Before doing anything with your furnace when you have a heating problem, find out if it’s caused by malfunctioning thermostats. Try your skill in troubleshooting it before you ask the help of an HVAC repair company. Sometimes, you think that it’s an appliance problem when heating or cooling is more than the level of temperature appearing on your temperature gauge. In many cases, it’s only a matter of adjusting, repairing or replacing the thermostat that will solve the problem.

5 common problems with thermostats

1. It is placed in direct sunlight – Observe throughout the day if it is in direct sunlight, especially when you’re feeling uncomfortable in your home. When thermostats are placed in direct sunlight, they can have false readings of high temperatures that cause the heater to shut off earlier than expected. It’s also possible that your air conditioner keeps running even if the temperature gauge is off.

2. It’s very near the heat sources – Similar to when they are placed in direct sunlight, they can also be faulty and give false high readings when they are placed too close to heat sources such as an oven, a fireplace or a stove.

3. It’s not placed in a central location – If 1 side of your home is often warmer or cooler compared to the rest, then you’ll likely encounter a thermostat problem. You can solve this by placing it in a central location such as a hallway. This way, you can have an even temperature distribution.

4. It is dirty – In this case, it’s possible that dust has accumulated inside your gauge. When there is buildup of dust and debris, it can cause the contacts inside the gauge to give wrong temperature readings. Fix it by simply taking out the plastic housing and cleaning it with a very soft brush.

5. It’s already old, damaged or worn out – Thermostats are small but strong products designed to last for several years, but there are times when you need to replace them. If you have the mercury type of gauge, you can consider getting an upgraded digital model to give you more accurate readings. If you purchase and use a new programmable thermostat, you can have savings of around $180 a year.

If still you’re having a heating or cooling problem with new thermostats, it’s better that you call a professional this time that offers flat rate on materials and labor.

Source of savings:  http://www.coolray.com/blog/article/atlanta-thermostat-problems/