Common Thermostat Issues That Can Cause HVAC Problems

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The thermostat is one of the most important components when it comes to keeping your home comfortable for your family and visitors. The thermostat is responsible for gauging your home’s temperature and working with your HVAC unit to guarantee it is cooling or heating as it should. But, unfortunately, sometimes your thermostat can cause more harm than good. Let’s go over some of the most common thermostat issues that can lead to HVAC problems. 

Incorrect Thermostat Placement

Proper thermostat placement is key when it comes to making sure your HVAC system will operate properly and efficiently. Because of that, you need to make sure your thermostat is placed in a spot conducive to its operation. If you put your thermostat in front of a large window, for example, and the sun beats down on it all day, it’s going to incorrectly read your home’s temperature. As a result, your system will be forced to overwork and constantly run to reach the desired temperature. The same goes for placing the thermostat above an air vent. Incorrect thermostat placement strains your unit, which in turn drives up energy costs and increases the frequency of repairs needed for your unit, ultimately shortening the unit’s lifespan. 

Then Thermostat’s Batteries are Low

Some thermostats are battery-powered and can last from three months to as long as five years, depending on the make and model. When your thermostat batteries are low, a low battery warning will pop up on the thermostat’s screen. If you don’t replace the batteries as soon as you see this warning, your thermostat will die, which will completely shut off power to your HVAC system. This happens because when thermostat batteries are dead or low, and it can no longer monitor or control the temperature. This leaves you with an Arm unit that won’t turn on until you replace the batteries. Not exactly the situation you want to find yourself in on a hot Nashville day.

The Thermostat is Old

Just like any appliance, old age and lead to operating issues in a thermostat. A thermostat has an average lifespan of around ten years, and once it passes its prime, it becomes more susceptible to problems that are caused by old wiring and dust accumulation. The good news is, HVAC professionals can quickly replace your thermostat with a new model— and little system downtime! When you get a replacement thermostat, you also have the chance to update to a more modern thermostat, perhaps one that is programmable or a smart thermostat, which will help make your energy savings even easier.

Your Home Requires a Multi-Zone Thermostat 

If you have one room in your home that is way hotter than the others, it could be because you are using the wrong type of thermostat. Most apartments, condos, and small to medium-sized homes can effectively use one thermostat. However, bigger homes typically need a different solution known as a multi-zone control system or a multi-zone thermostat system. This is because large properties with more than two levels often run into comfort and efficiency issues when only one thermostat is in use. If this sounds like your situation, you may want to consider a multi-zone thermostat that you can use to control temperatures of different areas of your home. This helps boost both comfort and HVAC efficiency.

Nashville HVAC Professionals You Can Trust

For all of your air conditioning and heating needs in the Greater Nashville Area, count on the expert team at American Heating Cooling. Our team has been the trusted source for air conditioning and heating services in the Nashville area since 1981. Contact us today; let’s find a solution for you!