The thermostat is an essential tool for maintaining your home’s overall comfort and the last thing you’d want is for it to stop working during the coldest day of the year or at the very peak of the summer heat. To figure out if it’s time for a thermostat replacement, it’s a good idea to try these troubleshooting tips first.
TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR THERMOSTAT
The first thing you should do is check the thermostat’s digital display. If the display is blank, you may be dealing with a dead battery. Remove the thermostat from the wall by sliding the unit up and off of its housing. Turn the thermostat over and then locate and open the battery door. Replace the battery with a fresh, new replacement and see if the thermostat works. If it doesn’t, you’ll want to follow these next steps:
- Check the circuit breaker panel or fuse box and make sure the HVAC system hasn’t tripped circuit breaker or blew a fuse.
- If the HVAC system has power, check the wiring on the back of the thermostat and make sure it’s firmly connected to its terminals.
- Check the wiring and terminals for signs of corrosion. If you do find corrosion, remove it with a small piece of fine sandpaper or a quick spray of electrical cleaner.
If the thermostat is on, but the HVAC system is still unresponsive, you’ll want to follow these troubleshooting steps:
- Make sure the thermostat is set to “heat” or “cool” mode and the fan set to “auto.”
- Adjust the thermostat temperature setting by five degrees above or below current room temperature, depending on whether you have the HVAC system set to “heat” or “cool.”
- As you set the thermostat above or below room temperature, listen carefully for a clicking sound. You should also hear a clicking sound from your furnace or air conditioner. If you don’t hear a clicking sound from either device, then you’ll probably need a thermostat replacement.
If you need a thermostat replacement for your Eastern North Carolina home, contact us at Jackson & Sons today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).