When your furnace isn’t working optimally, you’ll likely start your troubleshooting by checking the fuel supply, the pilot light, the filters, or the heat exchanger. The thermostat rarely comes to mind first.
Can a bad thermostat cause a furnace not to work? As the most reliable furnace repair company in Spring, TX, we can authoritatively tell you that the answer is yes.
This small component controls your heating and cooling. If you have a broken thermostat, your furnace won’t work optimally. Depending on the type of problem, the furnace may not work at all. In this blog post, we’ll look at common thermostat problems that may cause your furnace not to work.
Thermostat Problems That Can Stop Your Furnace From Working
Thermostats may look small and unassuming. However, they are complex systems with intricate parts that must work in tandem to turn on your furnace when the temperatures plummet. Here are some common thermostat problems that can keep your furnace from working.
Dead Batteries
Most thermostats need batteries to work. If the batteries are dead, the thermostat can’t monitor the temperatures and won’t turn on the furnace when temperatures drop too low. Thermostats with dead batteries will show a low power warning.
When you want to replace the batteries, choose AA batteries instead of alkaline products. Alkaline batteries usually drain quickly, and you’ll be back at this point in a few short weeks.
Buildup of Dirt and Grime
Your thermostat can’t accurately read the temperatures inside your home if there’s lots of dust and grime inside it. If you haven’t cleaned the thermostat in a while, open the cover and remove all accumulated dirt and debris around it. Pay attention to the contacts.
If you don’t have the right gear to open your thermostat’s plates, call an HVAC technician to do the job.
Old Age
You’re more likely to ask, “Can a bad thermostat cause a furnace not to work?” if you have an old thermostat. Older units are more likely to disrupt your heating because the impact of furnace wear and tear becomes more evident as the thermostat nears the end of its lifespan.
Some of the signs in this scenario include inaccurate temperature readings and automatic resets to thermostat defaults.
If the thermostat can’t read the temperature accurately, it will not activate your furnace. If it does, you may find your home colder or hotter than ideal. You may also find your furnace short-cycling.
Don’t hesitate to replace your thermostat if it’s too old. The benefits will almost certainly outweigh any supposed downsides.
Electrical Issues
Thermostats run on electrical circuits. Any disruption in the circuitry will affect their functionality, leaving you with an unresponsive furnace. Common electrical problems that plague thermostats include corroded terminals, loose wiring, and damaged electrical components.
These problems can keep the thermostat from sending accurate signals (if any) to the furnace. Your furnace’s condition will not matter in this scenario.
If you suspect electrical problems within your thermostat, don’t try to fix them on your own. You’ll likely damage the thermostat even further. Call in an experienced HVAC technician to look at the problem instead.
Thermostat Placement Issues
A thermostat will only work effectively if there’s no artificial influence on its readings. Therefore, any thermostat facing direct sunlight or one beside a heat source will struggle to read the right temperatures.
In this scenario, the thermostat may fail to turn the furnace on even when the indoor temperatures call for it. If you’ve noticed a change in your furnace’s behavior after recently moving your thermostat, you need to re-evaluate where you’ve moved it.
Programming Issues
Sometimes, there’s no big problem plaguing your thermostat; you’ve just programmed it wrong. Choosing the wrong mode (for example, cooling or fan instead of heating) can cause furnace trouble.
If you have one of those thermostats with more granular menu options, it’s easier to program the unit wrong. Therefore, it’s always best to check the thermostat settings and configurations before you delve deeper into troubleshooting mode.
Contact Crew Heating and Cooling for All Your Furnace Problems in Humble, TX
If you’ve been asking, “Can a bad thermostat cause a furnace not to work?” you now know the answer. The good news is that most thermostat problems are easy to fix. When the thermostat is beyond repair, replacing one is also straightforward.
Are thermostat problems preventing you from enjoying time indoors in warmth and comfort? Don’t make the leap to a furnace replacement just yet. Call Crew Heating and Cooling in Humble, TX, today at (832) 345-9932 to schedule a consultation.