When a furnace or heat pump doesn’t operate properly, many homeowners think a problem within the heating system has caused the issue. However, the thermostat regulating your system may be at fault. An HVAC professional can thoroughly diagnose the problem and determine why your thermostat has malfunctioned and caused your home to have uneven heating — or none at all.

Check the Electrical Connection First

Before calling an HVAC professional to diagnose the issue, check the electrical connection for your furnace and thermostat. If you see a blank thermostat screen, change the batteries to eliminate one of the most common reasons for thermostat failure. If the thermostat still won’t turn on, look for a circuit breaker controlling the thermostat or furnace. If you turn the power back on, or the circuit breaker isn’t flipped, an HVAC technician needs to diagnose the problem.

Why Some Thermostat Problems Require a Pro’s Expertise

Many thermostat problems develop slowly. At first, you may think you have imagined that your home is too hot or too cold when, in fact, you have a faulty thermostat. HVAC technicians have training that allows them to find common problems you can easily miss. Here are some of the primary issues that an HVAC contractor can remedy.

Loose Electrical Connections

Over time, electrical connections between the thermostat and your heating system can become loose through vibrations that happen when the unit turns on and off. Technicians can fix loose wires quickly.

Dusty Thermostat

HVAC thermostats are extremely sensitive and can easily sustain damage, causing malfunctions if dust settles on their inner workings. To restore a thermostat to normal operation, a technician can carefully clean it without affecting its integrity.

Thermostat Isn’t Level

It may seem like a minor issue, but a thermostat not installed on a level plane may not work properly because it can’t obtain a correct temperature reading. Proper installation is necessary for the pin connection between the backplate and thermostat to function correctly. To remedy the issue, the technician must dismantle and reinstall the thermostat, ensuring it is level.

Thermostat Needs Recalibration

If your heating system has difficulty reaching the set temperature, the thermostat may be incorrectly calibrated. This situation often occurs after a power outage or when batteries have run low. Older thermostats also need periodic recalibration. A technician can test your thermostat to determine if it requires a correction.

Thermostat Has a Broken Part

Examining your thermostat may reveal a broken part. In this instance, the best course of action is replacement.

If you have a problem with your thermostat, furnace, or heat pump in Phoenix, AZ, contact Ace Home Services for prompt heating repair.