The thermostat is the brain of any HVAC system. When your furnace thermostat isn’t working, your home can run too hot or too cold because the thermostat isn’t telling your furnace when to turn on or off. In the Detroit area, where frigid winter temps and blustery winds can make it difficult to stay warm, a malfunctioning thermostat can lead to discomfort inside and higher-than-necessary utility bills.
The right approach to thermostat or furnace repair depends on what’s wrong with your unit. The team at Great Dane HVAC can help you understand your options and whether you need thermostat repair or a thermostat replacement service.
Common Reasons Your Furnace Thermostat Isn’t Working Well
Thermostat issues can range from annoying, such as always being a few degrees off, to serious, such as a blank screen and no heat.
Thermostat Power Issues
Power issues can cause your thermostat to stop working when electricity is constantly interrupted or doesn’t reach the unit at all.
Common power problems when a furnace thermostat isn’t working include:
- Shorts and wire issues. Loose wire connections, cuts in the wire or corrosion at the terminal can stop power from getting to the thermostat correctly. Vibration over time in your home, age or construction work near the thermostat housing can contribute to these issues.
- Blown fuses/tripped breakers. Blown fuses and tripped breakers can cause thermostats to suddenly stop powering on.
- Dead batteries. Some thermostats run on batteries, and even hardwired models may use them for backup. If your thermostat has a battery, power issues may indicate it’s dead or too weak to power the unit.
Thermostat Calibration or Placement Issues
Thermostats capture the ambient temperature of a space so they can tell furnaces when to kick on or off. However, that functionality depends on the thermostat accurately reading the temperature.
If a thermostat isn’t calibrated correctly, it may read the ambient temperature too high or too low. Even a few degrees can make it difficult to manage the heat in your Detroit home. For example, imagine a thermostat that measures 3 degrees above the actual temperature. To save money, you set your unit at 67 degrees in the winter, but it feels much cooler than expected (because it’s actually 64 degrees in the room). When this happens, your furnace doesn’t come on when it should.
Sometimes, the thermostat reads the ambient temperature accurately, but that reading doesn’t reflect temperatures throughout your home. For example, if the thermostat is on a wall that gets a lot of direct sunlight during the day, that area will be warmer than the rest of your house, causing your furnace to stay off when it should really come on unless you set the temperature much higher than you really need.
General Maintenance Thermostat Problems
A thermostat that won’t power on may need some basic maintenance. Dust and debris can build up in the unit, causing erratic temperature readings or switch failure. Clogged filters can also put strain on the system, potentially causing the furnace to shut down for safety.
What if You Have a Smart Thermostat?
Smart thermostats are basic computers on the wall. Many of the above problems can cause them to power off or not control your furnace correctly. Software or firmware update problems and faulty parts can lead to trouble.
When Can You Fix Issues Yourself and When Should You Call a Professional?
Homeowners can often check for basic thermostat issues themselves. Start by checking whether your thermostat requires a battery. If so, put in a new one. Next, check the electrical panel for tripped breakers or blown fuses. If you can easily open your thermostat to replace batteries, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning dust from its interior. Double-check the filters, and ensure your vents and registers are unblocked. Look around your furnace components to make sure nothing is blocking them either. If the screen works but there’s no heat, confirm the thermostat is set to Heat and the selected temperature is higher than the room temperature. If the display remains blank or you suspect damaged wiring, a tripped furnace safety switch or a blown control-board fuse, have a qualified technician diagnose the problem.
If none of that works, call a professional. You may need an electrician for your smart thermostat’s wiring or an HVAC professional for your smart or traditional system. Professionals like those at Great Dane HVAC can inspect your entire system, including your thermostat, to find the problem. Then, they can offer you choices for thermostat repair or replacement and help you understand the costs and benefits of each.
