Signs Your Thermostat is Experiencing Issues

As the “brain” of your home’s HVAC system, your thermostat is responsible for directing various components based on home temperature and other readings – and it must be in good working order to accomplish these tasks. Luckily, you’ll usually be able to spot some telltale signs if your thermostat isn’t working, allowing you to address and remedy them quickly and easily.
At Accurate Air, we’re happy to offer numerous heating and air conditioning services to clients around Tempe, Scottsdale and nearby areas – and in a hot place like Arizona, we know how important proper thermostat care is to keep your system working around the clock. Here are some of the most common signs that your thermostat is experiencing issues, plus what can be done about them – either on your own or with the help of our experts wherever necessary.
No Power to Thermostat Unit
During normal thermostat operations, your unit will constantly be displaying its readings and will respond to adjustments you make. If your thermostat is unresponsive or failing to show any information at all, chances are it’s not receiving power – in which case you will need to address its power source.
For thermostats that utilize batteries, you’ll need to check the batteries and replace them if necessary. For thermostats that are connected to your HVAC system’s wiring, you may need to check the circuit breaker or contact a professional for further assistance.
AC or Furnace Won’t Turn Off
In some cases, you may begin to notice that your air conditioner or furnace is not responding to commands from your thermostat – such as the unit continuing to run after you’ve lowered the temperature, or failing to turn off.
If this happens, it signifies that there may be an issue with the wiring between your HVAC system and thermostat. It’s important that these two components are properly connected, as an improper connection can result in limited control and unnecessary energy usage. Our experts at Accurate Air can inspect your thermostat wiring to ensure it meets the standards required for optimal performance.
AC or Furnace Won’t Turn On
You might think that the approach to this issue would be identical to issues where your devices won’t turn off, and you’d be right – some of the time. Wiring is also frequently a cause of a thermostat that won’t send the proper signals to components, meaning they don’t turn on when they should.
However, there are also cases where this particular issue signals trouble with your thermostat’s temperature readings, not its wiring. The thermostat is responsible for reading a room’s temperature and sending signals to the AC/furnace when a change in temperature is necessary – if it’s not responding, there may be an issue with its temperature sensors or other internal components. In this case, you’ll want to contact our specialists at Accurate Air so that we can examine your thermostat and decide on a proper course of action.
Thermostat Displaying Clearly Incorrect Information
In other situations, you may find that your thermostat displays readings which are clearly incorrect – such as displaying the wrong temperature or failing to display any temperatures at all. This is one of the most reliable signs that your thermostat likely needs replacing, and our experts at Accurate Air will be more than happy to help you test your unit and install a brand new replacement when necessary.
Thermostat “Forgets” Programmed Settings
If you’re utilizing a programmable or “smart” thermostat, you may find that it frequently “forgets” its programmed settings on a regular basis. This could indicate that the unit is failing to hold onto power and is thus resetting itself every time it loses power – in which case you will need to ensure that its wiring is secure and replace batteries as necessary.
Simple Age
While this isn’t a “sign” per se, another common reason why thermostats fail or experience issues is simple age. If your thermostat is more than a decade old, chances are it’s time for an upgrade – and while this doesn’t necessarily mean that any component is broken or malfunctioning, it will likely lead to increased energy costs due to its lack of efficiency compared to modern models.
At Accurate Air, we can provide you with top-of-the-line options for upgrading your thermostat – such as Wi-Fi enabled models which allow you to control temperatures remotely from other devices. This can be much more convenient when compared to having to manually adjust the thermostat every time, plus it also often results in considerable energy savings due to its improved efficiency.
No matter what type of issue you’re experiencing with your thermostat or any other component of your HVAC system in Tempe or Scottsdale, contact our team today for assistance!