Some people have been made to believe that only older homes or old HVAC systems are the ones that misbehave mainly because of their age. The interesting thing is even top of the range programmable thermostats can develop weird problems leaving you unsure of what to do. You may set your thermostat to 71 degrees while its 75 degrees outside and still heat kicks in. You may be wondering why you have all these problems with your thermostat. The answer this, these problems are normal and they affect many homeowners. However, it is important for you to know what causes them and what you can do to sort them out.

Check the Batteries of Your Thermostat

When battery power of your thermostat begins to go down, accuracy also drops with it. This is why it is important to have a battery change schedule probably recommended by an experienced HVAC contractor.

Problems External to the Thermostat

Sometimes, what we call thermostat problems are not even related to the thermostat itself. Some of them emanate from the HVAC system. Issues to do with frozen coils, poor air circulation and dirty flame sensors can cause issues with your thermostat. Homeowners need to clean their filters or change them and ensure their systems do not have frozen coils. A standard HVAC tune up is the best option.

Checking Your Thermostat Accuracy

It is important to always check whether your thermostat is accurate or not. You can do this using a thermometer which you place next to the thermostat and then comparing the two. If there is a huge difference, then your thermostat could be reading the wrong temperature. Experts suggest that grease and dust settling on thermostats can easily affect the accuracy of older styles thermostats which use mercury bulbs. The best remedy is to replace these thermostats with modern ones such as digital thermostats.

Checking the calibration of your thermostat is very important because even the digital models can be adjusted either up or down by a number of degrees. Thermostat installation also matters in assessing the accuracy of thermostats. In cases where the hole behind the thermostat was not sealed properly, air from the crawlspace can potentially cause inaccurate readings.

Ensure the Surroundings Don’t Affect the Thermostat

When your thermostat gets heats by sunlight, it may start developing irregularities. It is important to install it in a sheltered place preferably a hallway with no windows. However, if you cannot move it, you should at least ensure it is clear of direct sunlight. Thermostats installed near entry points like doors can also affect their performance because the outdoor air reaches to them. Have a local HVAC expert install or move your thermostat and this could save you lots of inconveniences and even money.