room-temperature

What If the Room Temperature Doesn’t Match My Thermostat Setting?

If the room temperature in your home doesn’t match the thermostat setting then to a varying degree of seriousness something is wrong. There could be a number of things wrong with your thermostat – some of the most common issues have to do with the thermostat’s location, broken temperature sensors, wiring issues, or your thermostat may just need to be cleaned.

Thermostat Location

The thermostat’s location inside your home can play a part in its ability to accurately gauge the temperature of the indoor air. If location plays a part in an inaccurate temperature reading it can usually be attributed to one of two scenarios.

The first reason the thermostat’s location may be causing inaccurate readings is if the thermostat is on an exterior wall. This will cause the thermostat to read a lower temperature than what the home actually is.

The second cause for concern is if the thermostat is placed next to one, or many windows that allow a lot of direct sunlight through. This can cause the thermostat to have inaccurately high-temperature readings.

If either of these scenarios applies to you then you may want to look into getting your thermostat moved to a more central part of the home. This will allow it to take an accurate reading of the air temperature inside and can reduce energy costs by preventing unnecessary running.

Broken Temperature Sensors

Thermostats use internal sensors to detect the temperature of the surrounding air. This is the most common reason for a thermostat’s problem with reaching the set temperature, but unfortunately, it is rarely ever repaired.

If the sensor in your thermostat is broken then your best bet is to just get a new thermostat. Due to the complexity of repairing a thermostat, buying a new one is almost always cheaper than repairing an old one – especially if it is an issue with the sensors.

Cleanliness

No matter how clean your home is I’m sure you know that dust can find its way into virtually anywhere. Thermostats are no exception, and you should regularly take the cover of your thermostat and dust out the inside. To do this use a soft cotton swab or some kind of canned air cleaner.

Dust inside a thermostat can cause issues with the internal wiring connections, or the sensors themselves. Either one of these can cause discrepancies between the cold air or heat temperature in your home and the set temperature on your thermostat.

Wiring Issues

Wiring issues can develop over time, and they are usually caused by dust or a loose connection somewhere. This can have a negative effect on the thermostat’s ability to communicate with the furnace or air conditioning system.

As covered above, regular cleaning of your thermostat is crucial to a long-lasting piece of equipment. Failure to do so can cause dust and grime to buildup internally, which can then lead to weak or nonexistent electrical connections.

Another reason wires can cause the thermostat reading to be off is if the internal wires are loose. This happens over time and there’s not really anything you can do to prevent it. So if you are experiencing issues with your thermostat then it would be worth taking the time to open it up and make sure that all of the wires have a secure and tight connection.

Closing

For an efficient HVAC system, it is important that your thermostat has an accurate reading of the indoor temperature of your home at all times. 

An accurate reading can be interrupted by any of the potential reasons listed above. If you go through the above list and still can’t figure out what is wrong with your thermostat then you should consult a licensed HVAC technician in your area.