Ever made a bee-line to your thermostat on a hot summer day, only to find out that the screen is completely blank? Talk about panic.
It can be alarming and frustrating to find your thermostat broken in your moment of need—but don’t sweat it just yet. With temperatures warming up, you will want to nip any thermostat issues in the bud. From battery changes to tripped switches, there are several fixes you can take a crack at before replacing your HVAC system altogether.
Get To Know Your Thermostat
Your HVAC system is a unique part of your home or business. Multiple HVAC components need to work well and efficiently to heat and cool your home. One of these components is your thermostat.
Think of your thermostat as a telephone. Your thermostat is in constant communication with your HVAC system. Whatever settings you have on your thermostat will be transmitted to your heating and cooling system and, in return, will act on those settings to heat or cool your home.
Yes, your thermostat and HVAC system like to talk a lot. But sometimes there can be faults in that communication, ultimately causing your system to stop working. What’s worse? Sometimes your system can stop working at the worst times, like in sweltering summer heat or the frigid cold. Luckily, Hutchinson offers 24/7 service—but we’ll get to that later.
Let’s look at some of your possible thermostat issues and ways you can better prepare for when things start to go awry.
1. The Batteries Are Dead
If this happens to be your issue—congratulations! You have the easiest fix. To check if your thermostat batteries are dead, simply pop the battery compartment open, remove the old batteries, and replace them with the appropriate sizes.
If your thermostat screen comes alive again—great! Enjoy your cool air. If it doesn’t, don’t worry. There are a few different fixes you can still try.
2. The Settings Are Wrong
Is your thermostat screen turning on, but you’re experiencing irregular heating and cooling issues? If you face issues with your comfort level, the answer could lie in your thermostat’s settings. For example, if your setpoints are too high or too low for the current season, your thermostat will not work efficiently or to your comfort level. This can also lead to unwanted spikes in your energy bill.
Ensure your thermostat is set to its correct seasonal settings and see if that fixes your issues.
3. The Breaker Tripped
Tried replacing the batteries, and your thermostat still isn’t working? Don’t worry; it could just be the breaker. While that sounds alarming, you shouldn’t freak out as this is a pretty easy fix. Have you ever had your hairdryer stop working mid-dry? It’s the same thing.
Air conditioning and heating systems are usually connected to the main electrical system in your home or business. All you have to do is locate your breaker and flip the switch back on. Check your thermostat to make sure the screen is working. If it is, then boom—problem solved.
4. The Safety Switch Tripped
So you tried replacing the batteries and checked the breaker, but still—nothing is happening. If your thermostat is still turning up blank after inserting fresh, new batteries, then it might be time to check your heat and air conditioning systems.
Sometimes, the transformer will stop sending voltage to run the thermostat. Start by checking the air conditioning safety switch, which is in the drain pan. The safety switch has a sensor that detects moisture or high temperatures and will turn the system off if it detects such problems. If you find that the safety switch sensor has tripped, it’s time to give Hutchinson a call for a professional air conditioner check-up.
5. Your Thermostat Is Old
Nothing lasts forever—not even your thermostat. If your thermostat is over ten years old, it may be reaching the end of its life. Think about it—10 years of working hard to heat and cool your home or business is a long time and a lot of work for your thermostat. After about a decade, it’s time to start thinking about replacing your system.
To get a definite answer, you can talk to one of Hutchinson’s HVAC experts, who will provide you with the right information, so you can make your best-informed decision.
Know When To Replace Your Thermostat
Trying to diagnose the problem of your thermostat can get tricky—especially if you do not have any HVAC experience. Sometimes smaller issues can lead to bigger problems. And if your thermostat is getting old, you could experience higher energy bills than you are used to due to the old thermostat incorrectly reading the temperature settings.
If your thermostat is constantly shutting off, registering incorrect temperatures, racking up your energy bill, or making strange clicking noises as it tries to respond to your temperature changes, then it might be time to replace your system. If you find yourself in this situation, give Hutchinson a call. We provide top-notch HVAC service throughout southern New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware, including full heating and air conditioning replacement. Give us a call today to discuss your options and find the most efficient system for you.
Contact Hutchinson for All Your AC and Heating Needs
Calling Hutchinson is the best way to keep your thermostat happy and healthy, so you can resolve any issues before the summer heat hits. At Hutchinson, we understand heating and air conditioning issues can arise at the most inconvenient times. That’s why it doesn’t matter if it’s 2 PM or 2 AM—we have trained and certified Customer Service technicians ready to take your call no matter the time of day. Whether you need expert HVAC advice, a system tune-up, or a system replacement, you can count on the Hutchinson team to meet your needs.
Contact Hutchinson to schedule a service today, so you can keep your home comfortable all year long.