3 Ways To Upgrade Or Modify Your Thermostats To Improve Your AC
Unsatisfied with the performance of your air conditioning system? Anything from undersized to poorly maintained equipment can result in subpar cooling ability, and each of these problems has a unique solution. Thermostats can be an oft-overlooked source of HVAC trouble, however.
The relative simplicity of these devices can hide their importance to a properly functioning air conditioning system. Thermostat problems can lead to inadequate cooling, hot and cold spots, inefficient energy usage, and even premature equipment failures. Below, you will find three ways of evaluating and altering your home thermostat configuration to help improve your AC.
Move Your Thermostats
Your HVAC system relies on your thermostats for both decision-making and for sensing the conditions in your home. Even the most low-tech thermostat includes a sensor that the device uses to compare the ambient air temperature to a target temperature. In cooling mode, the thermostat turns on your compressor if the surrounding air is too warm and turns it off once it reaches the desired level.
While this design works well, it has one crucial flaw: the thermostat cannot measure temperature everywhere in your home. If the location of the thermostat is unusually warm, then the thermostat will run your air conditioner continuously. A thermostat near a vent or in a cold area may turn your compressor off too quickly.
If you notice that some areas of your home are much warmer than other areas, then you may have a thermostat placement problem. You should consider relocating your thermostat if it is in an out-of-the-way place or if it is exposed to unusual temperatures. Although moving a thermostat isn’t cheap, finding a more central location can drastically improve your system’s efficiency.
Upgrade Old Thermostats
Do you still use old, mechanical-style round thermostats? You could find these devices in nearly all American homes throughout the 20th century, but their time has long since passed. While manual, non-programmable thermostats can still get the job done, modern thermostats offer features that can improve cooling efficiency while reducing your energy bills.
If you want a cost-effective upgrade, moving from a mechanical thermostat to a programmable model can offer significant bang-for-the-buck. These gains are thanks to a concept known as setback. When you set your thermostat back, you alter the temperature when you aren’t home. In other words, turn up the dial in the summer and turn it down in the winter.
Thermostat setback may not seem essential, but it can reduce your energy costs significantly without meaningfully altering the comfort levels in your home. Although you can practice this technique with manual thermostats, programmable models make the job considerably less arduous. Upgrading to programmable thermostats will cost you very little and potentially save you a bundle.
Invest in Smart Thermostats
If you want to go a step beyond programmable models, then smart thermostats can take things to the next level. In addition to integration with other smart home hardware, smart thermostats can help to add more brains to your HVAC system. Many models feature advanced programmable schedules as well as programs to manage energy usage.
Perhaps most importantly, many newer smart thermostats include room temperature sensors. You can place these remote devices in other rooms, allowing the thermostat to sense the temperature elsewhere in your house. Using these sensors can help to offset the effect of a poorly placed thermostat or even offer the ability to control cooling and heat on a room-by-room basis.
If you feel that something isn’t right about the performance of your home’s air conditioning system, then Baton Rouge Air Conditioning and Heating can help. Get in touch with us today to evaluate your thermostat situation or any other issues you may have with your home’s HVAC system.
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