A regular cloth will not work, as it is harsh and can deposit more dust as it cleans.
- Canned air
Note: Though you may be tempted to vacuum the dust away, HVAC experts advise not to do that. Being gentle with the cleaning process is essential for avoiding damage.
Clean the Thermostat
Now that you’ve gathered all of your materials, you are ready to start the cleaning process.
The cleaning steps are below:
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- Carefully remove the front of the thermostat, also called the faceplate, to expose the inner parts of the thermostat.
- Grab your microfiber cloth and begin to wipe away the dust. You can also use the soft tip brush to get into any nooks and crannies that are difficult to reach. Canned air may be used with caution. If you do use canned air, refrain from spraying it too close to the unit – follow the instructions on the can.
- Replace the faceplate.
The Thermostat is in the Wrong Location
Many have no idea that the location of your thermostat affects how well it will work.
If you place a thermostat near a space heater, the unit’s temperature reading will be higher than the temperature is in the rest of the house.
In this case, your unit may shut off before it can heat the home to the correct temperature.
Conversely, if your thermostat is right next to a door, where cold winds come in, the thermostat reading will be lower than it should be.
If this is the case, your thermostat will shut off before it has cooled the house sufficiently.
How to Fix the Problem
If the above is the reason why your thermostat is not working well, then the solution is relatively simple.
The best solution is to move it to a space where there are no doors, heaters, or windows near.
Unfortunately, this could be costly. So, the alternative is to leave the thermostat where it is and change your habits.
Evening Out the Temperature in Your Home
You can do the following keep a balanced and even temperature in the home:
- Move space heaters away from the thermostat. There should be no direct cool or hot air blowing in the vicinity of the unit.
- Don’t use heated appliances around your thermostat. Heated appliances include flat irons, blow dryers, etc. These items should be used away from the thermostat.
Note: If your thermostat is situated in a really bad area, like right next to an oven or next to the front door, calling an HVAC technician may be the best thing to do. They can relocate your thermostat to a better area.
The Sensors are Damaged
One of the most common causes of a thermostat not reaching the set temperature is a damaged or broken sensor.
When a sensor is the issue, the thermostat’s reading of the surrounding temperature will be incorrect.
If your thermostat is unable to read the surrounding temperature correctly, it will turn off prematurely since it mistakenly read that the correct temperature had been reached.
How to Fix the Problem
A very intricate and costly repair would be needed for a thermostat with this issue. So, it is recommended to have it replaced with a totally new unit.
The Wiring is Loose
If you’ve had your thermostat for a while and have never cleaned it before, corrosion and dust may have set in.
And over time, this can cause the unit’s wires to loosen. In addition, dust and corrosion can make it difficult for an electrical current to pass through.
In extreme cases, this can deem the unit unusable.
If this is happening with your unit, you’ll find that it shuts off sporadically and won’t reach the set temperature.
How to Fix the Problem
If this is your problem, you need to clean the wires on the inside of the thermostat. This is done by taking off the front of the thermostat and getting rid of the dust.
You can brush away the light dust, but for areas that have started to corrode, you will need cotton swabs. These are the perfect size for dislodging the corroded bits.
After you are done cleaning the wires, make sure that they are secure. You may need to tighten up a couple of screws or secure a wire or two by hand. Make sure that you don’t do this with wet hands.
Your Air Filters Are Clogged
The problem could be with your furnace filter. With regular use, furnace filters collect dust and dirt and have the potential to get clogged if not changed regularly.
If your filters are clogged, this can cause your furnace to blow out colder air or not produce enough hot air to make a difference.
There is no way that your thermostat will reach the set temperature if the furnace cannot produce warm air.
How to Fix the Problem
This is one of the easiest problems to fix. All you need to do is replace your furnace’s filter.
The below sections will tell you how to find the filter, examine it, and replace it:
Find Where the Filter Is Located
In many cases, the filter is housed within the furnace. If you’re unsure of where to find the filter, you can do a google search of the brand and model of your furnace.
If you still can’t figure it out, a call to the manufacturer is in order.
Examine the Filter
You can tell whether your filter needs to be changed just by looking at it. If the filter looks dark and full of gunk, it is time to change it.
If you are unsure, you can hold the filter up to the light and see if any like passes through the filter. If no light is able to pass through, it is time to change the filter.
But before you remove the filter, take note of how it is currently positioned. Snapping a few photos with your cell phone and jotting down a few notes will save you time and frustration later.
If you end up needing to replace the filter, you’ll have to position it the same way that the current one is positioned.
Replace the Filter
To replace the filter, you should take the following steps:
- Turn off the furnace. If the furnace is on, you run the risk of burning yourself. Don’t begin replacing the filter until no air is coming out of the furnace.
- Remove the old filter. You should be able to pull it out easily from the side. This will depend on the type of furnace you have.
- Insert the new filter. Make sure that the filter is pointing the right way, as this will affect the efficiency of the filter. The airflow arrow should be pointing away from the cold air.
Replace your furnace filter periodically throughout the year. Experts recommend that your air filter be replaced every 3 months.
However, you may find that you need to change your filters more often during the winter season when you are likely to use your furnace more frequently.
The frequency at which you change your filter will be determined by:
- The air quality in your home.
- How often you use your furnace.
- How large your home is.
The Air Flow is Obstructed
Your thermostat will not be able to reach the right temperature if your vents are obstructed.
When this occurs, it doesn’t matter how much hot or cold air is produced. The overall temperature in your home may never rise, or fall, to the correct temperature if several items are blocking your vents.
How to Fix this Problem
This problem is easily remedied with some redecorating. Move all items away from your vents so that air can flow freely through your residence.
You may notice immediately that your thermostat is able to reach the set temperature.
Final Thoughts
While several problems can cause a thermostat to reach the right temperature, just about every problem can be remedied with a bit of focused effort. We hope that this article will be used as a helpful guide to assist you in fixing your thermostat issue.
