On average, almost 90% of U.S. households have home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems installed to keep their homes comfortable year-round. However, in particular, HVAC usage rates tend to increase in summer, as more Americans use their air conditioners to stay cool.

Likewise, now that summer is here, it’s time to ensure your HVAC system is in optimal condition to prevent problems later on. This goes for all of its components, including the thermostat. A working thermostat ensures you control your HVAC system’s functions, allowing you to maintain comfortable temperatures based on your preferences.

How do you know if you need a thermostat replacement? By watching for the common signs of thermostat failure listed below.

Signs Your Thermostat is Failing

Your thermostat is vital to ensuring your home is at a comfortable temperature in the summer and at other times throughout the year. Although you may still be able to get some service out of it when it’s failing, replacing a thermostat is still optimal to ensure it works properly. 

This is why for the reasons stated above, you should consider getting a thermostat replacement if you notice any of the following signs:

Your HVAC Frequently Turns On and Off

There may be other factors that can cause your HVAC system to turn on and off frequently. However, one of the first things you must check is whether your thermostat works correctly. 

Your thermostat’s primary function is communicating with your HVAC system and controlling its operations, including turning it on and off. Problems, like frayed or damaged wiring inside the thermostat, may result in your HVAC system turning on and off due to communication issues.

Constant Temperature Shifts

In addition to constantly turning on and off, communication issues may also lead to constant shifts in your home’s set temperature due to faulty signals sent by your thermostat. 

If you want to test your thermostat to see if it’s having difficulty maintaining temperature settings, try setting a lower temperature as a baseline. Take note of this baseline temperature and ensure no one in your household is tinkering with the thermostat settings. If the temperature settings change without additional input from you, it may be time to consider a thermostat replacement.

Inaccurate Thermostat Readings

Does your room feel inexplicably hot despite setting a lower temperature? Or does it feel frigid even when your thermostat says it’s at a higher setting? If you’re experiencing any of these issues, it may be due to your thermostat’s inaccurate readings.

Using a portable indoor thermometer, you can verify the accuracy/inaccuracy of your thermostat. Simply set the thermostat at a baseline temperature, wait for a few minutes, then check if both devices show the same reading. If both show different readings, your thermostat is inaccurate and will need to be replaced.

Unusually High Energy Bills

Your energy bill can fluctuate between periods or seasons of high or low usage. For instance, energy bills tend to increase during the summer and decrease during the winter.

However, a faulty thermostat can also lead to unusually high energy bills. This is due to the above mentioned issues, such as inaccurate readings and constantly changing temperatures, that cause your HVAC to work harder. 

Failure to Respond to Temperature Settings

Typically, your thermostat should respond to your inputs and adjust its settings accordingly almost instantaneously. This response is generally heard as a chime, beep, or any other sound, indicating that the signal has been received. However, a faulty thermostat may take too long to respond or may not even respond at all, indicating that it must be replaced immediately.

Your HVAC Keeps Short Cycling

Your HVAC system performs its heating and cooling processes in cycles. This is indicated by the furnace or compressor turning on and off, which marks the completion of one cycle.

But this process can end prematurely and happen more frequently, which indicates shorter cycles. This can add wear to your furnace or compressor while robbing your home of comfort. If this occurs regularly, consider replacing your thermostat.

Other Factors to Consider

Aside from the common problems associated with a malfunctioning thermostat, there are other reasons to consider replacing your thermostat. 

You should also consider a thermostat replacement if:

• Your Thermostat Is More Than 10 Years Old: After 10 years, your thermostat will have exceeded its average life expectancy, reducing its efficiency significantly.
• Your Thermostat Is Analog: If you’re still using an analog thermostat, it’s highly likely that it’s already past its life expectancy or at least about to reach it.
• Your Thermostat Is Not Programmable: Programmable thermostats allow you to adjust your settings automatically, increasing your comfort levels while reducing energy costs.

Keep Your Home Comfortable With Value Controls

Instead of spending countless hours looking for replacement parts, replacing a thermostat is the most straightforward fix when any of the problems above cause issues with your HVAC’s functioning. Value Controls can help.

Value Controls is committed to remaining your partner in ensuring comfort levels in your home. We are a leading provider of certified pre-owned and new thermostats, helping you save time, money, and effort in looking for the right thermostat for your home HVAC system. Shop for wireless thermostats at Value Controls! You may also call us at 1-800-584-9901 for more information.

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