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Is Your Thermostat Temperature Correct?

Is Your Thermostat Temperature Correct?

If your thermostat temperature isn't accurate, your home can feel too hot or cold, and you can spend too much on energy because the HVAC system isn't cycling on and off as it should. If you're concerned that the temperature displayed on your thermostat isn't correct, here's what to do.

Clean Underneath the Cover

Dirt and debris on your thermostat's internal components can interfere with its ability to control temperatures accurately. Cleaning the inside may be an easy fix, so take off the cover and use a soft brush to gently dust the components. Then, put a dab of electrical contact cleaner on a cotton swab and remove any corrosion from the metal contacts.

Recalibrate the Unit

Sometimes, the sensor inside a thermostat goes out of whack and prevents it from working properly. If recalibrating your thermostat doesn't fix this, it's time to invest in a new unit.

Make Sure it's Level

If you still have a mercury thermostat, it may not read the temperature accurately if it gets knocked off level. You can try to fix this by putting a carpenter's level just above the unit and making minor adjustments in the thermostat's position until it's level again. If you're concerned that it's still not accurate, you should replace it.

Check the Location

The thermostat's location can affect how well it reads the room temperature. It needs to be centrally situated in your home and away from direct sunlight, drafts, heat sources and airflow from HVAC registers. If you think the location is causing accuracy issues, having it moved to a better spot may improve its performance.

Consider Advancing Age

Equipment often becomes less reliable as it ages, and this is true for thermostats too. If yours is still not accurate after you try all of the above fixes, it's wise to replace it. You can boost comfort and energy efficiency and benefit from convenience features by upgrading to a new Wi-Fi or programmable model.

If thermostat temperature issues are affecting the comfort in your Broken Arrow home and you need expert advice, contact us today at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “lucadp/Shutterstock”

Make Sure Your Technician's NATE Certified -- Because You Want The Job Done Right

Make Sure Your Technician's NATE Certified -- Because You Want The Job Done Right

Successful and safe installation of HVAC equipment requires a technician with a high level of professional experience and practical knowledge. A reliable indicator of HVAC technician competence and adherence to high standards is certification and recognition by professional industry organizations. If your technician's NATE certified, you know you're dealing with the best.In the HVAC industry, NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is a leading education, testing and certification source for technicians who install, repair and service air conditioners, furnaces and other forms of HVAC equipment. If you make sure your technician's NATE certified, you can be assured of excellent service from a knowledgeable technical professional who will do the job right the first time.Founded in 1997, NATE is a well-known nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the standards of HVAC technician performance through rigorous testing and certification. NATE is recognized by trade unions and industry organizations, including some of the more prominent such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).NATE has certified more than 26,000 technicians in diverse areas of the HVAC industry. To earn certification, individuals must prove a high level of general knowledge about HVAC equipment and focused technical knowledge in a specialty. Technicians must pass a test covering general HVAC information and at least one area-specific exam in either installation or service. NATE-certified technicians commonly hold certifications in areas such as:

  • Air conditioning

  • Gas or oil heating

  • Air distribution and ventilation

  • Commercial refrigeration

  • Air-source heat pumps

  • Ground-source heat pumps

  • HVAC system efficiency

NATE statistics show if your technician's NATE certified, the rate of callbacks to revise or rework projects is nearly 13 percent lower than for non-NATE technicians. Nearly 70 percent of customers surveyed said they were extremely satisfied with the performance of their NATE-certified technician. Almost a third of survey respondents indicated high satisfaction with systems installed by NATE-credentialed professionals.At Air Assurance, all of our HVAC technicians are NATE certified, so you can count on us for professional, reliable HVAC sales, installation and service in your Tulsa-area home. Contact us today for more information on NATE certification or to schedule maintenance or new installation from one of our dedicated NATE-qualified professionals.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock