Why You Need an HVAC Technician to Install Your Thermostat

What is the purpose of a thermostat?

A thermostat is one of the most essential and vital pieces of your HVAC equipment. Think of your thermostat as the control center for all HVAC-related things. Not only is it responsible for the ability to change the temperature in your home or business, but it also needs to maintain reliable temperature control. Your thermostat has a big purpose when it comes to home comfort.

Your thermostat is responsible for relaying messages and activating your respective HVAC systems to complete the task of heating or cooling. Without your thermostat, your HVAC wouldn’t be able to function and manage your heating and cooling systems.

Why do you need a licensed technician to install a thermostat rather than yourself?

Whether using a traditional or ‘smart’ thermostat, you may be tempted to just install the thermostat yourself. It can’t be that hard, right? For many who have electrical experience and are senior DIY’ers, this may be possible without causing any issues. Without the care of a licensed HVAC technician, you can still suffer several problems that can arise if you attempt to install on your own.

Here are some of the consequences that can arise when working on your own HVAC equipment.

• Electric Shock
• Blowing a circuit breaker
• Damaging the thermostat unit
• Damaging the furnace/AC
• Causing injury
• Making your issues worse
• Voiding your system’s warranty

As you can see, there are several potential negative consequences that can occur when a non-licensed technician works on your thermostat. Depending on the type of heating and cooling system you have, you can also run into anywhere between two and ten wires. This can be equally confusing and dangerous for an unlicensed individual to mess with. In addition to complicated wiring, you could have a conventional thermostat that holds mercury, a toxic substance if broken and released.

Tips you, as the homeowner, can try to care for your thermostat.

As a homeowner, it is your responsibility and desire to care for and update your home’s equipment. When equipment doesn’t function appropriately, the homeowner has options for how to attempt resetting.

Here are a few options for you to try if your thermostat starts acting up and not functioning properly

1. Sometimes the simplest reason your thermostat isn’t turning is that the batteries are dead. Simply replace the batteries.
2. Flip the circuit breaker on and off. The simple ‘turn it off and on again’ adage doesn’t apply to just computers.
3. A dirty thermostat can’t properly regulate the temperatures in your home. Gently remove the cover of thermostat and with a cloth, lightly brush around to remove any dust or dirt inside the thermostat.
4. In that same vein, a dirty AC system can also cause improper temperature regulation. One way to address this is to replace the air filters. You can either do this yourself or sign up onto an Annual Service Plan where the technician does this in addition to coil cleaning and system checks.
5. With certain thermostats, your screen may not react as you attempt to change temperature settings. This may be due to a locked thermostat. By unlocking your thermostat, you can change temperatures as needed.
6. Consult with your thermostat’s manual book. You can also search for the manual online by knowing the make and model of your thermostat

These are just a few simple tips that you, as the homeowner, can try to reboot your system when it’s not working properly. If none of these options work, it’s time to call your HVAC provider. There may be something more advanced wrong with your system that will require a licensed technician. Your licensed technician can determine if a replacement is necessary or if your thermostat is repairable or salvageable.

After your service provider has fixed the issue, the best thing is to ask how to solve common thermostat problems with your newly fixed or newly installed thermostat.

When in doubt, call Crandall Heating & Air and allow us the pleasure to serve you and your family!

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