It’s a warm summer day in Calgary. The house feels like it’s around 30 degrees. So why does the thermostat say it’s only 20 degrees? If your thermostat temperature is incorrect, then your HVAC system can’t cool your home properly. How can you know if it’s reading correctly, and what can you do about it? There are a few possibilities.
- The thermostat is dirty. Turn the system’s power off, remove the cover, and clean out the inside of it with a soft brush or a vacuum. Also look for signs of corrosion and remove them with electronic contact cleaner.
- The thermostat isn’t positioned properly. Make sure the thermostat is mounted about 5 feet off the floor. Heat rises, so if it’s too high, the temperature may display hotter than it is, and if it’s too low, it may display colder. Also, if you have an older model that uses mercury, it may display the wrong temperature if it’s not completely level. Use a torpedo level to make sure it’s positioned properly.
- The thermostat is in a bad location. Your thermostat should be mounted in an open area that’s consistent with the temperature of the room. If it’s in a corner, in a closet, or somewhere else out of sight, that area’s temperature might be significantly lower than it should be.
- The sensor is malfunctioning. If the thermostat temperature sensor isn’t working properly, it may need to be recalibrated in order to read the correct temperature. Call an HVAC technician to help you recalibrate your thermostat.
- Your thermostat is getting old. If none of these solutions works, then your thermostat might just be at the end of its life and need to be replaced. Especially if it’s been in your home awhile, it might be time to upgrade to a newer model, such as a programmable thermostat, or even one with Wi-Fi capabilities, to help you maintain your comfort level more easily, while also saving you significant energy.
For more help with your thermostat temperature and other HVAC issues, contact us at Arpi’s Industries. We’re Calgary’s source for quality HVAC service.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide.
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