Bad Thermostat Hurting Hvac Efficiency | Sound Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.

We’re fortunate to live in an area where our air conditioner use is brief. But that also means we’re using our heaters a lot. True, we don’t get the bitterly cold temperatures that folks in other parts of the country have to deal with, however considering how consistently we use our heaters, don’t you want to do everything you can to save energy and money?

Well, your thermostat use plays a big role in this. If the compressor is the heart of your HVAC system, the thermostat is the brain—if something is wrong with the thermostat then something is wrong with the whole heater or air conditioner. Read on to learn more!

Thermostat Problems and Your HVAC system

Your thermostat allows you to choose when your heating system or air conditioner turns on, and what the temperature of your home will be. In many ways, it doesn’t interfere with the operation of your HVAC system at all—it’s essentially an “on-off” switch. The individual parts within your HVAC system will function as they’re meant to, regardless of what your thermostat does.

However, if there’s a problem with your thermostat or even if it wasn’t set correctly, it of course impacts your ability to control the HVAC system, and as a result, having a thermostat problem is just as bad as having an HVAC problem. Your system might not cycle on as it’s meant to, and/or it may not turn off when it should. Both of these scenarios can result in an uncomfortable household, plus it wastes energy and money.

Thermostat Trouble Can Lead to Short-Cycling

A faulty or malfunctioning thermostat can cause your heater or air conditioner to cycle on and off rapidly, which is known as short-cycling. Your HVAC system spends most of its energy use simply turning on and off, which is why you want yours to run for at least 15 minutes at a time before shutting off.

The good news in all of this is that thermostats are typically easier to repair or replace than other components of your complex heater or air conditioner, since they’re essentially a separate unit. Our team will get to the root of the problem and find out if your thermostat is the cause of your HVAC problems, and if it is, we’ll help you determine whether an upgrade or a repair would be the best choice moving forward.

Consider Upgrading Your Thermostat

When it comes to making any upgrades to your heater or air conditioner, a thermostat replacement is pretty much the most affordable one you can make. And it can also save you the most amount of money! This is because a thermostat that’s off by even a couple of degrees can have a significant negative impact on your cooling or heating bills.

This is especially important to keep in mind if you still have a hard-wired, manual thermostat in your home. Even the most basic of digital, programmable thermostat systems offer many benefits over the manual type. First off, digital thermostats are easier to control, and they’re more accurate than the older, conventional thermostats. Plus, a programmable thermostat enables you to create a customized schedule of heating and cooling that works with your specific needs.