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Is the Thermostat Causing Your Cooling Trouble?

Get Quick Air
19 Sep 2021
2 Min Read

Well-functioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) are a must to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. Especially during hot and humid summer days, you need your air conditioner to function well to keep your home cool.

However, the AC sometimes develops certain problems which prevent it from perfectly performing its basic function, i.e. cooling. If your AC makes your home uncomfortable, instead of cooling it, you can blame the thermostat of your AC. But, it isn’t always easy to diagnose problems with your AC that causes cooling problems.

To help every homeowner struggling with cooling problems, we’ve compiled a brief guide that outlines the steps you should take if your air conditioner is not providing enough cooling.

1) Your AC Stops Working

Ensure that the display of the thermostat is on. If it isn’t lit, it cannot cycle your AC. The display of the thermostat will go blank if it isn’t getting enough power. To find out the reasons behind the power loss, check if the batteries are dead, the breaker isn’t tripped, or the fuse inside the electrical service panel isn’t blown.

After ensuring that power is being supplied uninterruptedly, turn the breaker of the thermostat off. Then remove the cover and look for dirt, debris, smoke, dust, or soot inside the panel. If you find any dirt, you have found the basic issue that affects the functioning of your AC and causes cooling trouble. Clean the insides carefully. Quick Air experts recommend using a brush having soft spokes, or a compressed air duster otherwise you can damage the inside.

After cleaning the inside components, tighten the loose screws, and look for rust on wirings. If your thermostat’s wiring is damaged, you can either replace it with a new thermostat or consult the instructions in the manufacturer’s manual for replacing the wiring.

2) Thermostat Setting and Room Temperature Don’t Match

Has it come to your attention that the room temperature is different from what you have set the thermostat for? This variation can be caused by the grime accumulated inside the thermostat.

So, follow the cleaning instructions mentioned above before taking any additional steps. It is possible for a thermostat that is usually level to be out of whack when it is installed improperly or bumped. Discrepancies in temperature may result from this as well. In that case, you can adjust the thermostat to its sitting level with the use of a carpenter’s level.

If the thermostat is mechanical, a stuck heat anticipator could also be the cause. When the cover is off, look for a small metal arm on the round dial to identify the anticipator. You should be able to free it by gently pushing it in either direction.

Please remember, the functional capacity of the thermostat also depends on its location. It will not regulate the temperature properly if you have placed it in a bad place. To enhance its functionality, consider changing its position in the house.

Direct sunlight, heat from other sources, cold drafts, or being far away from living areas will lead to a decline in performance, so you should move the thermostat for better results.

3) Nonstop Running or Short Cycling

If the thermostat does not sit level or the inside is dirty, it will run almost continuously with short cycling, eroding efficiency. Make sure you resolve both of these problems first by following the cleaning and fitting instructions discussed above.

You can extend the cooling cycle by moving the thermostat anticipator by one notch up in the direction of the ‘longer’ marking.

Allow the AC to run for a full cycle before making any further adjustments. Keep making adjustments until you get the desired cooling results.