Thermostats act as the “command center” for your furnace. They
constantly read the temperature levels in your home and tell your heating
system when it should turn on and off. If your thermostat is not working
properly, it will be very difficult to keep your home at your desired
temperature and will cause all sorts of comfort and efficiency problems.
We want to help you fix your malfunctioning thermostat as quickly as possible,
so today we’re going to talk about how to troubleshoot a thermostat
in your St. Louis area home!
How to troubleshoot a thermostat in your home
- Check the settings. Before you assume that something is wrong with your
thermostat, check to make sure that everything is set properly. For your furnace to turn on, the thermostat must be in “heat”
mode and the temperature in your home must be lower than the temperature
setting on your thermostat. If someone accidentally set your thermostat
to “cool” mode, you’ll want to switch it back to “heat.”
If your home is too cold, you might simply need to raise your thermostat
setting to allow your furnace to do its work. - Change the batteries (if applicable). Some thermostats are powered entirely
by batteries or use batteries as a backup energy source. If your unit
is acting up or is not displaying anything on the screen, change the batteries
and see if that takes care of the problem. - Analyze your thermostat’s location. The location of your thermostat
has a direct effect on how accurate its temperature readings will be.
To get the best-possible temperature readings, your thermostat
must be located away from exterior doors, supply vents, direct sunlight, and any heat-producing appliances. In addition, your thermostat should
be in a central location in your home. If your thermostat is not located
with these factors in mind, you may need to move it. - Clean your thermostat. If a thermostat gets dirty, it will not be able
to read temperatures accurately. Open the housing to your thermostat and
look for any signs of dirt buildup. If you notice dirt inside your thermostat,
remove it gently with a paintbrush or other soft brush. - Make sure your thermostat is level (mercury-based models). If you have
a mercury-based thermostat, it must be mounted level on your wall to work properly. If you suspect that your thermostat is not accurate,
use a bubble level to check whether or not you need to adjust its position. - Calibrate your thermostat (digital-based models). If you have a digital
thermostat, you may need to recalibrate your unit if it is reading the
wrong temperatures in your home. Check your thermostat’s owner’s
manual for directions on how to do this with your specific model. - Contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical. If you’ve tried the troubleshooting steps above
and your thermostat is still not working properly, or if you’d prefer
to have your thermostat inspected by a professional, contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical.
We’ll send someone to your home to uncover the problem and make
the necessary repairs to get your thermostat back up and running properly again.
If you have any questions about how to troubleshoot a thermostat, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical, your furnace installation and repair contractor in St. Charles, MO. We provide service all over the St. Louis area, including towns like Winghaven, Ballwin, and Chesterfield, MO.
