One of the most common reasons that your thermostat is incorrectly reading your home's temperature is that the temperature sensor is malfunctioning or has failed completely. Replacing a temperature sensor can be very difficult, so there are a few things you should try before you schedule a replacement.
If your thermostat is not reading correctly, it might be due to a dirty or faulty sensor. A quick fix could be to gently clean the sensor with canned air to remove any dust buildup. However, if problems persist, replacing the thermostat could be the next step.
One way to check for thermostat calibration issues is to place a room thermometer a few inches from the thermostat and wait 15 minutes. The readings of both shouldn't be more than 1℉ different. If this is the case, then it's time to correct the issue.
That usually means that the thermostat sensor is faulty. You have two options. Change the thermostat, or simply ask for a higher temperature. So press the up arrow a few times to change the 74 to 78 and you should feel warmer.
Dirty or worn flame sensors, blower motor problems, clogs in the condensate lines, and electrical issues are some of the many problems that can leave your HVAC system failing to deliver the temperatures you've programmed in your thermostat.
Another problem that can cause your house to be hotter than what you've set the thermostat to is if your home's HVAC system isn't sized properly. An HVAC system that's too large for your house will cool your home unevenly. It will only cool some rooms off and then shut off versus cooling down the entire house.
Using an appropriately sized screwdriver, turn the calibration screw to open the contacts. Wait a few seconds, then turn the screw to close the contacts. This will reset the contacts and make sure a bad connection wasn't causing your thermostat to become uncalibrated.
For many of us, 70 degrees is the ideal indoor temperature, but when it is close to 100 degrees outside, your AC unit will be working quite hard to meet these expectations. Consider setting your thermostat at 75 degrees to 80 degrees in your home if the outside temperature is approaching triple digits.
A bad thermostat can be detected when your AC or furnace is not turning on, your HVAC systems are not turning off, the thermostat not responding, your HVAC system is short-cycling, the room temperature not matching the temperature displayed on the thermostat, and the programmed setting resetting themselves.
The location of your thermostat plays a role in how well it functions. A thermostat located by an exterior door, a drafty hallway or on an exterior wall will continue to warm the room as it thinks the room is colder than it actually is. Don't let strange or nagging issues impact your peace of mind this winter.
Rectal temps are the most accurate. Forehead temps are the next most accurate. Oral and ear temps are also accurate if done properly. Temps done in the armpit are the least accurate.
Residential HVAC systems are typically equipped with a single thermostat. In most cases, these are located on an interior wall, about midway between the floor and the ceiling. This provides the best location to measure and control to an average temperature.
Leave both units in place for another 20 minutes, and check the readings again to see if the readings are the same. If the readings between your thermostat and thermometer are still different, you likely have a malfunctioning thermostat and there may be an issue impacting thermostat accuracy and efficiency.
Clean the Thermostat
Sometimes, when the room temperature doesn't match the thermostat setting, the problem could be dirt buildup on its interior parts. A dirt coating around the inner components may create excess heat and cause the thermostat to give the wrong readings.
If you're cold even though your thermostat indicates you shouldn't be, your furnace likely isn't the problem. In most cases, it's working just fine. It's your home that needs attention. Lack of insulation, severe air leakage, and/or unbalanced ductwork are frequently to blame.
Stick your thermometer into the center of the glass so the tip of the probe is submerged by about two inches. Hold it there for about a minute, making sure it stays in the center, and then check the temperature. It should read 32°F or 0°C, which, of course, is the temperature that water freezes at.
One of the lesser-known issues is the polar opposite of overheating. Overcooling happens when the engine does not reach the right temperature for its normal function. In this scenario, the thermostat is stuck open and overflows the radiator with coolant, drastically reducing the engine life cycle.
Cooling a house from 90 degrees to 72 degrees typically takes about 2 to 4 hours, depending on various factors.
Just because the outdoor temperature is above 100, the Ideal temperature to set your AC unit to doesn't change — it's 78 degrees. Higher temperatures in the home are to be expected when the weather is hotter than usual, but your thermostat can still be set the same as if it were a lower temperature outside.
Setting your air conditioning to 72°F is generally considered a comfortable indoor temperature for many people. It strikes a good balance between comfort and energy efficiency, making it a popular choice for residential settings.
If your thermostat is not reading correctly, it might be due to a dirty or faulty sensor. A quick fix could be to gently clean the sensor with canned air to remove any dust buildup. However, if problems persist, replacing the thermostat could be the next step.
To do so, locate your home's thermostat and tape an accurate thermometer on the wall next to it. Wait 15 minutes and check the temperature reading on both devices. If your readings are three or fewer degrees apart, you should be good to go.
To reset mechanical thermostats, simply turn off the thermostat and flip the circuit breaker. This can be done by going to the breaker panel and turning off the appropriate breaker switch for 30 seconds. After turning the breaker back on, turn the thermostat back on and the thermostat should be reset.