The thermostat is one of those little things at home that we don’t pay much attention to until it stops working. It does its job quietly, but when it breaks, everyone in the household will surely notice.
When your home’s temperature suddenly turns too cold or hot, you know that something has gone wrong with your thermostat. Before bringing in your HVAC technician, you need to check its functionality to ensure that your thermostat is working properly.
Here’s a thermostat checklist that you should keep in mind.
- Examine the power source. Check if there are tripped breakers or blown fuses.
- Check the battery. Your thermostat won’t work without the battery. If the battery is dead, then you have to replace it with a new one.
- See if there is dust, dirt, and spider web buildup. These things can affect your thermostat’s efficiency. You also want to make sure that it is free from nicotine. Dirt and other solid particles can coat the internal parts of the thermostat causing grave effects on its electrical and mechanical components. Once neglected, the thermostat may stop working which you would not want to happen.
- Check for corroded, loose wires and screws. Don’t forget to unplug the power source before removing the thermostat cover. Always refer to the owner’s manual before touching anything on the wirings to prevent accidents and fire hazards.
- See if the room temperature and the setting are matched and correct. To ensure that your thermostat is giving the correct and preferred home temperature, you have to check the leveling and location of the thermostat. Make sure that it is not placed in forward-facing of a door or window. It should not be positioned under direct sunlight because it can affect its temperature parameter.
- Inspect the anticipator setting. This applies particularly to mechanical thermostats. Again, consult your owner’s manual for directions specified on its service panel.
- Observe your thermostat. Does it turn on and off constantly? Was there a time that it won’t turn off? These are signs of thermostat malfunctions that you should address immediately.
