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How Important is the Thermostat in Your Home?

Created by Privette Heating & Air Conditioning Admin


Many people don’t realize the importance that a thermostat plays for a comfortable

temperature in their home.  When the AC or heater doesn’t seem to be working right, it is

one of the last things people think to check.  Like anything else, your thermostat can wear

out over time, making your HVAC system unable to properly heat and cool your home.


One of the first signs that your thermostat might be failing is not feeling like it is heating

or cooling to the temperature you’ve set it at.  For example, if you set it to 70 degrees on

a warm summer day, and it feels much warmer than that in your home.  If the

thermostat setting that used to keep you comfortable is no longer suitable, or you

notice that your HVAC system is struggling to keep up, you may want to consider

replacing your thermostat.


What Should I do if I Think My HVAC System Isn’t Cooling/Heating at the Temperature I Set?

 Check your weather stripping

All doors and windows leading out of your house will have weather stripping to help

keep your home’s internal temperature unaffected by the outside temperature.  This is

another element that can wear out over time, and one of the less costly fixes.  If you can

see light coming in from around a closed door, you want to replace the weather

stripping around it.


 Check your filters

An AC filter that isn’t changed regularly will accumulate a ton of dust, making it much

harder for air to pass through it.  A clogged filter makes your HVAC system work much

harder and less efficiently.


 Check your thermostat

Make sure your thermostat is set to an appropriate temperature and that it is ‘turned on’,

meaning that whatever powers your thermostat (electricity or batteries) is working

properly.


If you have checked these things and your HVAC system is still struggling to work

properly, it very well may be time to replace your thermostat.


What Type of Thermostat Should I Get?

Generally speaking, there are three types of thermostat, so make sure you choose the

proper one for your home.


Mechanical Thermostats with Bimetallic Strips. This traditional type of thermostat

has two sensors constructed of two different metals which expand and contract at

different rates. Slight temperature changes trigger the two pieces of metal to change,

opening and closing the circuit.


Mechanical Thermostats with Gas Bellows. These operate in a similar manner – gas-

filled bellows react more quickly than metal strips – creating a quicker response to

temperature changes.


Digital or Electronic Thermostat Sensors or ‘Smart Thermostats’. Smart

thermostats can save homeowners money and help your home feel more comfortable.

Following are some of the features of a ‘smart thermostat’ that allow you full control of

your homes temperature:

 Create weekly temperature schedules.

 Wi-Fi controlled with a smartphone app.

 Voice controlled through communication devices like Alexa, Echo or Dot.

 Thermostat learns your schedule.

 Sensors detect through your phone location to sense that you’re almost home.

 Alerts you to rapidly dropping temperature within your house to help prevent pipes

from freezing and bursting.


If you’re ready to change out an old or malfunctioning thermostat, or just upgrade to a

more efficient ‘smart thermostat’, make sure to call an experienced HVAC technician to

ensure the work is done properly.


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