It happens every year. The weather slips from hot and sultry to cool and breezy. Even in Florida, we get hit with chilly air and cold winds. When you come inside, the house isn’t warm enough to be comfortable. You turn on your furnace – often for the first time in a year - and adjust the thermostat to your desired temperature. You expect that wonderful warm air to start circulating around you, but nothing happens. Every single fall, our customers call us and explain that their furnace, idle for months, is not working. Guess what? Sometimes it’s not the furnace that doesn’t work. It’s the thermostat! Here’s how to figure out if it’s your ac or your thermostat that’s causing trouble.
Often, the thermostat is the culprit
When the warmth doesn’t come, most people assume that something is wrong with the air conditioner and heating unit. That may be the case, but often, the thermostat is the culprit.
Can thermostats really go bad? You bet.
Signs Your Thermostat Might Be Broken
Unresponsive Display: If your thermostat’s display is blank or unresponsive, it could be a sign that it has lost power. This is often due to dead batteries or a tripped circuit breaker.
Inconsistent Temperatures: Does the temperature in your home not match what your thermostat is set to? This could indicate that your thermostat is not accurately reading the temperature or is not communicating with your HVAC system.
HVAC System Won’t Turn On or Off: If your heating or cooling system won’t turn on or off, the issue might be with the thermostat’s wiring. Loose or frayed wires can disrupt the signals between your thermostat and HVAC system.
Constant Running: A thermostat that causes your HVAC system to run constantly could be malfunctioning. This might be due to incorrect calibration or damaged wiring.
Age of the Thermostat: Thermostats have a lifespan of about ten years. If yours is older, it might be time for a replacement.
How to Test Your Thermostat:
Don’t worry. You can test your thermostat with these fast and easy tactics:
Check the breaker
Usually, a furnace has its own breaker. That breaker can be tripped, usually because of an electrical surge, lightning strike, an overload, or a short circuit. If the breaker trips in that in-between season in Florida where you don’t need air conditioning or heating, then you might not even know it’s tripped. Check the breaker to make sure that it’s on. If so, you’ve done the first diagnostic. If it’s tripped, flip it back on and verify that it stays on. (If it trips again after you’ve reset it, you’ll need to call an electrician because there may be a dangerous fault.)
Check the batteries in your thermostat
We’ve had the problem at home where all of a sudden, the television won’t work. The cursor just won’t move and the tv is stuck. It dawns on us that it’s been a while since we put new batteries in the remote. That’s a problem with thermostats, too. Often, the only problem is the batteries are dead.
The lifespan of a thermostat battery is eight months to a year. If you haven’t changed them in recent memory, your thermostat probably needs a new battery. This is a common problem. Luckily, it’s easy and inexpensive to fix!
Reset the thermostat
One way to test the thermostat is to reset the temperature.
Try resetting the temperature by at least 5 degrees in either direction. A thermostat in good working order will respond almost immediately to a demand for a change in temperature. If you raise your temperature demand and the heat or air doesn’t kick on, it may be an issue with the thermostat.
Verify the settings
Believe it or not, in this age when there are so many settings that it’s easy to miss the most basic one. Make sure that you have chosen the correct setting. “Heat” when you want warmth and “cool” when you want air conditioning.
Inspect the Wiring
Turn off the power to your thermostat and carefully lift off the cover. Look for any loose or frayed wires. (Mice can get into the tiniest spaces and they can chew through anything!) Clean the components with a soft brush. If you see any damaged wires, call ServiceOne at once.
Look for Obvious Signs That the Problem Lies with Your Air Conditioner
If your thermostat isn’t the issue, then check for obvious signs that your air conditioning unit isn’t working.
Look at the drain line float switch
Check the drain line float switch usually located in a secondary drain pan or on the drain pipe. If water is inside the switch, it will shut the unit off. They can call us, or they can take a wet / dry vac where the drain exits the home, and "suck" out the clog, pour a gallon of warm water in the drain, and repeat.
Frozen Condenser
Air conditioners should be cold, without doubt. But they should never be frozen. If you go outside to inspect your unit and discover ice, you know that something is definitely wrong! The coils can get too cold, a problem caused by refrigerant leaks, blocked drainage, or dirty filters.
Loud Noises
If your air conditioner starts to rattle, making popping sounds, is whirring or whistling, there may be an issue with a part. Air conditioners shouldn’t be noticeably loud.
Bad Smells
Your air conditioner shouldn’t emit questionable odors. If it smells musty, icky, or damp, there is something wrong!
Leaks or Wet Spots
Air conditioners require refrigerant to work. They also handle moisture and condensation. If you see leaks or wet spots around your air conditioner, call ServiceOne right away. Leaks can seep under floors and cause structural problems if they are not addressed right away.
Call ServiceOne To Fix The Problem!
Whether your issue is with a thermostat or the unit, ServiceOne Air Conditioning and Plumbing can help.
With more than 20 years of experience proudly serving Central Florida, we can handle any issue you have with air conditioning, heating, plumbing, and drain cleaning.