Could Your Thermostat Be Broken?

The first step you take when your air conditioner isn’t working is to check the thermostat. It’s always possible that someone has changed the settings by accident, or even that the thermostat is out of batteries.

When nothing appears to be wrong with the thermostat settings, though, you might start to believe that the thermostat is broken. It’s a common assumption—but in most cases, it just isn’t true.

Thermostats Are Tough

Home thermostats actually last an impressively long time. We’ve seen many homes in which the thermostat has been on the wall for decades. While we think these homeowners should upgrade to more efficient programmable or smart thermostat models, it’s proof that thermostats are typically reliable devices.

There is the possibility that your thermostat has run out of battery life (if it’s wireless) or even that a circuit breaker has tripped. And, of course, the thermostat can break just like any other electrical component.

Your Air Conditioner Is Likely the Culprit

While it is possible that your thermostat is broken, it’s more likely that your air conditioner is the real culprit. A broken air conditioner is going to cause issues with the way your home cools. You might notice problems such as…

• Low airflow throughout your home.
• High temperatures.
• Short cycling—when the cycle ends before the home reaches the thermostat setting.

And all of these can be attributed to problems within your AC system. While temperature problems may seem like something the thermostat is responsible for, this is only a small part of the system. You could have any number of problems within your air conditioner, so it’s important to get it checked out ASAP, before the problem can get any worse. Some of these issues may include…

• Dirty coils.
• Compressor problems.
• Low refrigerant.
• Improperly sized AC system.

Boehmer Heating & Cooling offers air conditioning and heating services in Mt. Lebanon. Call our friendly staff for exceptional customer service.