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3 Common Thermostat Problems and How They Affect HVAC Cooling

The level of comfort you get to enjoy inside the house depends on the efficiency of your HVAC system. When the performance of your HVAC declines, you will either be dealing with too much heat in the summer, lack of heat in the winter, excessive humidity and all other related inconveniences.

The thermostat is one of the tiniest components of the home HVAC system. However, it is also the most important in ensuring that the system works as it should. Here, are three of the most common problems with the thermostat, their connection with poor cooling of your HVAC system.

1. When the room temperature does not reach thermostat setting

If your thermostat is mechanical, one of the most common reasons why it might not be working well in regulating temperature is a dysfunctional heat anticipator. When the heat anticipator is stuck, it will not be in a position to move with temperature changes and the thermostat will never bring up the heat to match the numbers on display.

The position of the thermostat might also be another hindrance to its function. If for instance, it is located somewhere where there is direct sunlight, other sources of heat of blasts of cold air; it will tend to over-correct the temperature because the sensor will be reacting to extremes. In this case, relocating the thermostat will improve its effectiveness.

2. Frequent short cycling

A thermostat goes into a short-cycling operation when it does not sit level, or when it is dirty inside. In some cases, the thermostats may not short-cycle, but have a continuous operation which will drain your pockets in electric bills. It is also possible to have fast exchanges between cold and warm cycles when the anticipator is improperly calibrated. This can be fixed by moving the anticipator's arm towards the marking for longer on the dial. Wait for it to complete the dial so you can tell if there has been a change.

3. When the entire system stops working

The problem with minor problems with the thermostat is that they never cause dramatic changes in the HVAC system at first. It is only after a while that performance of the cooling system starts deteriorating to a stop. If you check the thermostat and realise it is receiving power, but it does not regulate temperatures like it should, it needs repair.

Corrosion, loose wiring and terminals that need to be tightened are other common thermostat problems which affect the cooling process. Call in an evaporative cooling contractor for a professional assessment of the system to determine whether you should repair or replace the entire system.