If your HVAC system isn’t working properly, you may look to the appropriate unit before you consider your thermostat. After all, the thermostat is just the messenger, conveying your preferences to the heating or cooling system in the home. But sometimes the reason your house is stuffy or drafty is not because your system is broken, but rather that the messages aren’t being conveyed properly. How can you tell the difference? Here are a few ways to know that it’s time to replace your thermostat:

Thermostat Reads the Wrong Temperature

This is perhaps the most obvious sign that something is wrong with your thermostat. For instance, if the thermostat reads the room as 70 degrees, but you find yourself sweating, you know that’s incorrect. You should also consider that most thermostats will read two different temperatures on their screen. One is the set temperature while the other is the actuated temperature, the actual temperature in the room. If the actuated temperature is wrong, there’s a problem with your thermostat. If the difference between the set temperature and the actuated temperature is more than 5 degrees, it could be an issue with the unit or the thermostat, but check the thermostat first.

Unit Won’t Turn On or Off

On a hot or cold day, not being able to turn on your AC or furnace can be a disaster. However, not being able to turn off the system could be problematic as well, especially when it comes to your HVAC bills. If your unit won’t turn on or off, that could be an issue with the unit, but before you write it off, check the wiring of your thermostat. There may be a short there, or your thermostat may be placed in a part of the home — such as too close to the vents — that leads it to misjudge the temperature of the home. These issues can be repaired, but if they happen too frequently, it may be better to just replace.

Your Thermostat is Outdated

Are you still using an analog or a non-programmable thermostat? Technology has advanced greatly in recent years, and thermostats are more efficient than ever. With a digital interface, you can be more precise about your temperature control than you ever could with a dial. And with programmable and wifi features, you can customize your heating and cooling needs, allowing you to save money on your energy bills. For instance, you can set a program to keep the home warmer or cooler while you’re at work and adjust it accordingly from your phone on your way home. With so many efficient systems available today, outdated really is just money down the drain.

At Air Solutions in Bryan-College Station, we offer the latest in wifi, programmable thermostats that can control the temperature in your home more precisely than ever before. So if your old thermostat has a few too many quirks for your liking, it’s time to upgrade and begin enjoying the benefits. Contact us today for more information about a new thermostat today.