If you’re struggling to keep your home cool, you may be putting the blame on your air conditioner. But many times, it’s actually your thermostat that is the problem. Either way, changes in how comfortable your home is point to something being wrong either with your AC or your thermostat.
No matter which of these common AC issues in Houston, TX, you’re dealing with, our team can help. We can troubleshoot both your air conditioner and thermostat to get to the root of the problem and help you improve your cooling output. Keep reading to learn more about how your thermostat can negatively impact your AC’s operation.
Thermostat Operation
Your thermostat connects to both your air conditioner and heater to help control the temperature in your home year-round. You set the temperature on your thermostat and in the summer when the temperature gets too high, your thermostat signals for the unit to turn on for cooling.
It does the same thing in the winter with your heater when the temperature gets too cold. If your thermostat is dirty, old, or miscalibrated, it may not signal correctly to your air conditioner or heater. This can result in your home being at an uncomfortable temperature and possibly even too humid.
Lack of Cool Air
If your home has a lack of cool air, your thermostat may not accurately be reading the temperature inside your home. If it is reading the temperature inaccurately, it may not signal for your air conditioner to turn on for a cooling cycle.
As a result, your home stays warmer for longer. Of course, the opposite could also happen. Your thermostat could read the temperature wrong and signal for your air conditioner to stay on longer, making your home much colder than you want it to be.
Too Much Humidity
Another potential problem could be having too much humidity in your home. If this happens, your thermostat may be signaling your air conditioner incorrectly to turn on and off. If your air conditioner is not able to complete an entire cooling cycle, it blows cool air into your home but does not have the opportunity to blow heat and humidity outside.
As a result, the heat and humidity remain in your home and mix back in with cooled air, ultimately increasing the temperature. Plus, humidity automatically makes your home feel warmer than it really is in addition to the air feeling heavy and muggy.
Solutions
Thankfully thermostat problems are usually easy to fix. If you open your thermostat to look inside and notice a lot of dust and dirt built up, you can use a soft bristle brush to gently remove the grime. Then turn your thermostat back on and see if that makes a difference. If it doesn’t, your thermostat may be miscalibrated or the batteries may be dead.
You can give us a call and we can troubleshoot the issue. Sometimes your thermostat has simply reached the end of its life. If this is the case, we can install a new thermostat and maybe even upgrade the unit to a smart thermostat if you are interested. A smart thermostat can automate a lot of your home heating and cooling needs, even helping you save even more on your energy costs.
Your comfort is our business! Serving Katy, TX, and the surrounding areas. Schedule an appointment today for thermostat service.