You probably barely give a second thought to your thermostat throughout your daily schedule, but when you start to notice that your home isn’t heating or cooling properly, it might be time to revisit that little panel on the wall. Thermostats can run into problems just like the rest of your HVAC system, and it’s important that you make repairs or replacements accordingly.

Do you suspect that something’s wrong with your thermostat, but you don’t know how to tell if you’re right? Here are the top three ways to determine if there’s an underlying issue.

Does Your Thermostat Actually Reflect the Room’s Temperature?

Buy a small thermometer and tape it to the wall next to your thermostat. Over the course of the day, see if the thermostat reflects the room’s true temperature. If it’s off by more than a degree or two, you might have a problem that needs to be repaired.

Does the Thermostat Properly Turn on the Furnace or Air Conditioner?

Sometimes, when a thermostat is broken, it won’t actually activate the furnace or air conditioner when it should. This could be a problem with the main circuit breaker for the furnace or air conditioner, but it could also be caused by the inner workings of the thermostat.

Does the Unit Switch Off and On When It Shouldn’t?

If you find yourself turning the thermostat on, hearing it activate, and then hearing it shut off before it should, it might be because the thermostat needs to be replaced or fixed.

Some of these issues can be fixed by simply accessing the panel, cleaning it, and following the instructions it came with. However, many thermostat problems require a more experienced hand. For professional help, contact Northern's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®. They can quickly locate and solve the problem with your thermostat and get your home properly heated or cooled in no time. To speak with a Nothern’s representative or schedule an appointment, call (763) 284-8639 today.