Your Home Thermostat
While your HVAC system is a big system, and its use represents a significant portion of your electric bill, its efficiency depends on your thermostat.
Even something as innocuous as the heat from a lamp can throw off your thermostat sensors.
For many people who share a home, thermostat arguments are part of sharing a house. While it's a tiny device, the thermostat has an incredible amount of power. It controls heating, cooling, home comfort, and, if it's Smart, can control those things for you. You can even change the programming when you're away from home. A properly working thermostat is crucial since an improperly functioning thermostat guarantees that your HVAC won't work correctly, either.
Here are some other considerations for a thermostat:
Location
If your thermostat is located in a poorly ventilated area, near a sunny window, or somewhere else where the temperature reading is often inaccurate, it will fail to perform as efficiently as possible. Moving the thermostat to a better location is well worth the cost if it's in the wrong spot. Otherwise, it will just continue to function poorly, costing you money to be uncomfortable.
The control box
When your air conditioner stops working, the first thing you should do is go to the brains of the unit--the thermostat--to find out if it's working.
If the screen isn't displaying, that means the thermostat isn't talking to your cooling system. If the batteries aren't dead and the breaker hasn't tripped in your electrical service panel, it's something else.
If you're feeling courageous, you can turn off the breaker and take the cover off the thermostat. You're looking for one or more of these:
Dirt (dust, soot, mold, etc.)--Clean this the same way you would a computer component, with a soft brush or a can of compressed air.
Anything loose, such as terminals, screws, or wiring--screw them back down.
Corrosion in the unit is when most people decide to replace the thermostat rather than repair it themselves.
Options
If your thermostat needs to be replaced, whether you choose a traditional, programmable, or Smart unit, it's worth weighing the cost against what the thermostat does and what it's going to cost you doesn't operate properly.
If you choose a Smart option, here are some opinions on some the reviewers liked.
If your electrical service is tied to one of the peak demand pricing tiers, it's very well worth your money to get a Smart thermostat, since you can control it while you're away from home.
Also, there are several PowerShift discounts if you're a NV Energy customer. While the pandemic temporarily discontinued some, others are still available. They're worth your while.
Your thermostat has power the which belies its tiny size and seeming insignificance. It's worth the time and money to make sure it's working the way it should and bringing comfort to your home and family. If you're having a problem with it, or even if you think it might not be working right, have it repaired or replaced. It's definitely worth the money.
Modern Air Conditioning & Heating is a Boulder City-based HVAC company offering 15 years of experience in residential and commercial HVAC services for all makes and models. You can also call us directly at (702) 919-4365.
