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Central
Heating and Cooling Systems
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Radiant
Heating Systems
||
Heat
Pumps ||
Freon
R-22 and Alternative Refrigerants
||
DIY
Forced-Air Heating and Furnace Repairs
||
Gas
Furnace
Maintenance ||
Central
or Portable Air
Conditioners
||
AC
Cooling Capacity ||
AC
Energy Efficiency || AC Condenser Maintenance ||
Thermostat
Types ||
Wireless
Thermostats ||
Thermostat
Testing and Troubleshooting ||
Solar
and Electric Attic Fans ||
Whole
House Fans
||
Troubleshooting
and Testing a
Thermostat
Most homeowners don’t
realize or understand just how important
thermostats are, but thermostats are
responsible for monitoring and regulating the
temperature in the room.
In other words, thermostats are key to
energy savings as well as maintaining
comfortable temperature levels in the home, or
business.
When furnaces or
air-conditioners fail, the problem is often due
to simple mechanical problems with the
thermostats.
The most common reasons for furnaces or
air-conditioners not turning on is often
because the thermostat cover has become clogged
with dust, the thermostat has been shut off, a
wire has broken or come loose.
It is for this reason that we suggest
that you clean and check your thermostat twice
a year.
We check our thermostats when we change
time from or to daylight savings.
This is also when we replace the
batteries in our smoke/CO2 alarms, perform
maintenance, and check our HVAC systems.
To clean your thermostat,
start by removing the outer cover, and then use
a clean dry brush, gently remove the dust from
the bimetal coil.
Make sure that you turn the dial in both
directions so that you can clean away the dust
from all the tiny spaces.
Next, you want to remove the screws
holding the body of the thermostat, so that you
can clean the switch contacts.
Gently pull back on the control switch
and slid a piece of lent free paper behind the
switch, sliding the paper back and forth
several times to clean the contacts.
If your thermostat has a mode control
lever, then pull gently back on it and slid a
piece of lent free paper behind that lever to
clean the contacts located behind it.
After you have cleaned
your thermostat, your next step is to conduct a
hot-wire test, which ensures power is getting
to the thermostat.
To do this, you want to cut a short
length of wire and then strip both ends.
Then holding only the insulated part of
the wire, touch the bare ends to the terminals
marked R and W.
If your thermostat is working properly,
the heating system should start. If it does not, then there is a problem with your thermostat.
If you’ve noticed, the
room temperature is constantly warmer or cooler
than what your thermostat is set at, then the
problem is often cause by the thermostat not
being leveled.
To check to see if your thermostat is
lever, hold a level in front of the thermostat
and see if the two alignment marks line up, if
they do not, then remove the mounting screws
and level and realign the thermostat.
If after cleaning and
realigning your thermostat does not correct the
problem, replace your thermostat.
This is a very simple job and allows you
to consider upgrading to an energy saving
programmable thermostat if you currently have a
simple basic thermostat.
Before you begin to replace your
thermostat, make sure that you shut off the
power first.
Once you have shut off the
power, you want to loosen the terminal screws,
and then pull out the wires.
Next, remove the mounting screws and the
mounting plate, make sure that you twist, or
secure the wires so that they will not slip
back through the hole.
Once you have removed the old mounting
plate, thread the wires through the new
mounting plate and thermostat, then attach the
wires to the terminals.
Make sure the new thermostat is level,
before securing the base to the wall with
screws.
If you take the time, twice a year to clean and
check your thermostat, you ensure that it will
work properly, and save you on your energy
bills.
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