Just as you wouldn’t want your kids hanging out with the “wrong crowd”, you don’t want your air conditioner, you most prized possession, to be influenced by a bad thermostat. You know the type — skipping classes, after-school detention, copying other people’s homework… Oh wait, we may have gotten something mixed up.
But, our point still stands! A bad thermostat can negatively impact your air conditioner, and below, we’ll explain how. All you’ve got to do is keep reading to find out more.
Thermostat Problems Often Don’t Seem Like Thermostat Problems
One of the reasons that we stress that people only call on HVAC professionals whenever they have an air conditioner that isn’t working right is because only a skilled technician can track down the actual source of the odd behavior. Thermostats are a good example of this: when something is wrong with the thermostat, it often isn’t immediately obvious.
For example, an air conditioner that is short-cycling could be due to a half dozen possible problems, such as a malfunctioning motor or a loss of refrigerant. It takes a professional to trace the symptom to the actual cause. So if you suspect the thermostat is creating trouble for your AC, don’t open up the thermostat and try to fiddle around with it. Not only are you unlikely to be able to fix the thermostat yourself, but the thermostat may not be the problem!
AC Problems a Thermostat Might Cause
Here’s how a bad thermostat could affect your air conditioner:
- Short-cycling: This is when the compressor of the AC shuts off before completing its cooling cycle, only to turn back on again a short time later and repeat the process. If the thermostat’s temperature sensor is malfunctioning, it may start to shut down the ACs cooling cycle prematurely. Short-cycling places an immense strain on the compressor, raising electrical bills and shortening the systems’ lifespan.
- Uneven cooling: If the thermostat is either miscalibrated or has a faulty connection to the AC, it can mean the air conditioner won’t run long enough to distribute cooling evenly around a home. You’ll start to notice hot spots in the house, usually first in the rooms farthest from the AC.
- Blower fan won’t start/stop running: When the blower fan runs constantly and never cycles down, or it won’t start up at all, it can mean a problem with one or more of the wires from the thermostat to the AC.
- No cooling at all: The air conditioner fan is running, but the air coming from the vents isn’t cool. This could mean the thermostat has lost its connection to the compressor and can’t turn it on.
Call in a Professional
If you suspect that your thermostat is in need of repairs, do not hesitate to contact a professional for your residential air conditioning services. Only a professional has the tools, training, and experience to get the job done safely and correctly the first time around!
To schedule your air conditioning services, contact the team at English Air Inc. today!