Do you have drastic temperature changes from room to room in your home? Have you ever considered that this may be caused by the location of your thermostat? If not, it very well may be. The thermostat is device that controls the operation of the furnace and the air conditioner. Depending on the temperature that you have it set at, it will either turn on or turn off the systems in order to maintain that temperature in your home. When the thermostat is poorly located, it may be inaccurately gauging the temperature in your home. For many, this often results in uneven temperatures from room to room and high energy bills.
Some of the areas were a thermostat can be poorly located include:
- Thermostat too close to a heat source: When the thermostat is located very close to a heat source, it will think that the home is warmer than it actually is. During the winter, this will cause the furnace to run much less than normal and you will have to crank up the temperature setting in order to get adequate heat in the home. In the summer, the thermostat will turn on the air conditioner much more than normal to compensate for the added heat. In both instances, you waste energy running the HVAC systems more than necessary. Some sources of heat include: sunlight, lamps, computers, televisions, and supply vents that push out heat in the winter. Overexposure to cold temperatures also has a similar effect.
- Thermostat located on an exterior wall: When the furnace is located on an exterior wall, it is overly exposed to exterior temperatures, especially if the wall is poorly insulated. The thermostat will not be accurately reading the indoor temperatures, and will therefore run the HVAC longer to compensate for the added chill in the winter and the added heat in the summer. Running the systems longer than necessary wastes money and energy.
- Thermostat located in an enclosed or infrequently occupied area: The thermostat should be centrally located in an area that is most commonly occupied by those who live in the home. The thermostat should also be located close to a return air vent, so that is receives adequate exposure to airflow. This will ensure maximum comfort to the home’s occupants, and allow the thermostat to operate as efficiently as possible.
- Thermostat located in an area that is prone to drafts: Drafts can be created by windows, doors, and poorly insulated areas of the home. When the thermostat is located too close to one of these areas it will be forced to adjust the temperature based on the affects of the drafts in the one area. This will use more energy than necessary and create uneven temperatures in the home.
If you suspect that your thermostat may be causing your comfort and cost problems, call Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning today! We will help you figure out where the thermostat should be located, and we will reinstall or replace your thermostat for you! Don’t let this easily repaired issue be the reason why you pay more every month on your energy bills!
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Tags: air conditioner, Carol Stream, Chicago, Elmhurst, Four Seasons, Furnace, high energy bills, IL, save energy, save money, thermostat location, uneven temperatures
The thermostat ought to be centrally situated in an region that is most typically occupied by those that reside within the home. The thermostat really should be also situated near to some return oxygen vent, to assure that is receives sufficient publicity to airflow.