When to Replace Your Home Thermostat

Your home thermostat is the little box that determines what temperature to keep inside of your house. You set it to AC in the summer and heat in the winter, and if it's working efficiently, your home remains comfortable. However, not all thermostats are still pulling their weight. In fact, a home thermostat should be maintained every few years. Replacing your home thermostat when it starts to falter is also important to maintain good HVAC efficiency (ie: power bills) and reliably maintain your requested temperatures.

If your thermostat has seen better days and a little maintenance doesn't solve the problem, it's time to consider replacing your home thermostat for good.

The Importance of Thermostat Maintenance

When Should You Consider Replacing Your Home Thermostat?

If your thermostat starts to show irregular or inefficient performance, it may be time for a replacement. Here are a few signs to look for:

The Temperature is Incorrect

Use a separate thermometer to check the home's ambient temperature.

Energy Bills Have Gone Up

Your thermostat may be giving inefficient commands to the HVAC or running when it doesn't need to.

Your HVAC Switches On/Off at the Wrong Times

Irregular power cycles, running when it's not supposed to, and refusing to come on are all signs your thermostat is in trouble.

What are the Benefits of Replacing Your Old Home Thermostat?

Replacing your old home thermostat promises several significant benefits including performance, air quality, as well as cool new features. Some benefits include:

• Energy Efficiency and Lower Power Bills: A new thermostat will run your HVAC more efficiently, using less power and reducing your power bills.
• Increased Indoor Comfort and Airflow: A new thermostat will also provide better-balanced airflow through your home.
• More Accurate Temperature-Matching: A new thermostat should have accurate temperature sensors and matching capabilities.
• Modern Thermostat Features: Most new thermostats have a lot more features than older thermostats, including programmability and smart home features.
  

How to Choose the Right Replacement Thermostat

When choosing a new thermostat, you can upgrade your controls but be sure to match the specs of your existing HVAC system. Keep these tips in mind:

• Match Your Wiring and Connectors: Make sure the new thermostat will fit where the old one was installed.
• Match Your HVAC Units: Choose a thermostat designed for the types of heating/cooling units in your home.
• Choose Your Performance Level: Choose a manual, programmable, or smart thermostat model

Steps to Replace Your Home Thermostat

1. Remove the old thermostat from the wall
2. Transfer the wires to the new system
3. Secure your new thermostat to the wall
4. Calibrate the new thermostat
5. Test the new thermostat
6. Program the new thermostat to your preferences

Tips for Maintaining a New Home Thermostat

Thermostats don't take very much maintenance, but they need a little bit of maintenance every year to continue performing with accuracy and efficiency. Keep your thermostat clean and in good condition. Have it inspected once a year when you have your HVAC system maintained to ensure the connectors and wires remain undamaged over time. It's also important to keep the following in mind:

• Keep your thermostat clean and dust-free
• Have your thermostat inspected with routine HVAC maintenance
• Test your thermostat with an external thermometer for accuracy
• If battery-powered, replace the battery every few months.

Professional Home Thermostat Replacement Services

If your home thermostat has seen better days or has been performing irregularly in the last year (or more), it may be time to install a new thermostat. This involves your home's wiring and delicate calibration work upon first installation, so be sure to call an HVAC professional to take care of the job.

At Suburban Heating & Cooling, we can help you choose the right thermostat to upgrade your home's HVAC system and handle the installation quickly. Contact us today for a thermostat and HVAC maintenance appointment as well as to explore new thermostat options.