Princeton,NJ/ 360prwire/ December 13/
Feeling cold and hot is expected; however, the conditions can be unbearable sometimes. And since you can’t abandon your home due to this, you can use an HVAC thermostat. The HVAC thermostat (a system of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in full) helps regulate house temperature.
There are two types of thermostats that differ in how they power up: line-voltage and low-voltage. A low-voltage thermostat uses electricity, gas, or oil. In contrast, a line-voltage thermostat uses current that flows from the thermostat to the heater in a single heating system. Like any electronics, these essential ones also break down sometimes. Reading this publication will help you learn about the signs that your HVAC system needs replacement.
How Long Do Thermostats Last?
Manufacturers make electronics like Thermostats last long, and an HVAC thermostat lasts around ten years. Although it can work for centuries depending on the model, make, and how you handle it. But it would help to know that it might start developing mechanical or functional problems after ten years.
How to check if your thermostat is breaking down
If you suspect that your thermostat isn’t functioning well, you can check in the following steps:
Step 1:
You will first switch the HVAC system off. You can do this by turning it off if it has the switch. You will have to cut off power from the breaker box in systems without the functionality. You should find a circuit lever named marked furnace or HVAC.
Step 2:
Using a screwdriver, remove the thermostat cover to access the inside parts and wires. In some Thermostats, you will have to remove the entire lid.
Step 3:
After opening the system, you should find wires screwed to marked terminals. It will help to take a picture of the markings to avoid confusion.
Carefully unscrew the wires, then insulate them. If you find more wires other than a red and a white one. Using pliers, twist the two wires at the bare ends to connect them. While at it, ensure that they don’t touch any uninsulated wire.
Step 4:
You will then turn the system on according to how you switched it off. If the blower starts functioning and the furnace ignites without the thermostat connection, the system is faulty.
Step 5
After running the test, turn off the power and untwist the wires that you had twisted together. If you see fit, you can continue testing the connection with the other cables if more than two.
If you aren’t handy and can’t test the system yourself, some signs should help you know if your HVAC thermostat is faulty.
Signs of a Faulty Thermostat
The signs are:
Turning on and off on its own
When the system is faulty, the HVAC stops responding to the thermostat’s temperature increase or decrease signals. When this happens, the HVAC will keep switching on and off on its own.
High power bills
When your HVAC system is worn out and failing, you will notice the abnormal bill you will get for energy used. The high bill comes from the multifunction that forces the HVAC to work more than it’s supposed to.
Wrong readings
Thermostats control the heat level indoors through reading, and when it fails, you will notice wrong readings on its display. To confirm the temperature, you can use an indoor thermometer.
Short cycles
Short cycles refer to a situation where the system switches off before appropriately controlling a room’s temperature. Should you notice this, you should get ready to replace it.
Categories of Thermostats
When you need to replace your thermostat, you will find different categories depending on how they function. These categories include:
-
-
Manual thermostats: you operate this thermostat manually, and you are the one to set the temperature you want using an up and down switch. Popular brands in this category are KMC and Veris.
-
-
Wi-fi thermostats: this category of thermostats uses your home wireless connection, enabling you to remotely control your house temperature through an application on your mobile device. Among the top brand in this category is Braeburn thermostats.
-
Programmable thermostats: these thermostats control a room temperature through settings throughout the day. You program the thermostats in this category to heat or cool to your preferred level. In this category, the popular brands are Viconics, Johnson Controls, and Lux.
-
Smart thermostats: smart thermostats use sensors to determine your presence in the house before turning the HVAC system on or off. They operate like programmable ones since they use preset settings to regulate the temperature throughout the day. Honeywell is one of the famous brands in this category of thermostats.
If you want to make your home conducive, you should use electronics such as Thermostats to regulate temperature. However, you should be on the lookout to check if the system functions well. Failure to do that may leave you with substantial energy bills and make your home unconducive. Use this guide to know when you need to change your thermostat.
The post How Do You Know that Your HVAC Thermostat Needs Replacement? appeared first on 360PRWire.
