When To Replace Your Thermostat: How to Know When’s Time
Your home temperature is a key player in your comfort. And the most common way to tell the temperature in your home and know if you should do anything to change it is by using a home thermostat.
The best thermostats last around 35 years before you need to replace them. But, these devices are prone to breaking even before that. So is there a way to know that the thermostat in your home is about to stop working?
Yes! This article will elaborate on common signs that you need a new thermostat, how to tell if it’s broken, and how it works. Plus, we’ll offer some exciting solutions.
How Long Do AC Thermostats Last?
Every thermostat’s lifespan can vary, depending on the type, model, and mode of making. If you are wondering, “How long do AC thermostats last? then you should know that the older mechanical thermostats usually last up to 35 years, but the modern ones have a shorter lifespan of 10 years. However, that’s not a rule that’s set in stone.
Like most gadgets in your home, the thermostat will eventually become outdated. The old ones are bound to be replaced with programmable smart thermostats with many features like app connecting, monitoring, customization, and much more.
But if you don’t want to change your thermostat, then there are things you could do to make it last longer. You should also regularly clean it and inspect it for malfunctions. Sometimes you will need to reset your thermostat – set it from 7 to 10 degrees for 8 hours of the day. This decreases heating bills, giving the thermostat time to reset while at work.
When to Replace Home Thermostat: Key Indicators
One clear clue that you need a thermostat replaced is when you notice malfunctions. This is noticeable if your home seems hotter or colder than usual. Obvious signs are also if the device won’t turn on or off and it shows suspicious measurements.
Below we give you some less-obvious signs you need so you know when to replace home thermostat:
Unresponsive Thermostat
Some thermostats run on batteries. And batteries don’t last forever – they, too, need replacing once in a while. Before deciding that your thermostat is broken, check if the battery is dead. Try to replace the old batteries with new ones; if this doesn’t change anything, the problem lies elsewhere. In most cases, it’s an issue with the wiring.
Your AC and Heater Won’t Start
If the thermostat’s wiring becomes loose, it can break connections with your home heating and cooling appliances. This means that the thermostat isn’t controlling the air conditioner or the heater.
Other reasons why your AC or heaters aren’t working include defects in the system which can cause misread temperature settings. This problem usually can’t be fixed by changing the settings.
Each Room Has a Different Temperature
Most people program their thermostats to different temperature settings for each room. A faulty thermostat can mess up the HVAC system’s controls by switching them on and off. This means that the room with the HVAC system will get the most temperate air. Because of this problem, the other rooms in the house will barely get any cool or hot air.
Incorrect Temperature Readings
A thermostat that reads incorrect temperatures won’t be heating or cooling your home. If you compare another new thermostat with your current one, and they show different temperatures, then it’s time to replace it.
Note that your thermostat could show faulty readings due to sunlight and draft proximity. If that’s not the case, try to see if there’s dust buildup. After you clean up your thermostat, see if the readings change.
Once you clean your thermostat and notice it continues to malfunction, you should consider buying a new one.
You Can’t Save Your Settings
If you have to reprogram your temperature settings every day, there’s a chance you might need a new one. With a smart thermostat, you can customize programmable features and connect directly to your homely HVAC system. This way, you control temperatures and the heating and cooling process in each room.
Most smart thermostats allow you to sync up your AC and heaters to run simultaneously for periods. But, if your device forgets or completely ignores your setting, then it might be buggy.
Simply put, you’ll know your thermostat is faulty if it doesn’t save the settings you’ve chosen. The causes for tweaks with the settings are usually minor, like dying batteries. Other causes can include thermostat memory defects. This is solved by putting the device into factory reset. If the factory reset does not help, then a new thermostat would be a good idea.
No Display
The digital thermostat has a display that’s always there, but now it’s blank. Since most thermostats are digital nowadays, the displays are known to continue working even if there’s something wrong.
The interface needs to project the temperature, the time, and other useful information. A blank thermostat is there to capture your attention to investigate. The usual culprits for this are some intervention with the HVAC system, flooding or heavy rain, etc.
The Benefits of a New Thermostat
A thermostat comes with many benefits, but they have a lifespan. Buying a new thermostat is probably the best thing to do if you’re having trouble with your old one and can’t seem to fix it.
A new thermostat will work as a cool indicator of your current room temperature, meaning you won’t have to check twice. If you have a new thermostat, here are some benefits you can reap:
- Consistent, comfortable room temperature;
- No malfunctions leaving you with one extremely hot and one cold room;
- It allows you to set your required temperature and sticks to it;
- Some devices are smart, so you might have high-tech features like humidity and air quality checks;
- You’ll feel more at home with your preferred temperature all the time;
- It saves the bills;
- A new thermostat is cost-efficient, which means it preserves a lot of wasted electricity.
The thermostat usually works with the HVAC system in your home. This is when you have a few other thermostats regulating other rooms in your area. These other thermostats have different preferred temperatures. So you’ll need a functional thermostat to work with an HVAC system.
Do You Need an Electrician to Install a Thermostat?
If you’re directly asking do you need an electrician to install a thermostat, the answer is yes!
Thermostats are not the easiest to adjust and should not be tampered with if you are not a licensed professional. No matter how many lightbulbs you change, you won’t be able to install a thermostat that easily without help.
In some states, you could be breaking the law if you try to install a thermostat yourself. Every thermostat needs to be installed by a licensed, professional electrician so they can verify that no harm can be done to you or your property. So, if you are not a professional, it’s best to leave this to someone that can guarantee a job well done.
For all that live in Tucson, Arizona, and feel the need for a proper thermostat, call Cummings Plumbing, Heating &Cooling. Whether you need an AC repair or a thermostat installation, you can turn to our team for help. We have a long experience behind us to guarantee that we can fix everything in no time!
Call us today and get a free estimate!
Replacing a Thermostat: Sooner is Better
We hope you got some perspective on how to recognize when to replace thermostat devices with new ones. With cold winters and scorching summers, it’s better to take care of your thermostat sooner than later.
Changing your thermostat is necessary. Without it, you lose control of the ambient and get into a situation where some areas are colder or hotter than others. Not only that, but it can also mess with your other electronics and create even greater problems.
Make sure to look out for the signs that will tell you when to change thermostat devices. Once you notice them, act immediately and give yourself peace of mind for years to come.
FAQ
How do you know if your home thermostat is going bad?
The number one sign that your thermostat has gone bad is if it reads incorrect temperatures and doesn’t save changes. Other indicators include not displaying the right temperature, not saving the changes you make, etc.
How do I test my home thermostat?
The best way to see if your thermostat works is by turning up the heat. For additional confirmation, you can do it with a partner who can watch the furnace while you’re turning up the heat on the thermostat. If a sound doesn’t follow this, then you might have something wrong with the thermostat.
What happens if you don’t replace the thermostat?
If you don’t replace your thermostat in time, you could get stuck with inappropriate temperatures in your home, high energy bills, or worse – electrical problems that may lead to other disasters.
