Is Your House Thermostat Bad?

Your central heating system is the brain of the heating system in your Massachusetts home, controlling the way your furnace or boiler work and sensing your indoor environment to keep it at a comfortable temperature for you.

But just like any mechanical device, your thermostat won’t last forever – and when it falters or fails, your whole heating system won’t work properly, either.

Warning signs of a broken thermostat

How can you tell if your house thermostat is bad? Here are four common signs:

• Your furnace is blowing cool air – If you feel cool air coming from your vents when your system is set for heat mode, it could be a thermostat problem. Same with your boiler, if your radiators and baseboards aren’t getting warm.
• The thermostat display won’t light – Check your thermostat battery first; if that doesn’t restore your thermostat display, your thermostat has probably failed.
• Your heating system is experiencing excessive cycling – If your forced-air heating system starts and stops (“cycles”) repeatedly, it could mean your thermostat has failed (of course, cycling could mean other things, too – which is why you should contact a heating professional for an assessment).
• Your equipment won’t start or stop running – Your thermostat could be at the heart of a problem with a system that won’t start or stop properly.

If you are experiencing any of these issues, it could be time for a new thermostat. To find out for sure, contact us – our expert heating technicians will diagnose the issue and either repair your thermostat or suggest replacement options that fit your lifestyle and budget.

A thermostat install is not a DIY job!

It could be tempting to try to fix or replace a problem thermostat yourself, but remember: today’s thermostats are advanced electronic devices that integrate directly with your equally high-tech furnace and boiler. Your problem may have little to do with your thermostat at all – only an experienced, trained heating professional will know for sure.

Think you have a problem thermostat in your Worcester-area home? Contact the pros at Pioneer Oil and Propane today to find out for sure. Our experts will assess the problem, and if you need a new thermostat we’ll make recommendations for a model that suits your system and meets your budget.