House Hotter Than Thermostat Set? Here's Why and How to Fix It
House hotter than thermostat set? This is a common problem that many Utah residents face in their homes. If you’ve noticed that your house won’t cool down to what you set your thermostat to, there may be some problems with your thermostat.
House hotter than thermostat set? Check for these problems…
Here’s how to check whether your thermostat is working properly and fix potential thermostat problems.
Check power sources
First things first, start with the source. The power source, that is. If your thermostat isn’t being powered correctly, it won’t be able to cool your home off! Make sure your thermostat’s batteries are working, and check out other power sources in your home, too. Look for things like blown fuses and tripped breakers. If you think it might be a breaker or fuse issue, you may need to hire an electrician to come out and fix the problem.
Inspect your thermostat - it may be broken or dirty
Next, take some time to really inspect the thermostat itself. Depending on how your thermostat is designed, consider taking off the top cover to see how it looks underneath. Check for dust, dirt, and other kinds of residue inside the thermostat. Excessive dust and dirt buildup can prevent your thermostat from working properly. Clean any residue you see on the thermostat, and see if that helps improve the temperature in your home.
Additionally, there’s a chance something may be wrong with the thermostat. One common problem we often see in Utah homes is that thermostats don’t work properly if they are not level. The internal parts of the thermostat can’t properly read the temperature of your home if it is not level. To fix this issue, remove the faceplate of the thermostat and loosen the backplate from the wall until you can move it enough to square the backplate. Once it’s squared to the wall, re-fasten the screws and place the faceplate back on.
Also, inspect your thermostat for any broken or corroded wires. If you find any wiring that looks compromised, there’s a good chance you’ve found your problem!
Thermostat location matters
Did you know that thermostat placement makes a huge difference? A thermostat that’s in a location that receives a lot of sunlight or gets really hot won’t work properly as it won’t be able to accurately detect the temperature in your home. Similarly, a thermostat in a naturally cooler area of your home won’t be accurate either. You can try to make sure your thermostat isn’t exposed to extreme heat or cold by doing things like closing curtains and not running any appliances around the thermostat. However, if these steps don’t help, you may need to contact an HVAC professional to move your thermostat to another location in your home.
Your HVAC system isn’t sized properly
Another problem that can cause your house to be hotter than what you’ve set the thermostat to is if your home’s HVAC system isn’t sized properly. An HVAC system that’s too large for your house will cool your home unevenly. It will only cool some rooms off and then shut off versus cooling down the entire house. On the other hand, an HVAC that is too small will have to work above its capacity to cool down a house. Because it is too small, it may not even be powerful enough to cool the house down to what the thermostat is set to.
If you think this might be what’s happening with your HVAC system, call a professional to come inspect your system.
Your air conditioner is broken
Another possible reason your house is hotter than the thermostat setting is that your air conditioner itself is broken. This is especially likely if your air conditioner is nearing the end of its lifespan. If your air conditioner used to be more effective but suddenly isn’t working as well, this could be a sign of a broken air conditioner. Also, if your heating system works fine, this is another indicator there’s a problem specifically with your air conditioner.
Have your air conditioner serviced by a professional HVAC technician. They can tell you whether your air conditioner needs a simple cleaning, repairs, or if it needs to be totally replaced.
Air ducts in Utah homes often need cleaning
On a similar note, your home’s air ducts may need cleaning as well. Over time, particles of things like dust, dirt, pollen, and dander collect in the air vents of houses in Utah. This buildup can cause blockages that prevent airflow in the vents, thus preventing the cold air from the air conditioner from actually cooling off the home. If you haven’t had your home’s air ducts cleaned in the last year or two, give Crystal Clean Vents a call today to schedule your free air duct inspection!
The weather is just too hot!
Finally, there is a chance that nothing is wrong with your thermostat or air conditioner. Instead, the system may just be maxed out. Most home cooling systems are designed to keep a home around 75 degrees in extremely hot weather. If you’re trying to keep your home cooler than that, it might not be doable, especially on those Utah summer days that are extra hot. Your best bet on these kinds of days is to wait it out for cooler weather. In the meantime, hopefully you can find a pool or lake to dive cool off in!
Still have thermostat questions? Contact Crystal Clean Vents!
If you've been dealing with a house that’s hotter than what you set your thermostat to, hopefully this article shed some light on some possible solutions to this problem. Starting with the explanations in this article will help you troubleshoot the most common problems that prevent Utah homes from cooling down properly.
If you still have questions about your home’s thermostat and HVAC systems, contact Crystal Clean Vents today! We would be happy to help with your HVAC needs however we can!